A project designed to help Islanders make greener choices is in line for an award.

Sustainable Sheppey, made up of public, private and voluntary groups, is subsided by the Big Lottery Fund.

It’s been shortlisted in the excellence in community engagement category at the MJ Local Government Achievement Awards.

Abdool Kara, chief executive of Swale council, called the nomination “a real testament to the work put in by all the partners involved in the project”.

The scheme has reportedly made a number of successes.

More than 1,000 households are said to have received advice from “Green Doctors” to help reduce CO2 emissions and cut fuel and water bills.

Primary school children across the Island have had classroom visits about climate change, while more than 350 people have used allotments and a community garden on an abandoned prison farm to grow fruit and vegetables.

Eight jobseekers have found permanent work after taking “green placements” with Island firms, and 10,000 litres of waste oil was diverted from drains and turned into bio-diesel in an eco-project at HMP Standford Hill.

Mike Brown, chairman of Sheppey Matters, one of Sustainable Sheppey’s nine partners, said: “It’s a fine example of partnership working at its most effective and it has brought significant improvements to the sustainable wellbeing of residents of the Island.

“The projects are now well established and are looking to continue when lottery funding ceases later this year.”

Award winners will be announced at a gala night on Thursday, June 18 at the Hilton Hotel in London.