The volunteers who make up the membership of the Whitstable Oyster Festival Association have today been awarded in the Highly Commended category of the Arts section of the 2008 Kent Volunteers Awards for Volunteering Excellence. 

 Collecting the award on behalf of the WOFA members at the Gala Awards Ceremony, WOFA secretary Brian Baker, said, "It is an honour and a surprise to be recognised for doing something we all enjoy. We have never really regarded ourselves as volunteers, just a group of people who are proud of Whitstable and have been given the opportunity to continue its heritage and traditions in a way that enthuses the community and enchants visitors."

The citation states:

Whitstable Oyster Festival Association

The Whitstable Oyster Festival is a unique celebration of Whitstable’s traditions, heritage and spirit, welcoming visitors to share its rich culture and to join in the fun and festivities of the working fishing town. However none of this would be possible if not for the people that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it happen. Year on year volunteers give up more and more of their time to ensure that the festival is constantly evolving to provide locals and visitors alike with a true ‘Whitstable experience’.

The Kent Volunteers Awards for Volunteering Excellence aim to seek out volunteers of all ages involved in the whole spectrum of activities and to recognise and thank them for the work they do across the county.

The awards scheme is run with the support of Kent County Council and businesses and has grown to become an annual event. Thousands of nominations have been received, highlighting the amazing stories that have encouraged more people to take up volunteering. The Arts section for 2008 was sponsored by the Marlowe Theatre. (Opens in a new window.)