Students from Hugh Baird College have formed a volunteer group to help clean up the streets around the College’s Bootle campus.
The group, comprised of learners from across the College’s courses, have created their own ‘Community Action Group’ to tackle the litter on the streets of Bootle with an aim to make a difference to the local community.
The students were supported during their first litter-picking sessions by Sefton Council’s Locality Services who provided bags and litter pickers as well as two Eco vehicles to assist with sweeping and clearing.
In total they filled over 100 refuse bags of rubbish, ranging from takeaway bags to plastic bottles.
Rebecca Clegg, a Hospitality and Catering student at Hugh Baird College, said:
“I enjoyed our first get-together to clean up the streets around our campus and I was astonished to see the amount of litter we collected after just a few hours. I feel proud of the difference we’ve made so far.”
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said:
“Our Cleansing Officers were so impressed with the students from Hugh Baird College. I also caught up with a group of them after a successful few hours of litter clearance and was able to say a massive thank you on behalf of our communities to them for their efforts.
“Often the youngsters in our neighbourhoods are blamed for making a mess and not caring about their environment. It was fantastic to see this group, and the College, playing their part in looking after the streets here in Bootle.”
Peter Moore, Sefton Council’s Head of Highways & Public Protection, said:
“These students are setting a real example for how our communities have a role to play in keeping our Borough looking great. I hope that people will take notice of these students, leading by example, and will think again before they decide to drop litter. Perhaps they’ll even encourage others to keep their streets tidy too.
“We do have limited Council resources and so strengthening relationships with local building and landowners, as well as volunteer and community groups, ensures that we can work together in a collective effort that means we all take responsibility to keep Sefton clean, green and beautiful.”
Rachael Hennigan, Principal and Chief Executive of Hugh Baird College, said:
“As a College, we care deeply about our local community and we are proud to have our Balliol Road Campus based in the heart of Bootle. The litter pick was an excellent example of how, by working together, we can make a real and positive difference to the area.”
“The students are a real credit to the College and it was inspiring to see so many of them take part. This is the first of many community litter picks through which we can continue to grow our collective sense of pride for the place in which we live, work and study.”
“I’d like to thank Sefton Council’s Locality Services team for the support they’ve given to our students and their new group.”