Croydon wins national award for Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride’s success

Dedicated community champions have helped Croydon win a national award for Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride’s work to keep the borough tidy.

Croydon Council staff were presented with a golden litter picker at the ceremony in Westminster.

The long-running campaign partnered with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean for a month-long campaign earlier this year.

Croydon Council helped the borough’s 381 Street Champions organise 21 litter picks, with 215 volunteers helping to collect 300 bags of litter.

The impressive effort has seen Croydon Council crowned as the Best Local Authority taking part in the Great British Spring Clean 2019.

Croydon was recognised for being extremely proactive in helping organise events across the borough, and for standing out on social media and helping promote the campaign to residents.

The council was presented with a golden litter picker to mark its success at the Keep Britain Tidy Volunteer Celebration at Westminster on Tuesday 18 June.

“Warm congratulations to the hundreds of volunteers who gave up their time throughout the campaign to spread the message of Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride.

“Throughout the entire year our Street Champions organise hundreds of litter picks clearing tonnes or rubbish from community spaces across the borough.

“I’m immensely proud of all the work our Street Champions and officers have put in throughout the Great British Spring Clean and the rest of the year.”

Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader – Clean Green Croydon

Allison Ogden-Newton, CEO of Keep Britain Tidy said: “This year, more than half a million Litter Heroes took to the streets during the Great British Spring Clean and removed nearly a million tonnes of litter from our streets, parks and beaches.

“Local authorities are vital partners in this mission to help empower people to take care of their own community – providing equipment, advice and support on a local level, and picking up the bagged litter.

“We wanted to recognise Croydon for the sheer amount of noise and excitement they drummed up with local residents by using social media and outreach to engage more people.”

Council officers help support Street Champions when they organise a litter pick, providing equipment, offering support and organising the removal of the collected waste.

To find out more about becoming a Street Champion email champions@croydon.org.uk

2019-06-20T12:17:55+01:00 June 20th, 2019|Recent news|