Open Letter. Standing Up for Our Communities - Turning Local Challenges into Action.

Fighting for SEND families, protecting local facilities, supporting businesses, and making real change. My Promise to you.

Apr 27, 2025

I’m Dan Friend, and I’m proud to represent residents across Dover, Deal, Sandwich, and the surrounding villages. I live locally with my wife Megan and our four amazing children, who are at the heart of everything I do. As a father, I know first-hand how vital it is that our communities are safe, supportive, and full of opportunity—for every family, every child, and every future. Family is what grounds me and drives me. Like many local parents, I juggle the daily responsibilities of family life with my work and public service. I know what it’s like to navigate local schools, access healthcare, and try to build a better future while managing the cost of living. My family is my biggest motivation, and I bring that same care and commitment to the people I represent.

My personal experience as a parent includes navigating the often complicated world of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). I know how hard it can be to access the right support, to get the right education in place, and to feel heard. I understand the frustration and the fight, and that’s why I’ve made improving SEND provision one of my personal missions. I serve as a governor at Worth Primary School and as a trustee/governor at Great Oaks Small School, an independent specialist school for children with SEND. My involvement there has deepened my commitment to advocating for real, meaningful change—change that gives parents the confidence that their children’s needs will be met and their potential fulfilled.

Great to meet with Mr Sharples, Headteacher at Sandwich Technology School. I was pleased to be invited to hear firsthand about the school’s successes, challenges, and ambitions—and to discuss how we can work together to support our young people and strengthen opportunities across our community.

Alongside my work as a councillor, I run my own businesses in IT and consultancy, bringing a practical, solution-focused mindset to everything I do. I’ve served on Dover District Council and previously on Sandwich Town Council, and I continue to be a trustee of Talk it Out, the Dover District Citizens Advice Bureau, an Almshouse Charity and Chairman of the Dover District Neighbourhood Watch Association. I’ve always believed that leadership should be about service—rolling up your sleeves and getting things done.

Campaigning for 1 hour’s free parking in our district car parks—supporting our town centres, helping local businesses, and making it easier for residents and visitors alike.

I pride myself on being accessible. Whether by phone, email, letter, text, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, or even TikTok—I’m always just a message away. I produce a regular email newsletter that reaches over 2,000 residents and I write for community magazines to keep people informed. My Facebook page is a living record of my work—sharing updates, answering questions, and showing both the wins and the setbacks. I believe in being honest, open, and present. When there’s an issue, I prefer to go out and see it for myself.

red and white coca cola signage — Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash

I work hard to support our local economy. As an officer of the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, a member of local networking groups, and the founder of the Sandwich is Open business and tourism initiative, I champion our local traders and fight to keep our high streets thriving. I know how tough it is out there for small businesses, and I’ll always be in their corner. I don’t just talk about problems—I tackle them head-on by engaging with residents, gathering information, building support, and standing up for our communities. Whether it’s ensuring Tides tennis and gym didn’t close for 9 unnecessary months or campaigning for one hour’s free parking in our towns, I work with people, not just for them, to get things done. I also created a section on my website to make reporting issues easier - REPORT

Making it easier to report local issues—check out the new section on my website where you can quickly report problems and help get them sorted faster!

I was born and raised in Deal & Walmer. If you're local, there’s a good chance you know someone with the last name Friend—we've been here a long time. My family’s roots run deep in the area—so deep, in fact, that there’s even a road named after us. I attended Sandown Primary School and then Castle Community College. My upbringing here shaped my values, and it’s a privilege to now give back to the very communities that raised me.

I bring passion, determination, commitment, and drive to everything I do. I want to make life better for families like mine. I want parents of SEND children to feel supported, not sidelined. I want every resident—whether in a village, a town centre, or anywhere in between—to feel like someone is in their corner and fighting their case. That’s what I’m here to do, and I won’t stop until we get there.