Thanet Community Champions Awards 2026
Vote for your Thanet Community Champion
Supporting the Voluntary Sector in Thanet
Vote for your Thanet Community Champion
Due to the great success of the first ever awards in 2025, Thanet District Council and Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) are excited to announce the launch of the Thanet Community Champion Awards for 2026.
The awards will once again celebrate the fantastic work of the local people and groups dedicated to making Thanet a better place to live. The awards recognise the key role that community groups, charities, and social enterprises play in improving life for local people.
The Thanet Community Champion Awards are funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund. They shine a spotlight on the people that go the extra mile: volunteers, charity workers and youth leaders. They celebrate the quiet heroes that make a big difference.
The winners will be announced at a special event in January 2026. The event is also an opportunity for local charities, community groups and social enterprises to network and share ideas, helping them to have an even greater impact on the community.
Anyone can nominate! We want to hear from you, whether you’re part of a community group or a resident inspired by someone’s work.
If you are unable to complete the online form, you can pick up a paper form from:
The Community Champions Programme supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, by creating opportunities for networking, training and funding support as well as working with the sector to help build capacity and promote collaboration. This support is fully funded.
The programme includes a free leadership course with Stronger Kent Communities, training with Social Enterprise Kent, volunteer support with Kent Coast Volunteering and funding support and mentorship with Funding for All.
The programme is being managed by Thanet District Council as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is commissioning local VCSE organisations to deliver.
The Programme is funded by UK Government.
Email sharedprosperity@thanet.gov.uk for more information.
Visual representation of Community Champions Programme
PermalinkRepresentatives from Thanet’s voluntary, community and social enterprise groups got together on Wednesday 12 March 2025 at the Thanet Community Champions Awards. Hosted by Thanet District Council in partnership with Social Enterprise Kent, the awards honoured the individuals and organisations making a real difference in their communities.
In all, 33 winners were each awarded a framed certificate at the ceremony at The Pavilion in Broadstairs. Nine winners were recognised as overall champions in their category and received an engraved Community Champions award. The overall winner, STAKLife CIC, won the highest accolade, Champion of Champions.
Local people were invited to submit nominations for their Community Champions in October 2025. A total of 157 nominations were received, with the winning entries selected by a panel including the Mayors of Margate, Broadstairs, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Property, Cllr Ruth Duckworth and CEO of Social Enterprise Kent, Rebecca Smith.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Name |
Organisation |
Award |
Sonia Knight | Community Kindness Thanet | Thanet Community Champions Outstanding Individual Award |
Ramsgate Football Club | Ramsgate Football Club | Thanet Community Champions Community Impact Award |
Pie Factory Music | Pie Factory Music | Thanet Community Champions Youth Supporter of the Year Award |
Millmead Children Centre | Millmead Children Centre | Thanet Community Champions Care and Compassion Award |
Broadstairs Town Team | Broadstairs Town Team | Thanet Community Champions Pride in Place Award |
Lisa Sparkes | Sports Connect Community CIC | Thanet Community Champions Health and Wellbeing Award |
Elaine McCarthy | Cliftonville Community Centre | Thanet Community Champions Unity Award |
Nora Setterfield MBE | Thanet Disabled Riding Centre | Thanet Community Champions Dedication and Service Award |
Inspiration Creative CIC | Inspiration Creative CIC | Thanet Community Champions Unsung Hero Award |
STAK Life CIC | STAK Life CIC | Thanet Community Champion of Champions Award |
Winners |
Organisation |
14th Broadstairs Scout Group Leaders | 14th Broadstairs Scout Group |
6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts | 6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts |
Paul Saunders | Age UK Thanet |
Ark Cliftonville | Ark Cliftonville |
Arts Education Exchange – Andrea Kempson | Arts Education Exchange |
Sophie and Lee Carter | Bargain Pet Pantry |
Sue Smith | Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming Club |
Broadstairs Town Team Gardens Groups | Broadstairs Town Team |
Kerry Millett | Broadstairs Town Team |
Tara Challenor | Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) |
Elaine McCarthy | Cliftonville Community Centre |
Sonia Knight | Community Kindness Thanet |
Steve Darling | Dane Valley Woods |
Dickie Faulkner | Dreamland Heritage Trust |
Hornets Boxing Club | Hornets Boxing Club |
Zoe and Peter Hammond – Inspiration Creative CIC | Inspiration Creative CIC |
MARGATE Women’s Institute | Margate Women’s Institute |
Diane Evans and Jan Collins – Millmead Children Centre | Millmead Children Centre |
Kanndiss Riley | NBE Fitness |
Derrick Downs | Oasis Domestic Abuse Service |
Victoria Suchak | Pavilion Community Youth Café and The Zone Youth Club |
Zoë Carassik-Lord & Kirsty McMahon -Pie Factory Music | Pie Factory Music |
Amy Redmond | Power of Women/ Margate Pride |
James Lawson, Ian Heath and Ramsgate Football Club | Ramsgate Football Club |
Daniel Barham | Ramsgate Youth FC |
Rise Up Clean Up Margate | Rise Up Clean Up Margate |
Connor Clarke | Sports Connect Community CIC |
Lisa Sparkes | Sports Connect Community CIC |
Emma and Tristan Kaye and STAK Life CIC Team | STAK Life CIC |
Linda Hardy | Thanet Athletics Club |
Thanet Coastal Wardens | Thanet Coast Project |
Nora Setterfield MBE | Thanet Disabled Riding Centre |
Rory Waitt and Wilderness to Wonderland Team | Wilderness to Wonderland |
Lorna Kane | Windmill Community Gardens Margate |
Yofi Yvorra | Yo Street Zone |
Charlie Euden | Charlies Children |
Email sharedprosperity@thanet.gov.uk for more information.
PermalinkHighly Commended
person / team / organisation |
Organisation name/Individual |
Albe Smith | Volunteer |
Alex Stockley | T50 Boxing Academy |
Amy Cowell | Forward Trust |
Angela Kneller | East Kent Independent Dementia Support Group |
Angela Wright | Volunteer |
Anthony Taylor | Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming Club |
Betty Renz | Individual |
Brett Bone | Your Thanet Quizzes |
Charleen Moxam | Sunshine and Holy Trinity Intergeneration Group |
Charlie Beer | Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming Club |
Claire Parsons | CMK |
Community Street Pastors | Community Street Pastors |
Diarmuid Molloy | The Hive Thanet CIC |
Denise Hill | Nordic Walking Ramsgate |
Derek Harding | Margate Phoenix |
Ellie Small | Liam Payne Memorial |
Discovery Planet’s Team of Assistants | Discovery Planet C.I.C. |
Ellie Jones | Looping the Loop |
Gary Sulaj | Gary’s Pie Shop |
Heidi Moran | Stage Door Arts CIC |
FLINTS Coastal Permaculture | Flints |
Janice Regan | The Serenaders |
Gail Light | BradARA |
Jemma Cullen | Arts in Ramsgate |
Julie Thurman Newell | Sunshine and Holy Trinity Intergeneration Group |
Geri Ross | Individual |
Joshua Mills | Kent County Council |
Jackie Hermitage | Girl Guiding |
Jayne Wright | Tiles of Joy |
Karen Dillon | Individual |
Jemma Scott | Health Visiting – Kent Community Health |
Joyce CoomberSewell | CoomberSewell Training CIC |
June Tyrell | Jacky Bakers Community Action Group |
Margate Coastguard Rescue Team | Margate Coastguard Rescue Team |
Kathy Bailes | Isle of Thanet News |
Maxine Morgan | Western Undercliff Regeneration Group |
Newton See | Flints |
Nic Powley | SkatePharm |
Project Talking Football | Project Talking Football |
Ramsgate Litter Pickers | Ramsgate Litter Pickers |
M and M Personal Assistants Ltd | M and M Personal Assistants Ltd |
Richard Chapman | Thanet Community Development Trust |
Macmillan Crossroads Volunteer Service Team | Macmillan Crossroads Volunteer Service |
Robert Yates | Refugees Welcome Here |
Ross Walker | Bon Volks Studios |
Michael Stocker | The Royal Harbour Academy |
St George’s Community Meal | St George’s Community Meal |
Rhiannon Frame | Sling Sense |
Richard Todd | Thanet Martial Arts Centre |
Sam Pooley and Cliffsend Village Hall Committee | Cliffsend Village Hall |
Sreelatha Vijayan | Royal Care |
Suzy Humphries | Looping the Loop |
Thanet Lions | Thanet Lions |
Still Waters Counselling Service | Still Waters Charity |
Thanet Roadrunners AC | Thanet Roadrunners AC |
Susan Mary Cowell | Thanet Coffee Mates |
Susanne Smith | Macmillan Crossroads Volunteer Service |
Suzi Bee | KCC |
Tarn Clark | Kent Fire and Rescue |
Teresa Askew | Samba Ya Wantsum |
Thanet Mustangs | Thanet Mustangs |
Tilly Agnew | Process Arts CIC / Curiosity Shop Broadstairs |
Tracy Moon | Community Safety Team, Thanet District Council |
Trevor Clarke | Community Street Pastors |
Western Undercliff Regeneration Group | Western Undercliff Regeneration Group |
Veronique Duval | East Kent Mencap Hub, Northdown Road |
Veterans Association | Veterans Association |
Please click here to be taken to link for photographs from Community Champions Conference
PermalinkEVENTS
PermalinkStronger Kent Communities (SKC) provide a range of services to non-profit organisations across Kent.
PermalinkFunding for All is a registered charity that provides training in funding and fundraising for VCSE groups in Kent and Medway.
They do this by building fundraising skills and confidence within VCSE organisations to support:
Thanks to Thanet District Council, as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we will offer Thanet’s VCSEs, free, targeted fundraising support as part of the Community Champions Programme.
Here’s how, and where, you can access support:
For more information about Mentoring
For more information about Events & Training opportunities
PermalinkSEK is proud to deliver the Community Champions Programme in Thanet, designed to strengthen and support local charities and social enterprises.
More information can be found on their website
PermalinkKent Coast Volunteering are the ‘go-to’ place for all things volunteering in Thanet, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe.
Their mission is to connect communities across Thanet, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, through volunteering and community-led projects; supporting volunteers and volunteer involving organisations to meet needs and improve quality of life.
If you would like to get in touch with them please email info@kcv.org.uk
PermalinkThanet Youth Forum – Forum for networking and partnership working opportunities for participating organisations that offer activities for young people. Offer includes; Networking, training, partnerships, support, representation
They believe that all young people should have access to creative journeys.
Thanet Youth Network will provide a community of support in Thanet and collaborate to make that happen
Make contact via Pie Factory Music
Or email thanetyouthnetwork@piefactorymusic.com
Ethos and Values
What we aim to achieve
Who we are
Our core group, who steer the Network, are made up of:
The Thanet Youth Network is made up of over 50 freelancers and representatives from over 30 organisations working with young people in Thanet, including: