Hilary Smith might turn 80 this year, but that hasn’t stopped her helping others.

She has volunteered at the Gravesham Citizens Advice Bureau for over a decade, giving two days a week of her time.

Every week, Hilary helps around 30 people, and it is estimated that in her 10 years with the bureau she has touched the lives of more than 15,000 people and their families.

Now, she has been honoured for her work.

Hilary picked up the award for outstanding individual at a ceremony honouring people in Gravesham who have gone above and beyond to help the community.

Some of the most inspiring people in Gravesham had their efforts acknowledged during the ceremony.

Just before he hung up his chains for good, mayor Cllr Michael Wenban handed out nine awards to some very well-deserved winners during the annual council meeting and mayor-making last week.

Around 100 people watched the ceremony at The Woodville, Gravesend.

Gravesham Community Awards

In February this year it raised more than £22,500 for the British Heart Foundation’s Mending Broken Hearts campaign by completing an ambitious trip driving from Gravesend to Amritsar in India.

Two awards were given for the Young Person of The Year. These went to Rhys Roberts, 11, and Acacia Newton, 12. They work together every week at the ‘Word on the Street’ Youth Club in Kings Farm, supporting and guiding younger children.

Northfleet Carnival Organising Committee scooped the Best Group Award. Each year local people pull together to organise the procession.

Figure skater Kayla Fry, 12, was named Sports Achiever of the Year. Kayla is part of the British skating development squad. She trains 18 hours a week, before school, after school and at weekends, yet manages to fit in all her homework. She competed at the British skating championships in December and recently came third at Skate Southern International.

The Safer/Better Award was given to Gravesham Langar Seva, which provides food for the homeless.

Indi Vraitch, his family and friends, who all work full time, approached the Gurdwara and volunteered to cook food en masse and offer it free to the homeless in the town centre. The group started dishing out free food last August.