BBC Make a Difference Awards

Surrey Choices win the Environmental Award at the BBC Make a Difference Awards

The Growth Team at Surrey Choices has won the Environmental Award at the BBC Surrey and Sussex Make a Difference Awards. The awards are to recognise a group or an individual who help make communities more environmentally friendly. The Growth Team won their award due to their commitment to green spaces in Surrey, including clearing hundreds of trees and unwanted vegetation by maintaining and managing local community areas across the county. They have helped improve sites for wildlife by planting hedgerows, building and erecting bird and bat boxes and plants for reptiles and amphibians

Surrey Choices, who supports disabled and autistic people, was alongside The Tadworth, Kingswood, Walton & Burgh Heath Litter Pickers, Nurture Through Nature and Woking Litter Pickers in this category. The final judging was down Great British Bake Off’s Martha Collison and BBC’s radio presenter Connor Moseley. Surrey Choices is honoured to win the award against these worthy finalists who are all making a difference to the environment in Surrey.

Jackie Doe, Vocational Projects Development Manager at Surrey Choices spoke about how big an impact this award is for people supported at Surrey Choices.

“An important thing for us at Surrey Choices is that it is a mainstream award, it is not specific for disabled people so anyone could have won. So, for the people we support it puts them on an even playing field in which they have won, which is great to see. Winning this award was so unexpected but so brilliant. It shows the magnificent work disabled people can do in the community and we would not have won this award without them”

The Growth team has been established for more than 20 years and has always been committed to making the environment greener space. This award is a testament to the challenging work that has been happening within this award-winning service for many years.

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