‘It all has to start somewhere’

A group of women, who have set up a group to bring the Nunsthorpe community together, have collected an impressive 320kg of litter in just one hour.

Branches for Change was founded by 10 women – most of whom live on the Nunsthorpe estate – to try and improve life on the estate.

“We are very conscientious of the hardship suffered by some, along with the loneliness, misuse of alcohol and drugs and feelings of despair,” said member Jan Auwkit.

“We try to provide social events, such as parties for the children, bingo sessions for all ages, and social events for the elderly. Obviously, we have had our wings trimmed due to the current outbreak, but our long-term aim is to have our own premises, and provide a safe and comfortable place for anyone in need, along with the ability to provide signposting to people who need help and support.”

Members of the group spent an hour cleaning up their community on Tuesday 22 September and will be hosting another litter pick soon, meaning they are eligible for a £50 gift voucher for their efforts for taking part in more than one litter pick in September and October.

Jan added: “We have done several litter picks before and feel that by tackling something that everyone in the community is aware of, and by making our presence known, we can hopefully help to restore pride and respect in the community. It all has to start somewhere.

“At the same time, we are aiming to install trust in us as a group within the community.”

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “I’d like to thank Branches for Change for their ongoing support in keeping North East Lincolnshire clean, green and somewhere to be proud of.

“North East Lincolnshire has some extremely dedicated community groups who work tirelessly to look after the place they live, and their efforts are appreciated all year-round.

“I’d encourage anyone who wants to come together with their friends and family to play their part and help keep the community clean and tidy to get in touch.”

If you want to organise a socially distanced litter pick of up to six people, please check the guidance under related content at www.nelincs.gov.uk/licensing/organising-an-event/ and complete a copy of the Voluntary Litter Pick Form. You can then email cleanandgreen@nelincs.gov.uk to arrange when we can pick up your bags of rubbish, to borrow litter picking kit and for general advice.

Any group that does at least two litter picks, and arranges them with the council, in September and October this year, will be eligible for a voucher. There will be a £20 voucher for a group of up to three people and £50 for up to six, thanks to a grant from central government to support community clean-ups.

To qualify for the vouchers, groups must monitor the types of rubbish they are picking up and send the council photographs and also inform them of the number of bin bags collected. The voucher must be used to support the group’s activities.

Article and image from NELC.