A safeguarding group for vulnerable people has been named the best charity to work for in the UK.

Thirtyone:eight, based in Swanley, was declared the winner by Third Sector, a publication about charity work, and the Best Companies Group, who rank employers across all sectors.

The Christian charity has 37 employees and works with churches and other local organisations to teach good safeguarding practice and to offer help to those who have suffered abuse.

Other work has included supporting the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse with its investigations.

The charities' name is a direct reference to a verse in scripture that urges people to speak on behalf of the voiceless.

Steve Ball was brought up in Gravesend and joined the charity in the 1990s with a background in business.

Now living in Swanley, he was made joint-chief executive in 2016 and says the key to its success has been creating a culture of care and compassion for all.

“We genuinely care for each other and look after each other," he said.

“As a local Kent charity employer, many of our workforce live or are based in the local area.

"Although we’ve grown significantly over the last 40 years, we’ve never forgotten where we started, as a small, local, family-run organisation, and this is still a core part of the charity’s DNA.

"Many organisations claim their people are their most important asset, and we 100% believe that.

"That’s why we have worked so hard to create an environment that genuinely supports and values our staff and volunteers.”

This has included creating a dedicated games room for staff to use at break times, with a television and table-tennis table.

There are also regular lunches where food and drinks is laid on at the charity's expense.

Staff are even welcome to bring their own pets to work and Steve is often accompanied by his dog, although gerbils and goldfish are not allowed.

Such opportunities are complemented by an expansive mentorship and job shadowing programme, as well as reward packages.

Steve said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been named the overall winner in this, the inaugural year of the Third Sector’s Best Charities to Work For awards.

"We’re very proud of the connection with our local community, and with such a high standard across the board, we’re so pleased to be recognised in this way alongside so many other great causes.

"We believe our charity’s faith-based values are an integral part of the culture we strive to create here at Thirtyone:eight, and we’ve been so encouraged to see this acknowledged independently in this way.”

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford