The search is on for people who have gone the extra mile to help Kent’s children and young people reconnect to the activities they missed out on during the pandemic.

The Reconnect Community Awards are looking for nominations for people, groups and organisations, and young volunteers aged 18 or under, who have provided new and exciting projects and activities for children and young people to help them get back to their pre-Covid lives.

Nominations are also welcome from individuals, groups or organisations who have provided extra support to children and young people who were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Sue Chandler, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said: “The community response to the Reconnect programme has been overwhelming and they have created some fantastic opportunities for children and young people to reconnect to their pre-pandemic lives.

Sue Chandler: “The Reconnect programme has created some fantastic opportunities.”

“The Reconnect Community Awards aim to shine a light on and give some well-deserved recognition to the people and organisations in Kent that have gone above and beyond to make such a positive difference to our children and young people.”

There are seven award categories, including a Young Volunteer Award and an Outstanding Individual Award. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel and those shortlisted as finalists in each category will be invited to attend the Reconnect Celebration Event on 6 October 2022, where the winners will be announced.

The winners will be awarded a trophy and certificate and the winner of the Outstanding Individual Award and the Young Volunteer Award will both receive a voucher.

Nominations close at midnight on 23 August 2022.

For full details of the awards and to submit a nomination, please visit the Reconnect website.

Award categories:

1. Outstanding Individual Award – an individual who has gone above and beyond to help children and young people in Kent reconnect to their pre-pandemic lives.
2. Young Volunteer Award– a young person (aged 18 or under) who has volunteered in their community and helped to support other children and young people.
3. Learning Award– a group or organisation that has helped children and young people reconnect to their education.
4. Wellbeing Award– a group or organisation that has supported the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people during the pandemic.
5. Sport and Activities Award– a group or organisation that has helped children and young people reconnect to sports and outdoor activities.
6. Community Award– a group or organisation that has supported children and young people to reconnect to their friends, families and communities.
7. Employability Award– a group or organisation that has supported young people to engage with employment opportunities and job prospects since the pandemic.

About Reconnect

The Reconnect: Kent Children and Young People Programme was created in April 2021 to try to reconnect children and young people with things they have missed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Young people have told us that they want to return to doing fun activities with friends and family, enjoy new experiences such as festivals and camping, start their hobbies again and take part in clubs, and enjoy the outdoors by taking part in activities such as climbing and kayaking.

Reconnect is a universal programme, focussing on providing positive experiences and opportunities for Kent’s children and young people, in recognition of the sacrifices they have made throughout the pandemic. The programme runs from April 2021 to the end of August 2022.