MVA's VCSEF Leaders Awards 2025
Celebrating the power of leadership across Medway’s vibrant voluntary, community, social enterprise and faith sector.
Celebrating Exceptional Charity Sector Leaders
It was an evening of celebration with wine and canapes generously supported by principle sponsor, Practice Plus Group.
Why did we launch the MVA VCSEF Leaders Awards?
Designed to be transparent, accessible, and truly reflective of the community's appreciation; these awards will celebrate the dedication and passion of sector leaders which largely goes unnoticed. These leaders are the driving force behind vital programmes, support networks, and community initiatives, often working with limited resources and unwavering commitment.
MVA's VCSEF Leaders Awards are a great way to showcase and recognise some remarkable leaders, who have made significant contributions to developing and growing the sector and ultimately making a difference in Medway and within the communities we all serve.
- The James Williams Award for Pioneering Leadership
- Outstanding Collaboration within the Sector
- Generous and Inspiring Leadership within the Sector
- Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Intersectionality
- Exceptional CEO/Director of Micro to Small Organisation (under £100k)
- Exceptional CEO/Director of Medium to Large Organisation (£100k - £1m)
- Exceptional Leader of a Volunteer Led Organisation
- Exceptional Trustee / Most progressive / Dynamic
- Lifetime Achievement
- The 'People’s Choice' Award
MVA are thrilled to have hosted their first Voluntary and Community Sector (VCSEF) Leaders Awards event this week. Electricity was in the air at Gillingham Golf Club, as we celebrated and recognised some exceptional leaders across Medway's vibrant VCS.
MVA's new VCSEF Leaders Awards are a great way to showcase and recognise some remarkable leaders, who have made significant contributions to developing and growing our VCSEF sector and ultimately making a difference in Medway and within the communities we all serve.
The awards night on, held on Wednesday the 5th of March was truly inspirational! The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, a testament to the incredible passion and dedication within our local VCS sector. It was a distinct privilege to be among local VIPs and sector leaders, who gathered to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions being made in our community.
The evening was a powerful reminder of the often-unsung heroes who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to making our corner of the world a better place. From grassroots initiatives tackling social isolation to established organisations providing vital support services, the sheer scope and depth of the work being done and the stories we heard was truly inspiring.
The awards, winners and finalists themselves were, of course, the highlight of the night and we were delighted to welcome the local dignitaries below to help make the recognition of this amazing group of people even more special:
- Judith Armitt - Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent
- Dr Gill Fargher - High Sheriff of Kent
- Cllr Vince Maple - Leader of Medway Council & Awards Host
- Cllr Teresa Murray – Deputy Leader of Medway Council
- Cllr Douglas Hamandishe – Deputy Mayor of Medway.
- Eithne Rynne - CEO - Kent Association for the Blind & Chair of the Medway VCS Leaders Network
Each finalist and award recipient represented a shining example of commitment and innovation. What made the evening particularly special was the opportunity to hear the stories behind the achievements. These weren't just statistics and figures; they were powerful narratives of resilience, empathy, and unwavering belief in the power of community.
Listening to these individuals’ motivations, their challenges, and their triumphs was deeply moving. It reminded us all of the profound impact that passion and dedication can have, especially when channelled into meaningful action.
We are very thankful to the independent judging panel for the awards who had the toughest job by far in selecting the winners. We extend our greatest of thanks for this to Roland Stanley from Dragon Co-working, Susan Robinson formerly of Kreston Reeves and Deputy Mayor of Medway Cllr Douglas Hamandishe.
Our final thanks go to the events main sponsor the Practice Plus Group (PPG), whose support made these awards possible. Lisa McCartney, Business Development Manager at the PPG joined us for the event and shared her heartfelt journey into the sector so far.
The awards were more than just accolades; they were a platform to say thank you. Thank you to the volunteers who give their time so freely. Thank you to the staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Thank you to the leaders who provide vision and guidance. And thank you to the beneficiaries whose lives are positively impacted by the efforts of this vibrant sector.
The VCS sector in Medway is the backbone of our community, and last night's awards served as a powerful reminder of its importance. The incredible passion, innovation, and dedication on display left a lasting impression and served as an inspiration for us all to continue supporting and championing the vital work being done within the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.
Let's continue to celebrate these local heroes and work together to build a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.
Click HERE to find out more about the winners of the 2025 awards.
Click HERE to check out the awards video collage.