Dover District Council (DDC) celebrated the district’s local environmental champions at the REACH Awards ceremony held on Saturday, 25 April, at Kearsney Abbey. Supported by waste management contractor Veolia, the awards recognise unsung heroes, businesses, and schools dedicated to improving the appearance and community spirit of the Dover District.
Pictured: DDC Chairman, Cllr Susan Beer, together with REACH Award winners: Left to right: representatives from Sandown Primary School, Nevaeh McKeown and members of Branching Out. Photo: Dover District Council
The Community Project of the Year Award was presented to Branching Out in Temple Ewell.
This day care provider for adults with learning difficulties serves as a vital village hub, hosting monthly afternoon teas for seniors, tending to village planters, and organizing significant charitable donations for groups like Macmillan and local toddler circles. Their diverse contributions include maintaining an allotment to provide fresh produce for the elderly, conducting monthly litter picks with DDC, and offering essential community services like car washing and Christmas card deliveries.
Sandown School in Deal received the Green Organisation of the Year Award for embedding environmental stewardship into its curriculum.
Through its “Green Zone” initiatives, the school hosts family nature sessions, collaborates with local nurseries on wildlife conservation, and participates in the RSPB Big School’s Birdwatch. Students have demonstrated practical innovation by designing their own litter pickers for community clean-ups and developing an outdoor activity base in partnership with Canterbury’s Kent Christchurch College.
The Litter Picker of the Year (Over 18) award went to Sue and Alan Smith, who were honoured for their tireless daily dedication to cleaning the streets and surrounding areas of Dover.
Their consistent efforts over several years have significantly improved the local environment.
Nevaeh McKeown was named Junior Litter Picker of the Year (Under 18) for her exceptional leadership in school sustainability projects.
Nevaeh played a pivotal role in her school’s collection of eight bags of rubbish during the Great British Spring Clean and remains a vocal advocate for reducing single-use plastics and promoting environmental responsibility among her peers.