Children and their families will be getting their spook on at this year's annual Children's Awards, with a spectacular Halloween-themed event in the autumn. Lauren Abbott looks at what organisers are cooking up in their cauldron...

The nomination period for this year's Children's Awards has opened.

The annual event recognises brave and courageous youngsters and those that support them.

And a big part of that recognition - alongside an award itself - is an invitation to the spectacular gala lunch which celebrates both them and their outstanding achievements.

And it will be more spook-tacular than spectacular this year, after organisers settled on a Halloween theme for the 2017 culmination.

The Children's Awards are supported by Ward & Partners and the Kent Community Foundation, as well as the KM Media Group.

This year's gala lunch, to which children and their families will be invited, takes place on Friday, October 27 from 12.30pm until 3.30pm.

The venue is the Maidstone Mercure Great Danes Hotel near Leeds Castle.

The event is a good mix of both the awards themselves and a celebration aimed at the children invited.

Click here for the entry form

And in line with this year's theme there will be a friendly bunch of witches and ghosts together with their cauldrons, bats and black cats adorning the room to really put all those attending in the Halloween party mood.

Some of those organising the event are also set to cast their own spooky spell by embarking on their own fancy dress to really add to the atmosphere.

The event begins with a drinks reception where a magician is also performing and children can have their faces painted - perhaps in keeping with the spooky theme!

The awards are then presented by Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins - with a break during the ceremony for either a performance by the local band or choir or even a show from the fantastic magician Marc Lemezma to really encourage some audience participation!

And the event finishes with the meal itself - the young winners are guaranteed even more special treatment as their choice of food is served first to their table.

If you know of a child who you think would love to join the party this year, work your own magic and nominate them for an award.

Every year the special group of youngsters nominated for a Children's Award show us a different side to life with their amazing stories of courage, bravery and determination.

And we are now on the look-out for this year's deserving bunch. There are six categories looking for nominations this year - and nominating a child, family or charity that you believe to be deserving is extremely easy.

Simply fill out the form on this page and send it to us, telling us exactly why the person or group that you know deserve county-wide recognition, an invitation to our brilliant Halloween-themed lunch and the chance to win a fabulous prize!

The six awards open for nomination are:

• TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY
  For children with severe disabilities and illnesses who are working to overcome them. Three age groups: 0-5 6-11 12-16
• YOUNG FUNDRAISER
  For the child or group of children who have raised fund for charity
• GOING FOR GOLD
  For achievement in sports, music, visual and performing arts despite disability
• EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG CARER
  For young carers who care for other family members
• COURAGEOUS FAMILY
  For families who coped with severe illness or disability
• OUTSTANDING CHARITY
  Rewarding charitable and voluntary groups who support children who face challenges in life