Spruce up Swindon with The Great British Spring Clean

As part of its support for ‘The Great British Spring Clean’ – Britain’s biggest-ever community clear- up - Swindon Borough Council is calling for volunteers to take part in organised litter-picks right across the Borough. Everyone has a part to play and anyone can get involved – whether individual members of the public, families, residents’ associations, businesses, schools or community groups.

 

Taking place from 3 -5 March, the 2017 Great British Spring Clean is co-ordinated nationally by Keep Britain Tidy, with the aim of bringing people together from across the country to clear up the litter that blights the country’s towns, villages, countryside and coastline. Last year over 80 Swindon volunteers took part in 'Clean for the Queen' organised by Keep Britain Tidy. 

 

Swindon Borough Council has registered with the event organisers and will be supporting local events, loaning litter picking equipment and removing the waste collected.

 

The Council’s Localities team are contacting over 100 registered little picking volunteers and local groups, with each participating group being registered for the litter pick and their activity registered on the Great British Spring Clean website. 

 

A whole host of individual residents, local businesses and community groups have already flagged their interest and will be getting aboard the ‘Spring Clean’, just as they have in the past, providing willing hands, refreshments, financial help and equipment. 

 

Twelve groups are already signed up, including strong teams from John Lewis Partnership,  Nationwide and the Harbour Project. Residents from Shaw have offered to tidy Shaw Forest Park and Shaw Village centre, while residents and Councillors from Park North, Eldene Residents’ Association,  and husband and wife team Marilyn and Denis Harrison from West Swindon have also pledged their support. Council staff are also volunteering in areas where they live. 

 

More volunteers are putting their hands up to help every day.

 

Marilyn said: “We get out every week to pick up litter. We got tired of seeing so much mess so we decided it would be a really positive thing to do for the environment. The Great British Spring Clean is a great event that allows us all to do something really worthwhile for the town and meet lots of great people into the bargain. A lot of litter does get dropped but Swindon has the potential to be really beautiful and this is one way we can all help achieve that. I really encourage people to get involved and have some fun at the same time.”

 

Cllr Keith Williams, Cabinet Member for StreetSmart, Highways, and Transport, who is also rolling up his sleeves for the Spring Clean, said: “This is a really worthwhile initiative and another example of Swindon’s great community spirit. Flytipping and litter dumping are very much in the news at the moment, and the more we can do to clean up the Borough the better. I congratulate those already signed up and would urge the maximum volunteers to register for the Clean Up and help make Swindon a town to be proud of.”

 

Tracy Scott, Community Facilitator – Locality Projects from Swindon Borough Council said: “The Great British Spring Clean is about everyone working together to clean up the litter that blights our landscape and communities and we’re delighted to be taking part and bringing people together to tackle an issue that many people care passionately about and also help to reduce social isolation. Ideally a group of at least 5-6 per area is needed but we’ll still welcome individuals. There’s scope for all areas of the Borough to get involved and we’re determined to beat last year’s turn out.”

 

Want to get involved? Vital to get registered.

 

Anyone wanting to volunteer must register by emailing us at [email protected] or call Swindon (01793) 466239 to confirm your participation. All equipment will be provided on the day. 

You cannot participate without pre-registering, to supervise the turn out and ensure safety. 

Volunteers can choose to work in the area where they live or anywhere in Swindon.