Beach Buddies founder Bill Dale, Island Influencer

<p>I'm delighted to introduce as my guest on episode two of Island Influencers, Beach Buddies Isle of Man hero, <strong>Bill Dale</strong>.</p> <p>Is there anything this guy can't do?</p> <p>If there's anyone who epitomizes where success comes from, it's Bill, who started <a href="http://beachbuddies.net/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beach Buddies</a> alone for years before the real scaling effect got traction.</p> <p>From one individual, and of course his dogs, in 2007, to now having over 20% of the population of the Isle of Man involved so far.</p> <p>Beach Buddies objective is to provide a longterm, effective, efficient, and sustainable operation using teams of volunteers to keep beaches and foreshores of the Isle of Man free from litter.</p> <p>Beach Buddies survives entirely on donations and is sponsored by numerous companies, societies, organizations, and individuals.</p> <p>Bill's vision has had such an impact that, in 2016, the Isle of Man was given the prestigious honour of <a href= "http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UNESCO Biosphere Reserve</a>; we're the only nation in the entire world to achieve this distinction.</p> <p>Beach Buddies was highlighted during the award ceremony as its excellent example of beach cleaning methodology in 2019, and he was subsequently invited to become a member of the Isle of Man government's biosphere committee, which promotes worldwide the Isle of Man special award.</p> <p>It runs approximately 200 beach cleaning events each year and collects around 200 tons of rubbish from beaches - or did do before having to scale down operations to follow Government Social Distancing Rules!</p> <p>Bill was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Manx Marine environment in 2017.</p> <p>Here's my conversation with Bill Dale with <strong>episode two</strong> of Island Influencers, recorded before the recent Coronavirus Pandemic had us all self-isolating.</p