COMPASSION, care and campaigning are at the heart of a charity's annual awards as it shines the light on Oxfordshire's 'hidden army'.

Backed by the Oxford Mail, Age UK Oxfordshire is urging the community to nominate volunteers, paid staff, organisations and public services which have gone the extra mile in delivering care for residents in the county for a Dignity in Care Award.

For Professor George Smith, a judge on this year's panel, the awards hold a special place in his heart.

His wife Josie Smith was dedicated to helping others and would stop at nothing to ensure people got the support they needed.

Following her death in 2014 at the age of 76, it was decided that one of the seven awards should be named in her honour.

Professor Smith, chairman of health watchdog Healthwatch Oxfordshire, said: "She was the sunshine in my life.

"I remember when I would work late at the university and I would try to phone home it would always be engaged as people would still be calling Josie for help and advice.

"She was a unique person, a remarkable force for good in the lives of the people around her.

"And for my family it is wonderful to see how others are following in Josie's footsteps."

For 40 years Mrs Smith, who lived in Eynsham, was the primary carer for her mother, who was severely disabled after she was trapped in a terrible fire back in the 1960s.

But it was not just her family she looked after.

Being heavily involved in Oxfordshire Carers Forum, she immersed herself in the system to help people secure the funding and care they needed for their loved ones.

Professor Smith added: "With the Josie's Award we are looking for nominations that embody the three Cs: care, compassion for others and campaigning.

"We want individuals who are making a real difference to care in Oxfordshire."

In Oxfordshire there are approximately 62,000 carers who look after a family member, friend or neighbour.

It is estimated that nationally unpaid carers will provide £132bn worth of care, with the biggest age group of carers being 50 to 60 years old.

Chairwoman of this year's panel and trustee of Age UK Oxfordshire, Dr Judith Wardle, said care work was all about 'giving yourself.'

She added: "Very often both people who are paid care workers and family carers feel undervalued.

"The awards are about bringing people together to celebrate how special they truly are.

"We want to hear about volunteers who have gone above and beyond as well as public services and even businesses who have stepped up to help others."

Head of carer support at Carers Oxfordshire, Kay Francis, said the county's 'hidden army' needs to be celebrated and the annual awards ceremony is the perfect opportunity to do that.

She added: "What these people do is nothing short of remarkable.

"And although a lot of them probably will see this as something that they just have to do, they need to be told how brilliant they are.

"Also when we think of carers we assume they are looking after someone who is elderly, frail and most likely will have dementia.

"But this is not the case, carers look after people with learning disabilities or physical disabilities."

Carers Oxfordshire supports thousands of carers and their families in the county, but Mrs Francis hopes the awards will also encourage more people to come forward and ask for help.

She added: "It usually takes between two and four years before a carer recognises that they are acting as a carer.

"We would love more people to come to us, even if it is just for a chat, it is not a failure at all to use us – we are here for you."

Nominations for this year's awards close on Monday, October 2 and awards will be handed out later this autumn, with a date and venue to be announced soon.