Maidstone Hospital volunteer, Mike Williams has won the Volunteer Award in the BBC Local Make A Difference Awards in recognition of his incredible 44-year volunteering career. The awards celebrate people doing extraordinary things in their communities.

Mike started his volunteering journey with Maidstone Lions, and for nine years he was a volunteer driver, delivering supplies for a local foodbank. He also volunteers as a river warden, picking up litter and reporting on invasive species, finds the time to fundraise for other local charities, supports local theatre groups, and is particularly proud of forming a litter picking group in Wateringbury, his local village, which won a Kent Community Shield.

Mike has been a League of Friends volunteer at Maidstone Hospital for 30 years; he spent 28 years going around the wards selling stock from the League of Friends trolley, and most recently has worked in the Friends’ second-hand bookshop.

From his early years, growing up in London, Mike says he’s always had a social conscience, and has always wanted to help people less fortunate. In an interview with BBC Radio Kent in the summer, Mike described the “buzz” he gets from volunteering.

The Kent winners were announced at a ceremony at The Smithery, in Chatham, on Wednesday.

Speaking after the event, Mike said: “It feels wonderful to have won a Make a Difference award. I have been volunteering for 44 years and it feels great that my work has been recognised. Volunteering is really good for your wellbeing, and it allows you to connect with other people and make a real difference. I just really enjoy helping people in any way that I can.”

Maidstone Hospital League of Friends Chair, Gareth Owen, said: “We are thrilled Mike has won this award. From fundraising to ward trolleys, and from the bookshop to our tea bar, our volunteers give hundreds of hours of their time each month, and make such a difference to our local hospital. We are delighted that his contribution has been recognised.”

Anne-Marie Stevens-Swain, the Trust’s Voluntary Services Manager, added: “We have over 250 volunteers and they make a real difference to our patients and staff. They’re a vital part of our day-to-day work across all our hospitals, and we are delighted Mike’s extraordinary contribution to the Maidstone Hospital League of Friends has been recognised with the Volunteer Award.”