Educational Resources

LitterLotto is a new initiative, supported by Thanet District Council, that gives people the chance to win prizes, simply by binning their litter!

Once you have downloaded the Litterlotto app, you upload photos of yourself binning litter to be entered into a monthly jackpot! On-the-spot prizes are also available for lucky LitterLotto players. Find out more at LitterLotto.com.

Litter Lotto funds all prizes associated with using the app. Jackpot prizes are supported by their corporate partners which are global brands.

Councillor Bob Bayford, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Special Projects at Thanet District Council, said:

“We are delighted to be the first council in the UK to roll out the LitterLotto initiative, which will work in parallel with our ongoing anti-litter education and behaviour change campaigns to help keep our district clean and litter-free.

“LitterLotto not only benefits the people who can win prizes for binning their litter, but it will also incentivise people in Thanet to do the right thing with their rubbish which helps protect the environment in our communities and beyond.”

Head over to litterlotto.com for more information, including the official rules of the draw!

• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 6
• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 5
• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 4
• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 3
• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 2
• Action Against Litter Newsletter – Issue 1

We’re happy to come into local schools and help teach pupils about the importance of looking after their environment. Sessions can be adapted to suit the needs of the school and the age of students (Key Stage 1,2 and 3). Topics can include:

• The impact of littering and how students can help prevent it
• The importance of recycling your waste
• How to reduce the amount of waste you produce
• Why cleaning up after your dog is important

To find out more or to arrange a visit contact our Education Officer, Lisa Collingwood, at education@thanet.gov.uk or on 01843 577000

Thanet District Council is proud to be part the of the Eco School Programme, in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy. The programme recognises our commitment to working with our local schools and communities to help improve the education around the impact that our actions have on the environment and surroundings. To find out more about the Eco School Programme please go to www.eco-schools.org.uk

Term 1 September – December 2021

• Topic – Anti Littering
• Aim – The aim for the school is to keep all school grounds clear from littering and the local surrounding area. Link up with AQA Unit Awards and Green Flag Schools Awards (Eco Schools) & The Thanet Anti-littering team, book a teaching session or order activities.
• Action – Bin It! To the beat (Mars Wrigley Campaign)- create songs and rhythms whilst putting items in the bin. Make percussion instruments/shakers out of recycled materials.
• Evaluation – Share results and add to the Action Against Litter Newsletter 3 Thanet District Council

Term 2 January – April 2022

• Topic – Fly-tipping and Dog Fouling
• Aim – Understand the impacts of waste. Increase understanding of impacts from littering around Schools/Colleges. Link up with the Thanet Anti-littering team, book a session or order activities, link up with AQA Unit Scheme Awards.
• Action – Promote understanding of waste and littering (GCSE Science Bitesize Biodiversity)
• Evaluation – Share results and add to the Action Against Litter Newsletter 4 Thanet District Council

Term 3 May – August 2022

• Topic – Littering and the Local Environment
• Aim – Link up with the Education Team, Thanet Anti-littering Team and Thanet Coastal Team, book a teaching session or order activities, Link with AQA Unit Scheme Awards.
• Action – Promote understanding of the Local Environment. Join the Great British Spring Clean 2022.
• Evaluation – Share results and add to the Action Against Litter Newsletter 5 Thanet District Council

There are a range of educational materials that can be used in the classroom or whilst at our beaches.

• Recycle for Thanet educational booklet. Activities for primary aged children. Teaching them about the importance of looking recycling and looking after the environment.
• Fun and learning at the seaside. A selection of different activities for primary aged children covering a range of subjects – the perfect accompaniment to a trip to the coast.
• Thanet Coast Project learning zone. A wide range of activities to supplement a trip to the coastline.

Schools, clubs or large group excursions to Thanet’s coast can enjoy the beaches or view the variety of marine and coastal wildlife around the coastline depending upon if the tide is in or out. Groups should use the online form to let us know that they are planning a visit to the beach.

The Thanet Coast Project can assist with activities like Seashore Safaris (over ‘Low Tide’ times only) or Scavenger Hunts & Beach Art for a small charge to help cover our costs. For more information, please submit school/group details on the notification form or contact for availability at: thanet.coast@thanet.gov.uk

Beach Safety:  Please read the RNLI’s advice to have fun and stay safe.  Learn to recognise the safety flags, understand rip current, waves and tides; safe use of inflatables and bodyboards; an staying safe in the sun or sea.

RNLI Lifeguarded beaches: please look up the lifeguarded beaches and details of where and when they will present, for extra safety on your visit.

We’re all in our homes more than ever before. Find out how you can be more environmentally friendly and help improve our planet by taking our 12 ways in 12 days challenge.

12 ways in 12 days are just some of many ideas we can use to help make a difference. There are more than 12 things you can do within the list, just pick one from each category.

If you’re up for the 12 day challenge, do one thing from the list everyday for a fortnight and please remember to share with your friends too.

1. Food and Cooking – Time to organise the food cupboards and use up the food that is already there. Donate what you are not going to use by calling us on (01843) 577330. Eat healthily and plan meals in advance. Batch cook and freeze food. Be creative and have fun in the kitchen, challenge your friends and family and have a video cook off with leftovers from the night before. Compost food waste.
2. Cleaning and Tidying – declutter but do not throw away. Use natural cleaning products like vinegar. When tidying and decluttering instead of throwing away and buying new, refil, reuse and recycle. Remember to give unwanted items away.
3. Textiles and Clothing – Try wardrobe management, get organised and look at www.loveyourclothes.org.uk for ideas. Reduce your wardrobe space, reuse items and recycle or give away. Find a textile recycling bank.
4. Plants and Gardening – Save on money, packaging and waste at home by growing your own food. Save your seeds and plant vegetables, herbs and bee/butterfly loving flowers. You don’t need much space – a window sill, door step or balcony is fine. Put carrot tops on a saucer to grow them again. For more ideas look at www.rhs.org.uk.
5. Transport – Leave your car, save fuel, get healthy and walk or cycle. Whilst walking you can enjoy the local wildlife. Count and identify the different birds, plants, insects and animals you see on your walk. You might be surprised and it’s fun to do on your own or with others. When out walking, please follow our Dogs and our beaches Code.
6. Energy – Save energy and DIY small jobs at home. Turn lights and appliances off when not in use. Batch cook and freeze meals. Use candles. Reuse as much as you can.
7. Water – Efficient showers, hand wash dishes, reuse water where possible to water your plants (for example leave vegetable/pasta/rice water to cool and use to make gravy or to water plants).
8. Waste – Get it right! Avoid fines. Please do not litter.
   We are privileged to have so many beautiful beaches and parks in Thanet. Please do your bit and leave only footprints. This means putting litter in a bin or, if you cannot find a bin or the bins are full, then please take it home with you. Remember you could face an on the spot fine of £100 for littering.

Do not fly tip or you could be fined from £400 up to £50,000. Read more at https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/faqs/advice/fly-tipping-and-law

Remember you can book a visit to Margate’s Household Waste Recycling Centre online at www.kent.gov.uk or arrange a bulky waste collection by calling (01843) 577115. There is a minimum charge of £25.50 for collection of up to 5 items or up to 15 black sacks (70/80 litres) of household rubbish.

9. Retail – Shop local, shop zero waste and think ‘do I really need to buy this?’ before purchasing anything. Can you reuse something you already have? Use a bag for life. Look for the recycle symbol on product packaging before you buy.
10. Internet – Limit internet shopping to limit carbon footprint.
11. Wildlife and Pets – Have a bird song guessing game. All birds have unique songs which you can identify with RSPB’s Bird Song identifier. Make a bird feeder, a mini pond or a Wormery. Kent Wildlife Trust has a list of activities for families to do whilst at home together.
12. Location – Wherever possible, buy local products from local shops and support the local economy. Buy sustainable products and check labels and packaging for the recycle logo.

How environmentally kind are you? How many of the things listed above do you do already? Did you score 12/12?

Thanet District Council is now registered as an approved centre with AQA* and will be working with local schools and colleges to help young people receive recognition for their experience and achievements. 

Thanet District Council is approved by AQA to deliver ‘The Unit Award Scheme’ (UAS). The UAS is a scheme that allows for the unique recording of achievements in line with criteria set by AQA. Whilst not a qualification, it offers learners the opportunity to have their achievements formally recognised with a certificate each time a short unit of learning is successfully completed.

The following are some of the environmentally related subject units we deliver and assess;

• Eco warrior
• Litter picking Unit 1
• Litter picking Unit 2
• Litter picking Unit 3
• Litter picking Unit 4
• Eco warrior
• Litter picking and path clearing
• Introduction to the environment and the impact of human activity
• Science : environment 

How it works- we provide bespoke learning and assessment to educational establishments following specific criteria set by AQA. For an enrollment fee, we register your learners and deliver the chosen AQA Units (examples listed above) and on completion issue certification. 

Working in partnership with local educational establishments, Eco Schools and AQA, we will help support learning and achievement and at the same time improve our local environment. Education prompts behaviour change and provides a platform and understanding for a cleaner, better future. 

Links with AQA Qualifications

UAS can be used with most of the Entry Level Certificates (ELC) and Personal and Social Education (PSE) qualifications. This approach can be used:

• as a stepping stone towards achieving a full qualification
• to accredit the work done by students who have not managed to complete enough units to gain the overall qualification.

To help your learners benefit from the UAS book an educational visit from our team and we will deliver free UAS linked workshops, please see our example Littering Lesson Plan  .

For more information on bespoke UAS learning plans for your pupils contact education@thanet.gov.uk.

*AQA, formerly the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, is an awarding body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. AQA compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A level and offers vocational qualifications and Unit Awards.