As a musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Amanda spends much of her working life indoors. The Coast Care project is an opportunity to get outside and Amanda volunteers as a Site Warden at Beadnell, undertaking daily beach cleans and surveys – the latter of which are vital for wider marine conservation efforts. Amanda has been involved since the beginning of the project and has done the most hours of any Coast Care volunteer (over 400 to date!). Amanda says, “Volunteering with Coast Care is inspiring me to learn more about the natural world and my prize money will help towards a Marine Biology course at Newcastle University - which the Marsh Christian Trust Award has made possible. I am so thrilled to have even been considered for this award.”

Carol gave up her job in merchandising two years ago to have the time to do more voluntary work. Carol has been involved with the Coast Care project since the beginning and is a real champion for the project, recruiting and inspiring people in her local area of Berwick-upon-Tweed and setting up a small local group which do weekly beach cleans. Carol says, “It is very satisfying to hear people say that the beaches are cleaner – it makes me feel that we are really making a difference and raising awareness.”

John is semi-retired, working 2 days a week at Bamburgh Castle and doing whatever volunteering he can. He has taken on the role of Site Warden at St Aidens, undertaking daily beach cleans and surveys of the rocky shore. John also undertakes practical conservation tasks, including building barn owl boxes for the local area. John says, “I enjoy the volunteer work because it gives me a great feeling, knowing what I/we do keeps beaches in great shape for everyone.”

Lynne is a Senior Crown Prosecutor and Judge, but is currently on a 2 year career break. Since watching Blue Planet II, Lynne wanted to do something to protect the environment, “I had no idea how bad the plastic crisis was. I've always litter picked where ever I go. I hate litter. My 6 year old son watched Blue Planet with me and wanted to stop the wildlife being harmed.” So, as well as cleaning her own local beach on a weekly basis, Lynne has also set up her own group called Litterbugs, which works with local school children to get them interested in recycling and picking up litter. Lynne also runs a monthly column in the Northumberland Gazette raising public awareness about plastic pollution.

Raine is a retired graphic designer and has been a beach cleaning champion since long before the Coast Care project began. In fact, she’s been picking litter all of her life. For the past 6 years she’s been cleaning the dunes and beach at Spittal almost every day and in all weathers, recruiting others to help. For 2 years she ran an anti-litter competition with over 600 local school children taking part – the trophies were even made from litter! Raine says, “I'm sick of picking up other people’s litter but feel compelled to do so every day for the sake of wildlife, pets and farm animals; every piece I pick up I think, ‘That's one piece less causing destruction’.”