Published Wednesday 16 November 2022 at 10:08
Red Rose Recovery combined with Spark BWD in organising the inaugural Roots Community clean-up.
It was a day of positive community actions and relationship building as the staff of the Spark Substance Misuse worked with its Roots Community Members and volunteers from the Thomas Project in a one-day waste collection and clean up within the Galligreaves area of Blackburn, near the St Lukes Church.
The clean-up took place on Monday (November 7th) and some 40 bags of rubbish were collected, including materials such as cans, bottles and plastic waste which will be recycled.
Roots Community team leader, Rolonde Bradshaw, said:
“The aim of the clean-up was partly to challenge stigma around addiction and recovery.
“It’s also an opportunity to be active and connect with others, which are crucial to getting well.
“Finally, by ‘keeping our side of the street clean,’ so to speak, we can set a positive example to others.”
Spark BWD launched its ‘Roots Community’ in April to further the Public Health Work in the borough for those recovering from drug and alcohol problems. They have worked closely with the nationally recognised Red Rose Recovery charity in helping those in recovery to reconnect with communities and fight the stereotypes which surround those who have struggled with substance misuse.
One of the Roots Community Volunteers, Waseem, addressed this as he described his participation in the clean-up initiative–
‘You can’t always change how other people think about you but what you can do is work on yourself.’
The Blackburn with Darwen Council supported Monday’s event by providing equipment, with both Red Rose Recovery and Spark BWD intending to make the Roots Community Clean-Up a weekly event with other areas of the borough being targeted in the near future.
To find out more information about the charities leading these events, see the links below: