Published Tuesday 13 April 2021 at 14:17
The red bag revolution has taken on a life of its own, uniting people from all parts of our community with a common purpose – to keep Blackburn and Darwen tidy.
A total of 1,891 volunteers have signed up to be involved so far, and the Keep Blackburn Tidy and Keep Darwen Tidy Facebook groups continue to grow by the day, as more and more people begin to see the impact a little red bag can have on their local areas.
Recruitment and co-ordination of volunteers goes through the Lancashire Volunteering Partnership website. This is where you will find all the Council’s latest volunteering opportunities and choose from a variety of roles across Lancashire.
Since the start of lockdown, the Council has supplied 628 litter-picking kits to people wanting to lend a helping hand and during the Easter bank holiday alone, thousands of bags were collected in Blackburn with Darwen.
Whether a volunteer has picked one bag or 100 bags, the community has built a consistent team of litter pickers who are dedicated to loving where they live and showing others that even the smallest bag can make the biggest difference.
This initiative has brought together people from all walks of life across Blackburn with Darwen and has helped residents develop a sense of pride and identity in the clean spaces they create.
Additionally, a number of volunteers have commented how it has helped them with health benefits and exercise opportunities during the pandemic.
As a result, the borough has seen amazing transformations, from community alleyways to side streets decorated with plant pots and creative designs, in the hope that it will inspire others to create change in their own neighbourhoods.
Karen Wignall, Service Lead for Adult Learning and Employment Support at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
The litter-picking initiative is a fantastic example of a strengths based approach to improving local areas and turning them into clean spaces that everyone can enjoy. Groups of people coming together with a common goal, a sense of purpose and passion can make a massive difference to the environment as well as supporting their own and others’ wellbeing. Combining physical activity with giving something back to the community fosters a real sense of belonging and improves mental and physical wellbeing.
Our Community Connectors and Social Prescribing Link Workers feel confident to refer people onto these local groups because they are made up of kind-hearted people who want the best for local communities and individuals alike.
Karen Wignall, added:
It is amazing to see the transformation of some of these spaces and the creativity is endless. Our Adult Learning team recently ran an online rock painting course which residents attended live on their laptops from their back alleys! We also run gardening sessions encouraging people to take care of their outdoor spaces, including those which are shared by others.
Find out more about these sessions by visiting the BwD Learning website.
The efforts of volunteers litter picking every week has made keeping Blackburn with Darwen Tidy that little bit easier and has allowed residents to take community ownership in their areas.
Whilst the Keep Darwen Tidy and Keep Blackburn Tidy community groups haven’t been able to organise their group litter picking days due to Covid restrictions, the large numbers of individuals doing a little and often has made a big impact and play an active part in reporting waste issues from around the borough.
The volunteers also help to recycle – separating much of the litter they collect while educating and encouraging their fellow residents to do the same.
You can join the Blackburn and Darwen Keep It Tidy groups by searching on Facebook or read more about what they do by clicking here.
Application for kits have been put on hold until the equipment has been fully restocked, but you can provide an email and be notified when kits become available here.
Martin Eden, Blackburn with Darwen Council Director of Place, said:
It’s absolutely fantastic to see the local community acting with us to tackle litter and fly-tipping across Blackburn with Darwen.
The volunteers and Keep It Tidy groups do a brilliant job at keeping our local areas clean, educating across the borough and engaging with residents to get them on board.
I thank each and every one of them for their hard work and encourage as many people as possible to get involved! Together we can really make a difference and show our sense of pride in Blackburn with Darwen.
As well as this, the Council has recently removed the booking system for its household waste recycling centres, making it easier for residents to safely dispose of waste.
There is also a dedicated education officer who works with communities and schools to help improve recycling rates.
Over the past year alone, the Environment Waste Crime team has received payment for 66 fixed penalty notices and handled 49 prosecutions for waste-related offences. This sends out a clear message that littering and fly-tipping in our borough will not be tolerated.
Please help us stop waste crimes by reporting them via the Council website, just follow this link: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling
