Good causes in Thanet have a chance to receive a share of £10,000.

The money will be shared among the winners of the Thanet Community Awards, whose application process is now open.

The awards are open to all good causes, parent-teacher associations and individual volunteers making a real difference to the community in Thanet.

They are run by a partnership comprising offshore wind farm London Array, Westwood Cross shopping centre and the Thanet Extra.

Westwood Cross, London Array and the Thanet Extra will each present a cheque to a chosen charity for £2,000 at the awards night, and another £4,000 will be awarded to three runner-up charities and three individual volunteers.

In addition, Westwood Cross and Thanet Extra will champion their chosen causes for 12 months.

Westwood Cross centre manager Fran Donovan said: “Westwood Cross Shopping Centre is proud to be a headline sponsor of the inaugural Thanet Community Awards. Being at the heart of the Thanet community, we encounter so many remarkable projects and people, and this is our way of recognising and rewarding those that are passionate about making this an incredible area to live and work in.

“Through the Thanet Community Awards we will learning more about the splendid work that goes on often by small groups and unsung heroes and it will be our pleasure to adopt a worthy cause to be our charity of the year as well as awarding them a cheque for £2,000.”

London Array general manager Jonathan Duffy said: “As a Ramsgate-based organisation employing many local people, we are delighted to be involved with the Thanet Community Awards and to co-sponsor them.

“In the eight years since we opened the wind farm’s operations and maintenance base at the port, we have become very aware of the strength of the community in Thanet and the many admirable voluntary groups and charities operating in the area.

“The awards will help give these organisations the recognition they are due for the excellent work they carry out.”

And Mr Dolby added: “These awards are open to good causes, PTAs and volunteers from across Thanet. Entry is simple, with no restrictions at all on who can submit nominations.

“You can either nominate your own organisation or an individual or good cause that is close to your heart.

“The only thing that we do demand is that nominees must be making a significant difference to the local community. There’s no downside to submitting an application, but the potential benefits are huge.

“Not only will an award provide an enormous boost to morale, but the winners will share £10,000 in prize money, and you could end up benefitting from having one of the supporting companies champion the cause for a year.”

The prize-giving ceremony will take place at a Thanet venue in January. You have until November 27 to submit nominations, and can do so at www.ThanetCommunityAwards.co.uk.

To find out more, contact Karen Brinkman at the KM Charity Team on 0844 264 0291 or at kbrinkman@thekmgroup.co.uk.

The KM Charity Team delivers literacy, road safety and walk to school initiatives to support schools, families and children – as well as supporting the charitable sector by staging collaborative fundraising events. Find out more at www.KmCharityTeam.co.uk.