A new awards scheme is looking to celebrate a company that has gone out of its way to support its staff or customers through Covid-19.

A collaboration between the Heart of Kent Hospice and Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), backed by the Kent Messenger, the initiative has six gongs to give away to the borough’s unsung heroes.

One of the categories for the Compassionate Community Awards 2020 focusses on a business or workplace which has helped people during the crisis.

Alison Broom, the chief executive of MBC, said: “Maidstone has such a variety of small and medium sized businesses and it has been great to see how many different types of contributions have been made. We have only seen a small fraction of what businesses have achieved so it would be good to give exposure to the whole range of different things they have done.”

Just some examples of worthy actions include businesses that have helped employees work differently, invested in training, put measures in place to ensure staff wellbeing, or encouraged furloughed workers to participate in community activities.

Alternatively they may have helped customers by extending and adapting services or delivering goods in times of need.

The other award categories are for compassion in a care or residential home; in a school or by a teacher; demonstrated by a young person; a neighbour or volunteer, or by a community.

The awards come as part of MBC's and the Heart of Kent Hospice's bid to become 'Compassionate Maidstone' in line with the compassionate communities charter.

Compassionate places are communities that publicly encourage, facilitate and support care for one another during life’s most testing moments, especially to those with life-threatening and life-limiting illness.

If you know a compassionate business or workplace in Maidstone and surrounding areas that deserves to be considered, nominations can be made here or, alternatively email compassionateawards@maidstone.gov.uk.

All nominations must be received by 5pm on Friday, September 25.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone.