Gravesham’s local heroes have been honoured in the 2026 Gravesham Community Awards.
In a ceremony held at The Woodville as part of Gravesham Borough Council’s Annual Council meeting last night (Tuesday), sponsored by Rosherville Ltd, the awards recognised community spirit at its very best, highlighting the dedication, kindness, and commitment that so often happens quietly but has a lasting impact.
The recipients were:
Andrea Kitchener
Andrea has lived and worked in Gravesend all her life and has spent over 30 years in sports education, helping thousands of children and adults to benefit both physically and mentally from leading active, healthy lifestyles.
Her work has touched people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, always with a strong focus on inclusion, encouragement, and community connection.
She has also dedicated a significant amount of her time to charitable causes, organising events that raise vital funds for both local and national charities.
Terri‑Ann Fairclough
Terri-Ann is a cornerstone of the Elliot Holmes Memorial Fund since its very first year in 2021.
The Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund is a volunteer‑led charity based in Gravesend that provides rapid, direct access to mental health counselling for young people living in or attending school in Gravesham.
As a volunteer director, Terri-Ann has played a vital role in ensuring that young people experiencing mental health challenges receive the right support at the right time.
She has personally triaged and supported more than 580 young people in Gravesham, carefully placing them with appropriate mental health counsellors and ensuring no young person is left without help.
Blake Burrha
Blake Burrah of Blake’s Nightclub, has built a long‑standing and highly valued partnership with both The Grand and Kent Police since 2017, demonstrating a consistent commitment to supporting youth and community‑focused initiatives across Gravesham.
Through his support of the “Allowed to Laugh” initiative, Blake has helped deliver structured, under‑19 events that promote safety, inclusion, and positive engagement for young people in the borough.
His generosity has seen his venue made available free of charge for a wide range of community activities, including youth events, fundraising initiatives, performance showcases, and quiz nights.
Blake’s team volunteer their time to support and staff these events at no cost to organisers, further reinforcing a strong culture of community partnership.
Chris Bradford
Chris Bradford is a true community champion at Morrisons supermarket in Northfleet, whose dedication, kindness, and commitment continue to make a real difference to people across the borough.
He works tirelessly to support local charities and community groups, always with the aim of helping others thrive.
Through his proactive and generous approach, Chris ensures charities and schools are supported with raffle prizes and resources that help raise funds, strengthening the ability of local organisations to continue their important work.
His passion for bringing people together extends beyond fundraising, as he also organises trips and activities that create opportunities for connection, enjoyment, and shared experiences.
Amol Randhawa
Amol ran the length of England covering 554 miles in 13 days to raise money for ellenor Hospice in tribute to his late mother.
Amol raised £28,817 for ellenor Hospice, directly supporting the vital care they provide to individuals and families across our community at their most difficult times.
Amol was unable to collect his award in person, having been invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on the same day.
Nanak Singh
Nanak has given more than 45 years of voluntary service to the Gravesham community, going above and beyond to make his local area a better place, from helping to organise community litter picks to improving shared spaces for everyone to enjoy.
As part of a group of walkers from the Sikh community, he helped raise vital funds for ellenor Hospice and has since expanded this effort by recruiting others to join.
Together, they now raise more than £4,000 each year through participation in ellenor’s Twilight Walk.
Alice Etteridge
Gravesham’s youngest ever Community Award winner is Alice Etteridge.
After learning about The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs made from donated hair to children and young people experiencing hair loss or illness, Alice made the decision to donate her long hair and raise funds to support this vital cause.
Knowing that a single wig costs £700 to make, Alice set herself this as her fundraising goal. She organised a bake sale and raffle and bravely had her hair cut in front of her family and friends to raise awareness of the charity’s work.
Alice’s efforts went far beyond her original target, raising £1,532 and donating 13 inches of hair.
Aaron Jones
Aaron is the Headteacher of Holy Trinity School, received the 2026 Mayor’s award.
Nominated by the Mayor in recognition of his excellent communication skills and inclusive leadership style, Aaron is widely respected as a role model who consistently inspires his students and staff.
Aaron is committed to promoting community cohesion, actively embracing diversity while upholding strong and positive values, and celebrating the achievements of everyone connected to the school.
He continually seeks ways to improve the learning environment and outcomes, not only within the school but also across the wider community.
This includes overseeing the installation of a new sensory room, which has been instrumental in improving the wellbeing and day‑to‑day experiences of students with additional needs.
Under Aaron’s leadership, the school works closely with the Gurdwara, local faith groups, and the neighbouring family centre, building partnerships that strengthen community ties, encourage mutual understanding, and foster a genuine sense of belonging for all.
Speaking after the ceremony, Cllr Deborah Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities and leisure, said: “The stories we have heard tonight have been humbling and inspirational in equal measure.
“At the time when the world can seem an unhappy and challenging place, our community here in Gravesham continues to inspire so many people whose purpose is to selflessly do good for others.
“They don’t ask for thanks, but they deserve our thanks, and I am honoured to have been here tonight to see them get their well-deserved recognition.”