A new initiative from UK-based charity CleanupUK has launched, offering communities access to free litter-picking equipment to protect their local environment from the impact of litter and to connect communities.
CleanupUK has established litter-picking hubs to mitigate the effects of litter on neighbourhoods and local wildlife in the UK whilst tackling loneliness and isolation that can take place during the winter months.
The Cleanup Hubs have been developed in partnership with local community groups such as youth centres, Councils for Voluntary Services (CVS), city farms, and a local mental health charity. Through collaboration and collective action, these organisations are coming together to serve the local community and to help foster a sense of pride in otherwise challenging times.
CleanupUK will offer litter-picking equipment including high-vis jackets, litter-picking hoops, and litter-picking sticks to local hubs which can be borrowed free of charge by the local community.
CleanupUK and partnering organisations believe that this will:
- Support communities to look after their natural environment in a way that suits them
- Give communities a place where they can come together and take practical action for the environment
- Allow communities to make an immediate positive impact on their local neighbourhoods
- Encourage people to connect with those they may otherwise not engage with and help foster a sense of community and local pride
The development of Cleanup Hubs comes against the backdrop of 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) which will see leaders from across the world gather to discuss the impact of climate change on our planet.
CleanupUK Chief Executive George Monck says, “We know that all of us can make an extraordinary impact on society and litter-picking is a great example of that.
“By coming together, local people can prevent harmful litter infiltrating parks and entering our rivers and waterways, all whilst building a stronger sense of community and having fun.”
A full list of current CleanupUK Hubs is below:
- The Wharton Annexe, TS24 8NS
- Kilmarnock Children’s Centre, TS25 3NU
- Jellystone Park, TS4 2SL
Belle Vue Community Sports & Youth Centre, TS25 1QU - Primrose Hill Community Centre, TS19 0HL
- Mind, TN34 1HG
- Stepney City Farm, E1 3DG
- St-George-in-the-East, E1 0BH
- Women’s Inclusive Team, E2 9LJ
- Love Bethnal Green, E2 OTB
- Jaywick Sands Community Forum, CO15 2LU
- Baggator, BS5 0HH
- West End Refugee Service, NE4 5JE
- CVST Harwich, CO12 3AJ
- CVST Clacton, CO15 1NZ
- Eastbourne Sports Complex