Do you know an environmental or community hero?
Dover District Council (DDC) is announcing the third year of its popular environmental awards scheme.
The REACH Awards (Recognising Environmental And Community Heroes) recognise our district’s unsung heroes who work hard to improve the appearance of the Dover District, help to maintain our environment and unite the local community.
Split into five different categories, the scheme acknowledges those individuals and groups who work tirelessly to make a difference, as well as local businesses who are putting the environment at the top of their agenda.
The awards are free to enter, and candidates can nominate themselves or others in the following categories:
• Litter picker of the year (over 18)
• Junior litter picker of the year (under 18)
• Green Business Award
• Community Impact Award
• Green School Award
Individuals, schools, and groups will be recognised for activities that help to make our district a clean and greener place to live such as organising litter picks, reducing the amount of paper and plastic that they use, recycling, upcycling, and reusing items such as furniture and clothes.
For local businesses, the judges are looking for those who have introduced initiatives to become more sustainable to help the planet. This could be anything from conserving water, using greener products, encouraging greener ways of travelling to work, planting shrubs or trees and recycling more to using alternative energy sources for power.
The community project will be judged on community initiatives that successfully draw residents together to work towards a common goal. This could be an informal group or a more established local charity, working hard to demonstrate that they’re caring for and improving the environment, and making a difference to the lives of local people.
The winners of each category will receive a certificate, an award trophy and official recognition at an awards ceremony to be held locally in June 2024. The awards scheme will support this year’s Great British Spring Clean campaign, which takes place from 15 to 31 March.
Cllr Jamie Pout, Cabinet member for Environmental Services, said: “I’m delighted to launch the council’s REACH awards once again this year recognising those who tirelessly do so much for our local area. This popular scheme is judged on inspiration, achievement and environmental impact while acknowledging our local volunteers, community groups, schools and businesses for all the good work they do to help make our district a cleaner, greener and better place to live. We very much look forward to receiving entries for all categories.”
To nominate yourself or others, please visit www.dover.gov.uk/GBSC for further information. The closing date for entries is Monday 6 May 2024.
Notes to editors
The Great British Spring Clean is hosted by Keep Britain Tidy. Back for its ninth year (15 – 31 March), it encourages the nation to get involved in clearing litter from parks, streets and open spaces. This year’s theme is ‘The environment belongs to everyone’ and DDC is supporting the scheme once again.
Posted on 27 February 2024