That’s a wrap for the 2026 Folkestone & Hythe District Excellence in Volunteering Awards!
On Thursday 4th June 2026 the Harbour Church Folkestone welcomed over 250 guests for the annual Folkestone & Hythe District Excellence in Volunteering Awards.
Organised by Kent Coast Volunteering and supported by Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Eurotunnel and the National Lottery Community Fund, the awards celebrate and recognise the amazing volunteers within the community that effortlessly offer their time and skills for free to help others.
The Judging panel consisted of Jyostna Leney – Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Cllr Mike Blakemore – Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Tony Vaughan – Member of Parliament for Folkestone & Hythe, Gavin Hitchman – Volunteer Connector Romney Marsh Community Hub, Cam Fitzwilliam-Grey – Kent Coast Volunteering Trustee and Cllr Pauline Curran – Mayor of Hythe.
The event was presented by Lucy Freeman, and the awards were presented by Deputy Lieutenant of Kent – Susie Warran-Smith.
Catering was provided by The Beacon Café, videography by Liu Batchelor – LVB Creative and photography by Paul Hunt Photography.
The categories were:
Governance:
WINNER- Dan Hulme, Trustee at The Howletts Wild Animal Trust, The Evie Dove Foundation, The Folkestone Leas Lift Company, The Rose Ayling Ellis Foundation, Goals 4 Girls, and CEO of The Sports Trust
Runner Up – Dhan Gurung, The Ghurka Memorial Fund
Runer Up – Mark Champion, St Peter’s Church of England Primary School
Youth:
WINNER – Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
Runner-up – Kent (Marine) Cadet Force
Runner-up – Lyminge Primary Stage Stars
Group:
WINNER – Romney Marsh Community Hub
WINNER – The Danny Gallivan Trust
Runner-up – Hythe & Saltwood Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
Corporate:
WINNER – Holiday Extras
Runner-up – Saga
Runner-up – Eurotunnel
Special Mention: Match Estates
Individual:
WINNER – Lesley Hughes, Folkestone & Hythe District Mencap
Runner-up – Barry Vincer, Hythe & Saltwood Royal British Legion
Runner-up – Darren Madden, Kent Coast Volunteering – volunteer driver
Environmental:
WINNER – Hythe in Bloom
Runner-up – Go Folkestone Electrical Recycling
Runner-up – Folkestone Wombles
Runner-up – Eurotunnel
We would like to thank the supporters, the nominators, and of course the wonderful nominees who without them we would not have had a reason to celebrate and recognise their outstanding achievements within the volunteering world.
More photos to come!