CleanupUK Announces Winners of the First Davina Awards 2024
CleanupUK is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Davina Awards 2024, a tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Davina Hodson, a cherished supporter of our work.
Davina was a remarkable individual whose generosity, humour, and zest for life left an indelible mark on everyone she met. A passionate advocate for charitable causes, she was actively involved with numerous organisations, including CleanupUK. An opera enthusiast, keen golfer, and Patron of the English National Opera, Davina also held leadership roles at Malden Golf Club and the charity Counsel and Care. Her commitment to giving back was rooted in her desire to help people and address the challenges they faced, which is why she left a transformational legacy gift to CleanupUK.
To honour her life and contributions, CleanupUK established the Davina Awards to celebrate individuals and groups who have made a significant impact in their communities through litter-picking and environmental stewardship.
Winners of the Davina Awards 2024
Young Litter Picker Award
Individual Winner: Theo Read from Hartlepool, whose dedication to cleaning his local area stood out among many inspiring nominees.
Group Winner: Clean Community, Clean World from Blakelaw, Newcastle, a youth group committed to creating a cleaner, greener future.
Most Engaged Cleanup Hub
Awarded to the Hilly Fields Community in Enfield. This hub introduced over 100 people to litter-picking this year, facilitated 356 equipment uses, and removed 358 bags of litter—bringing their all-time total to an astonishing 3,473 bags of litter collected.
Best Transformation of a Public Space
Presented to the residents of Spencer Walk Gardens in Ramsgate, who turned a neglected area into a vibrant, litter-free community space, enhancing safety and quality of life.
Most Fun-Themed Litter Picker
Awarded to Keyham Green Spaces for their imaginative Halloween-themed litter pick. This event not only cleaned up the area but also fostered a sense of community through creativity and fun.
Monetary awards have been distributed to help further each winner’s efforts: £300 each to Keyham Green Spaces, Spencer Walk Gardens, and the Hilly Fields Community and £100 each to the Young Litter Picker winners, Theo Read and Clean Community, Clean World.
These awards can be used to benefit their litter-picking initiatives, hubs, or personal efforts to improve their local environments.
A Heartfelt Thank You
CleanupUK was deeply moved by the incredible nominations received from across the country. Every submission demonstrated the passion, commitment, and creativity of individuals and groups who share our vision for a cleaner and greener UK. While we wish we could recognise everyone, the winners truly exemplify the spirit of Davina Hodson—kind, practical, and deeply committed to making a difference.
We are so proud to host these awards in Davina’s honour and look forward to continuing her legacy of generosity and community empowerment.
Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to everyone who took part!