Young community role models have stepped up over the past year to ensure their communities are safe and looked after - now an award scheme designed to recognise those acts of kindness is looking to say thank you.

The Compassionate Community Awards is back for 2021 and aims to make sure selfless people across Maidstone don't go unnoticed.

It is set up in collaboration with the Heart of Kent Hospice and Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) and is backed by the Kent Messenger.

The category for under 18s is looking for a young person who has had a significant impact on their neighbourhood.

Last year's winner was 17-year-old Thomas Elphick, from Cornwallis Academy.

When he heard of Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council’s initiative called Sunshine Sundays to arrange deliveries for vulnerable people having to shield, he got to work baking.

The sixth former would make cakes every Saturday to put a smile on the faces of all those they were delivered to.

Alison Broom, chief executive at MBC, hopes this year the presence of the hospice’s Elmer the Patchwork Elephant art trail in the town centre will help.

The children’s character is celebrated as a way of teaching youngsters about empathy, to embrace their differences and celebrate diversity.

She added: “I know it’s lots of fun going out and finding them all, but I do think Elmer is an opportunity to speak to young people about compassion so they perhaps understand it more and maybe that will inspire people to celebrate it in others too.”

Nominees must either be living in, or close to, the borough of Maidstone.

They can be individuals or groups of young people up to the age of 18.

'There are lots of young people out there who do really amazing things ...'

Rachel Street, interim chief executive at the hospice, said: “Often our young people can get a bit of stick for not taking part in the community quite how people would like them to, but the truth is there are lots of young people out there who do really amazing things.

“We need to be able to celebrate their successes, raise them up and thank them for what they are doing because our young people are fantastic.”

Other categories are for compassion shown in a business or workplace; in a care or residential home; in a school or by a teacher; by a volunteer or a neighbour; or a community.

Entries are now open and close at 5pm on August 27.

To nominate a deserving young person, in no more than 250 words in writing, video or voice recording, send in some examples of how they have demonstrated compassion.

The nominations will be shortlisted by judges in September. The winners will be announced on October 21.

To find out more, click here

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