Hadlow College’s Head of Curriculum for Animal Management, Jo Saunders (pictured above left with two students), has been tasked with the difficult job of selecting the winner of a category very close to her heart in one of Kent’s most celebrated local awards schemes.
Jo was asked to judge the Animal Award category of the BBC Radio Kent Make a Difference Awards 2025. The award recognises either a remarkable animal that has improved lives or individuals and organisations dedicated to enhancing animal welfare across Kent.
Reflecting on the judging process, Jo said: “It was such an honour to be asked to help choose the recipient of this award. Every nominee demonstrated incredible dedication to animal welfare, and the stories were truly moving. If I could have given a prize to all of them, I would. It was a difficult decision to make, but one that filled me with pride in the work that people across Kent are doing for the benefit of animals and the wider community.”
Held by BBC Radio Kent, the Make a Difference Awards shine a spotlight on everyday heroes who go the extra mile.
The Animal Award category is especially close to Hadlow College’s heart, with the College housing a variety of animals ranging from meerkats to pygmy goats to a serval, as well as being the home of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) which provides refuge and care for over 1000 unwanted and vulnerable reptiles and amphibians.
The overall winner of the Animal Award will be announced at the BBC Radio Kent Make a Difference Awards ceremony on 22 September 2025 at the Malthouse Theatre in Canterbury. You can find out more about the event on the BBC Radio Kent website.
Hadlow College’s Animal Management courses mix theory, such as learning about the structure and function of the animal body, along with practical work in a large custom-built animal management unit.
Students are involved in all aspects of husbandry and management from planning animal collections, and designing and maintaining enclosures, to day-to-day animal care within an animal collection set up as a commercial enterprise.
To find out more visit the Animal Management course page on the Hadlow College website.