On Wednesday 2nd March, we ran a community litter pick at Bordesley Green Recreational Ground. This event was part of our Step Back Out project, which encourages people to get active in their local communities.
It was amazing to see that despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions, a lovely group of people still showed up to lend a hand. They were joined by our Social Prescribing Link Workers and Listen & Connect team who also came along to help.
Together, we managed to collect a whopping 18 black bags of rubbish, turning this green space from a dumping ground to an area the whole community can enjoy.
To add some creativity into the mix, Julie Janko, from our Listen and Connect team, ran a river stone painting session alongside the litter pick.
‘I really enjoyed spending time with the local community on this cold and wet day! With a little bit of art to break up the litter picking, we were able as a group to remove 18 bags of waste from the green space and made it more of a safe place for local people to enjoy.
I loved the sense of ownership that the locals that joined us had for this area and their commitment to make it better!
You could really feel the sense of achievement when we had finished and looked back at what we had accomplished. As an added bonus, a few painted stones got placed around to brighten the area further!’
Elisabeth Sheppard, our Wellbeing Programme manager who organised the litter pick also highlighted the importance of accessible, green spaces and the impact coming together as a community can have on our health and wellbeing.
‘This was a great day, with so many people coming out to support and help make this space safe for themselves, families and neighbours.’
Litter picking events like this one can have a positive effect on both our mental and physical health. Coming together to achieve a shared goal gives us a sense of accomplishment, boosts our mood and can lower feelings of anxiety. It’s also a chance to get active, burn some calories and meet new people.
Overall, the day was a huge success and Bordesley Green Recreational Ground is now a cleaner, safer space that everyone can enjoy and be proud of. We would like to thank all of the amazing people who came out and made it possible.
If you would like to volunteer to litter pick or arrange a litter picking event in your area, please email us at [email protected] and we will get in touch with you.
Author: Sameena Bibi
Marketing Executive at The Active Wellbeing Society.