Paula Hudgell won two of the borough's community awards. Every winning group, from Tonbridge Repair Cafe to Manor Park junior parkrun, is listed here.

Campaigner Paula Hudgell has won the Outstanding Community Achievement Award at the borough council’s second Community Awards. She also shared the Community Safety Award.

Paula Hudgell led the campaign for Tony’s Law, named after her adopted son Tony.

The winners were honoured at a ceremony hosted by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The council published the full list on Friday. (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council)

The awards began in 2025 to recognise people and groups the council calls the borough’s “often unsung heroes”. Residents sent in the nominations.

The winners at a glance

Award Winners
Outstanding Community Achievement Paula Hudgell
Community Safety Paula Hudgell and SALUS
Environmental Contribution three groups
Outstanding Community Group 23 groups
Individual Volunteer of the Year 13 entries, 14 people
Young Community Champion two young people

Outstanding Community Group

Twenty-three groups won this award, the largest category by far:

  • Riverwalk Music Festival
  • Tonbridge Girlguiding Division Team
  • The Swan Community Project
  • Tonbridge Lions Club
  • FEAST Tonbridge
  • Daily Walk Leaders for Walk 4 Wellbeing at Tonbridge and Malling
  • Tonbridge Baptist Church Volunteers
  • Tonbridge Model Engineering Society
  • Tonbridge Historical Society
  • Tonbridge Rotary Club
  • Royal British Veterans Enterprise
  • The Scotts Project Trust
  • Oaks Specialist College
  • West Kent Mind
  • D.A.V.S.S. (Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services)
  • North and West Kent Citizens Advice
  • The Hygiene Bank
  • The East Malling Centre
  • Age UK (Tonbridge, Maidstone and Sevenoaks)
  • Community Cycleworks
  • Imago
  • Involve Kent
  • Manor Park Junior Parkrun

Environmental Contribution Award

  • The Haysden Volunteer Community Group
  • Walderslade Community Litter Picking Team
  • Tonbridge Repair CafĂ©

The individual awards

Fourteen people were named Individual Volunteer of the Year, across 13 entries (one went to a couple). The council’s announcement lists every name.

The Young Community Champion award went to two young people. SALUS shared the Community Safety Award with Paula Hudgell.

What the council said

Cllr Des Keers, the council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said:

“The success of our second Community Awards demonstrates just how many people across Tonbridge and Malling quietly dedicate their time to helping others. Reading through the nominations was inspiring.”

The council said the winners covered volunteers supporting charities and wellbeing projects, groups running community events and environmental work, and organisations giving practical support.

What it means for you

Most of the winning groups take volunteers or run services anyone in the borough can use:

  • Help with money, housing or work problems: North and West Kent Citizens Advice.
  • Mental health support: West Kent Mind.
  • Gentle exercise: the Walk 4 Wellbeing daily walks, and Manor Park junior parkrun, a free 2k run for 4 to 14 year olds every Sunday at 9am in Manor Park Country Park, West Malling.
  • Toiletries and hygiene products for families who need them: The Hygiene Bank.

If you know a person or group who deserves next year’s award, keep an eye on the council’s news page. Nominations came from residents in both years, and the council has not yet said when the 2027 round opens.

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