Recognising our Environmental and Community Hero Award Winners

DDC hosted a prize giving ceremony on Saturday 14 June in the Billiards Room at Kearsney Abbey, to reward some of our community’s local environmental heroes.

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, helping to maintain our environment and unite the local community.

They are supported by Eco Green Communities, who provide environmental dispensing stations with free biodegradable dog waste bags for the public in the district’s parks, footpaths, beaches and green spaces.

Split into four different categories, the scheme acknowledges those individuals and groups who work tirelessly to make a difference, as well as local businesses and schools who are putting the environment at the top of their agenda.

The awards were free to enter, and candidates could nominate themselves or be nominated by others across four categories. Many worthy entries were received for the panel of judges at DDC to review, and the winners in each category are:

• Community Project of the Year Award – Dover Swap Shop

• Green Organisation of the Year Award – Temple Ewell CEP School

• Litter Picker of the Year (over 18 category) – Shane Lamoon

• Junior Litter Picker of the Year (under 18 category) – Florence Warburton

When considering the winners for each category, the judges were looking for a clear passion and a consistent focus on making a difference.  

Dover Swap Shop Run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers from the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Dover Swap Shop is a powerful example of how small, volunteer-led projects can have a big impact on both sustainability and social wellbeing.

Founded in 2018 by Lizzie Holt, the initiative was inspired by the need to offer local families a place to exchange children's clothes, toys, books and more. The goal was simple: to reduce waste, save families money and build connections within the community.

What began as a small idea at the local charity Bechange has since grown into a thriving event held every other month at Beaconsfield Church Hall.

The Swap Shop has become an essential resource, especially in light of the rising cost of living.

Helping families to swap items they no longer needed, allowing them to refresh their children's wardrobes, access new books and toys, and avoid the waste of items being sent to landfill.

This initiative also creates a space for families to meet, share experiences and build relationships, strengthening the fabric of the community.

Temple Ewell CEP School Temple Ewell CEP believes that climate education is not a one-off project — it’s a mindset and a movement. Their staff, pupils, and families have come together to create a culture where sustainability is second nature.

They’re proud that pupils are not only learning about climate action — they are leading it. Through their creativity, compassion and commitment, they have demonstrated that even a small school can make a big difference.

Pupils have collected natural materials to create a thriving bug hotel near St Peter and St Paul’s Church, fostering habitats for insects and promoting hands-on nature learning.

They have tackled marine pollution by creating animal sculptures made from recycled materials, delivering assemblies and recording mini-films to share their learning across the school.

Pupils have also curated environmental books for class libraries to ensure ongoing impact. Some have visited a Nepalese community farm in Postling, where they explored crop growing, soil sustainability and food systems. They planted seeds, met members of the Nepalese community, and engaged with issues of global farming and sustainability — bringing together environmental science and cultural learning.

Through creative curriculum days and a Dragon’s Den-style pitch event, pupils explored water sustainability and safety. Year 6 pupils designed inventions to conserve water and reflected on river safety through artwork and discussion. These activities embedded environmental understanding through problem-solving and innovation.

Shane Lamoon Shane has been cleaning the area of Tower Hamlets for years and supports the town in many ways. He regularly litter picks and he cleans up around the children’s play area and football area at the local park in Northbourne Avenue. This is cleared up on a regular basis and he also reports anything to the appropriate people if necessary.

Florence Warburton Florence was nominated for her dedication to keeping where she lives litter free and engaging with the community where she lives. She was described as an inspiration to young and older people in Ash.

Florence keeps the village looking beautiful, ensuring it is clean, tidy and a safe haven for precious wildlife. Come rain or shine, Florence has attended every community litter pick event in the village and enjoys being with people who share her passion.

Presenting the awards, DDC Chairman, Cllr Susan Beer, said: “It has been an honour to present awards this year to our environmental and community heroes.

“The entries were judged on inspiration, achievement and environmental/community impact. I would also like to recognise all our other local volunteers, community groups, schools and businesses for all the magnificent work they do to help make our district a cleaner, greener and better place to live.”

Ian Pomfrett, of Eco Green Communities, said: “We are pleased to be supporting Dover District Council’s REACH Awards to recognise those who help to make their district a cleaner and better place to live. Our dispensing stations, funded by local business advertising, encourage residents to do the right thing and put their litter or dog waste in the bin.”

Notes to editors

This is the fourth year of DDC’s REACH Awards.

Individuals, organisations and groups are 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 organisations, the judges were looking for any business within the district that has taken action to have a positive impact on the environment and the community they serve.

The community project looks to recognise and celebrate the work of a community or individual/group of local volunteers who are working hard to improve the district. This could be, for example, offering accessible services, hosting litter picks or building a community hub, making a difference to the lives of local people.

For anyone inspired by our REACH award winners, there’s further information on how to get involved in litter picking our local area at Community Clean Ups

Pictured: DDC Chairman, Cllr Susan Beer, together with REACH Award winners: Left to right: Representatives from Temple Ewell CEP School, Florence Warburton, Shane Tomlinson and Lizzie Holt representing Dover Swap Shop.