Folkestone & Hythe DC: IRRV "Excellence in Social Inclusion" Winners 2026

2 Oct 2026

At the national IRRV (Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation) awards ceremony on Wednesday evening Folkestone & Hythe District Council won the Excellence in Social Inclusion for the third year running plus a "highly commended" in the Benefits / Welfare Team of the Year award as well.

https://irrv.net/awards2026/winners.php

Tim Prater, Folkestone and Hythe District Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance including the Award Winning Revenues and Benefits Team was delighted. He said:

"I've been the Cabinet Member for the Revenues and Benefits Team since 2020, and couldn't be prouder of them.

"The annual (look away, 2020 and 2023), national, ongoing recognition of their determination to do the best we can by the residents of our district is, I think, pretty unprecedented.

“I'm assuming that after our third win in a row we get to keep the Excellence in Social Inclusion Award now?!”

The record of the Folkestone and Hythe Revenues and Benefits team over the last 10 years:

Finalists

2018: Revenues Team of the Year (District Authority)

2019: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2019: Revenues Team of the Year (District Authority)

2021: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2021: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2021: Excellence in Education and/or Staff development

2021: Revenues Team of the Year

2022: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2022: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2022: Excellence in Education and/or Staff Development

2023: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2023: Excellence in partnership Working in Community Involvement & Debt resolution (with Policy in Practice)

2023: Excellence in Education and/or Staff Development

2023: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2024: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2024: Excellence in Partnership Working (Service Delivery) (with Sigma/Reachout)

2024: Excellence in Innovation (Revenues & Benefits Administration)

2024: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2025: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2025: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

2026: Excellence in Social Inclusion

2026: Benefits and/or Welfare Reform Team of the Year

Winners

2019: Revenues Team of the Year

2021: Excellence in Education and/or staff development