Good causes could benefit from a year’s worth of free PR if they nominate themselves to become KM Charities of the Year.

And a KM Charity of the Year ambassador working with vulnerable, isolated and disadvantaged people across the county has highlighted the fact that it is not necessary for nominees to be registered charities.

Kent Community Foundation chief executive Josephine McCartney said: “That type and level of PR support is invaluable ... You cannot buy it.”

She said the foundation wanted to encourage other charities to submit nominations, adding: “You don’t have to be a registered charity to apply.”

The deadline for submitting nominations is October 27, and charity of the Year status runs for the calendar year from January to December.

Each of the KM Group’s nine main editions and Kent Online, kmfm and kmtv will choose their own charity partner to champion for the year via their pages and platforms.

The chosen charities will also have the chance to benefit from the KM Charity Team’s many fundraising challenges such as abseils, the Big Bike Ride, Buster’s Charity Firewalk, the Colour Run, the Dragon Boat Race and the Big Charity Quiz.

And Ms McCartney pointed out that an added bonus of KM Charity of the Year status was that selected causes had the opportunity of being awarded the KM Charity Mark for use in their marketing and communications resources and materials.

She said: “That is a real recognition of the work that you do and the impact that you have in your local communities.”

Find out more and make nominations at www.kmcharityteam.co.uk. Alternatively, contact the KM Charity Team on 0844 264 0291

And Watch a video in which Josephine McCartney talks about the scheme here: