Revival Community Awards – Champions Crowned in Canterbury
The inaugural Revival Community Awards was held at Canterbury Christ Church University on Sunday 29 March in front of an invited audience of 160 people.
The awards ceremony celebrated the individuals reviving our businesses, clubs and charities. Winners included unsung heroes of the workplace, volunteers, community and business leaders, as well as champions of mental health.
The event was staged by Whitstable-based social enterprise Revival Food & Mood, and East Kent Mind, and was supported by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Keji Moses, Barretts Kent, SouthEastern, Active Life, Canterbury Christ Church University, CommunityAd, Guildcrest Estates, the Sustainable Printworks, and Whitefriars and The Riverside.
The winners and champions pictured at the Revival Community Awards ceremony at Canterbury Christ Church University
More than 40 Revival Community Awards winners across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay received formal recognition at the awards ceremony. Of those winners, 14 Champions were announced.
The event was hosted by Simon Dolby, Mind in Bexley and East Kent’s Development Lead, and Nicola Everett, Newsreader from KMFM. It also included an opening speech by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Keji Moses, and a keynote speech by author Julie Wassmer. The event was hosted by Simon Dolby, Mind in Bexley and East Kent’s Development Lead, and Nicola Everett, Newsreader from KMFM. It also included an opening speech by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Keji Moses, and a keynote speech by author Julie Wassmer. The event was hosted by Simon Dolby, Mind in Bexley and East Kent’s Development Lead, and Nicola Everett, Newsreader from KMFM. It also included an opening speech by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Keji Moses, a keynote speech by author Julie Wassmer, and the Reflection provided by Paul Barrett for Barrett’s Motor Group.
Martin Ward receives his award from Paul Barrett and author Julie Wassmer
Deborah Haylett, Revival Food & Mood Executive Director, said: “The Revival Community Awards celebrate the quiet changemakers who make our communities kinder, stronger and more hopeful every single day. At Revival, we see acts of generosity and care happening constantly, neighbours supporting one another, volunteers giving their time, people creating spaces where others feel they belong, laying the foundations for stronger mental health and wellbeing for everyone.
“Revival recognises that real change often begins with small, human acts. At a time when people across Kent are feeling the strain, when the challenges of recent years are still impacting their day-to-day lives, we wanted to shine a light on the remarkable individuals that remind us what is possible when a community comes together. We believe mental health and wellbeing grow from connection, creativity and collective effort, and these awards recognise the individuals who are helping our communities not just cope, but truly thrive.”
Event host, Simon Dolby, said: “The Revival Community Awards is about celebrating the inspirational people and organisations who strengthen our community. People across the country are struggling with their mental health and it is really important to recognise the outstanding work being done locally to improve their wellbeing.”
To read about Revival Food & Mood, please visit: Revival Food & Mood
The 2026 Revival Community Awards Champions are:
The Revival Kindness Champions for 2026 – Diane Wilkin and Lucy Coombs: Playmates Parent and Child Group, Harbour Church
The Revival Fundraising Champion for 2026 – Anne Hill: Royal British Legion, Whitstable Branch
The Revival NHS Champion for 2026 – Herne Bay PCN Health Champions
The Revival Teaching Assistant Champions for 2026 – Katherine Rose and Victoria Cooke: Herne Bay Infant and Nursery School
The Revival Teacher of the Year for 2026 – Lewis Walsh: Pilgrims Way School
The Revival Service Delivery Champions for 2026 – Volunteer drivers: Lynne Gordine, Barry Church, Kirk Potter and Anthony Dennis: Age UK Whitstable and Herne Bay
The Revival Green Organisation of the Year for 2026 – Young Friends of Kingsmead Field
The Revival Charity of the Year for 2026 – The Fifth Trust
The Revival Innovation of the Year title for 2026 – Ray Berry, Maria Howdon and Ross White: East Kent Spurs Supporters Club
The Revival Active Sporting Champion for 2026 – Molly Gosling: MGFit
The Revival Student of the Year for 2026 – Vitoslava Barabolia: Canterbury College
The Revival Volunteers of the Year for 2026 – Liz Rook and Linda Dalton: All Saints Church, Canterbury
The Revival Community Champion for 2026 – Martin Vye: Canterbury Society
The Revival Leader of the Year title for 2026 – Martin Ward: Canterbury Food Bank
To read more about the Community Champions and their amazing stories, read the Revival Community Awards Winners Booklet
For information about the Revival Community Awards, please click: here
