As healthcare providers know only too well, friends really will be there for you when the rain starts to pour.

In Kent, friends groups support hospitals and medical centres across the county – raising money to pay for anything from furniture to state-of-the-art medical equipment.

For the individuals who make up such groups, volunteering is all too often its own reward – but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome some recognition of the contribution they make.

And one way to do that is by nominating them for the Kent Volunteering Awards.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the awards are designed to celebrate and reward the work of the thousands of people who work selflessly and unpaid every day to provide invaluable community services across Kent, Medway, Bexley and Bromley.

KM Charity Team acting general manager Karen Brinkman said: “Friends groups are such an asset for hospitals and medical centres.

“The volunteers involved show such dedication and loyalty raising money and providing support services to improve the hospital experience for patients, visitors and staff.

“So it would be wonderful to see some of them recognised with nominations for the Kent Volunteering Awards.”

In addition, to health sector and education volunteering, the awards aim to champion employer-assisted volunteering schemes; community volunteering through clubs, youth groups and charities; and volunteer carers.

They are backed by third-sector support group Stronger Kent Communities, the EKC Group, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and the KM Group.

Anybody can submit nominations for either individuals or teams of volunteers, and the deadline for doing so is October 27. Find out more and submit entries here.