Successful community clean-up day in Redcar
Monday 12 August 2024
We recently hosted a community clean-up day in Dormanstown, Redcar, with support from a range of local groups and organisations.
The event involved a variety of activities aimed at enhancing the local environment and providing valuable services for the community. Volunteers assisted with garden cleaning and helped residents dispose of unwanted waste. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Recycling Team provided vans and advice on waste recycling, while Cleveland Fire Brigade provided a skip for waste collection. A Groundwork NE & Cumbria strimming operative received support in collecting and bagging grass, while participants joined a resident-led litter pick organised by the South Gare Litter Pickers.
Collaboration with partner organisations added significant value to the event. The England Illegal Money Lending Team raised awareness and offered advice on loan shark issues. Dormanstown Primary School, with new Head Teacher Antje Kell, engaged with the community. Business in the Community supported climate change action and related activities, while the Greggs Foundation provided sweet treats to the families and talked about the new Greggs Breakfast scheme coming to Dormanstown Primary School.
Participants from partner organisations were invited to share a free lunch at our Dormanstown office, and to join in a fun activity event, attended by the Police Drones Team, at The Corus Sports & Social Centre in Dormanstown, where attendees enjoyed ice cream and hot dogs funded by Beyond Housing and provided by The Ladies of Steel, a voluntary community group that organises social, educational, and sporting activities for children and the local community.
More than 16 tonnes of household and garden waste was collected and removed by Beyond Housing, along with 9 mattresses, 2 sofas, 11 refrigerators and several other discarded electrical items.
51 litter pickers attended to collect and removed 125 full bags of litter, while Beyond Housing and charity Groundwork NE & Cumbria operatives strimmed 4 overgrown gardens.
As a bonus, police officers recovered a previously stolen motorcycle which had been hidden on one of the open spaces!
Rachael Crooks, Community Partnership & Engagement Manager at Beyond Housing, commented on the success of the event: “At Beyond Housing we understand that some of our communities struggle with waste removal and pest control. The purpose of this event was to work with our partners and the local community to tackle these issues together. The success of the project is down to our partners’ support and our residents’ involvement.”