Under its Coastal Communities scheme, the government is making £90 million available to 116 areas around Britain over the next five years.

Each has to prepare a detailed plan on problems they face and how any funding would be spent. Only the best presentations will be considered for a share of the money.

The team Under the leadership of Sheppey Matters, a team of dedicated Islanders has been formed to make the case for funding.

It is made up of residents, business people and representatives from the volunteering, education and tourism sectors. It is also backed by Swale Borough Council, Gordon Henderson MP and the Sheerness Times Guardian.

Under the banner of SheppeyProud, we aim to consult with interested parties right across the Island, identifying community concerns and listening to residents’ ideas on what they want to see on Sheppey.

This consultation process will form the backbone of our research and will feature heavily in our final presentation to the government.

Play your part There are various ways you can show your support. Firstly, we ask you to spend a few minutes filling our questionnaire.

Additionally to this, you can follow us on Facebook by liking the SheppeyProud page or on Twitter by following @SheppeyProud.

If you would like to play a role, please contact Heather Thomas-Pugh on cctsheppey@hotmail.com