hosted by Thanet District Council

Thanet Coast 'Footprints in the Sand' - Partnership Project

 

'Footprints in the Sand’ (FITS) is a new partnership project coordinated by the Thanet Coast Project for reaching local people that don’t normally access - or know more - about our internationally important coastline!

 

The project encourages local people that may have barriers to access – such as those from deprived communities, from the very young to the old, or from different ethnic backgrounds or for those with disabilities.  Some local people have mistakenly believed that the usual local publicly advertised events that attract thousands of people each year are not for them!  

 

The Thanet Coast Project and FITS run specific activities with local groups to engage and courage local people to join in.

 

In particular, we want to:

 

  • help raise awareness and increase their knowledge

    of the Thanet Coast and North East Kent European marine sites

  • encourage health benefits
  • develop new skills, about the wildlife and natural features

 

so that we can all help look after the coast for future generations..

Project Aims:

  • encourage local communities to access and enjoy the Thanet Coast
  • local people to gain pride and ownership for their coastal heritage
  • develop interest in, raise knowledge and awareness of the wildlife and natural features
  • address health inequalities
  • increase participation
  • develop skills foor conserving and interpreting Thanet's coast

Priority community groups:

  • Economically disadvantaged groups - through events and activities to help interpret the internationally important wildlife of the NE Kent European Marine Site
  • Young people - providing learning opportunities in a fun way, such as toddler sessions; or family sessions; and through local school excursions for rocky shorelife safaris and beach cleans.
  • Disabled people, with physical and learning disabilities, will be provided with opportunities for learning about the Thanet Coast, supported by skilled helpers, and space for all abilities to explore. 
  • Older people with shorter walks, such as the health or Rock Doc walks
  • Young parents will be given help by experiencing the natural environment through events such as  the Thornback Tales Eggcase Hunt stories, or within a new family safe zone - within a proposed new "Coastal Community Beach Hut"
  • Dads form a socially excluded group and will be provided with weekend dads and lads events - including cycle rides
  • Communities suffering health deprivation - a new annual Fit & Healthy day on the beach will enable partners to contribute to getting people out and about - such as a 'green gym' volunteer task on the Sea Garden 

 

 

The FITS project partnership is funded £98k over two and a half years by Natural England as part of its Access to Nature programme (funded by £25m from the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme).

 

The new Project Officer is on a salary of £17,000 a year pro rata

(4 day week) and is based within the Thanet Coast Project.  Voluntary and partnership 'in-kind' contributions come to £25,000.

 

The project is managed by Thanet District Council through a new project partnership of local organisations. It commenced in 2011 and will run until September 2013. The steering group partners include:

 

  • Kent County Council Children Centres in Thanet
  • Millmead Children’s Centre Partnership Ltd
  • Orbit South Housing Association
  • Kent Extended School Services
  • East Kent Mencap
  • NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent and East Kent
  • Natural England, and
  • Thanet District Council

 

Access our 'What's On page for for public events and activities

 

Alternatively, you can contact one of our partners, or the Thanet Coast Project, to help run a local community event tailored to your local groups' needs.