LAST week Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council shone a spotlight on the incredible volunteers who give up their time to help keep Redcar and Cleveland clean and tidy.
From beaches to neighbourhoods and green spaces, litter pickers across the borough work alongside Council officers throughout the year to tackle litter, protect the environment and encourage others to love their area. To recognise their efforts, the council organised a series of events dedicated to thanking the volunteers for the difference they make.
As part of the celebrations, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Ceri Cawley, met with a number of litter picking groups on 20 and 22 October to thank them for their dedication and commitment to improving their communities. The volunteers were also presented with a Thank You banner donated by Graphics Solutions.
On 21 October, the Council also launched a new litter picking map, designed to help residents connect with local volunteer groups. The map highlights areas covered by litter picking groups across the borough. Nine groups have already joined the initiative, with more welcome to take part.
Among those recognised was South Gare Litter Pickers, founded five years ago by Matt Stilwell. The group now boasts more than 40 volunteers who regularly work together to keep the South Gare area clean and welcoming.
Matt said: "I have even been contacted by people from America saying that we've inspired them to start their own groups. It's nice to hear about people seeing what we do and getting inspired by it."
Marske Litter Action has been helping to keep Marske litter-free since 2010. Alongside organising community and corporate litter picking events, the group works with schools and youth organisations and maintains three equipment cabinets to enable residents to carry out litter picks whenever they wish. The group also campaigns on wider environmental issues, including reducing single-use plastics and tackling sewage overflows.
At Grangetown Revival, volunteers have expanded their efforts beyond litter picking to include broader community improvement work.
For them the work they do is about more than litter picking. It's about taking pride in where they live, improving neglected areas and bringing people together. Their aim is simple: a cleaner, stronger Grangetown that they can all be proud to call home.
Keeping It Clean at Saltburn (KICAS) continues to attract around 40 volunteers to its monthly beach cleans. Relaunched in 2024 by Mary and Ian Sproxton, the group helps remove litter from Saltburn beach and surrounding areas while protecting marine habitats and encouraging community involvement.
In Carlin How, Michael Greensmith, Bill Sayer, Gail Sayer and Peter Sweeney have been litter picking for around 15 years.
Michael said: "This is our village. We live here and we want to keep it tidy. Many people don't realise what they've got."
Gail added: "I'm not originally from Carlin How, but I'm proud of the village and I'm hoping that, by us doing this, we'll attract more litter pickers and people will respect the village."
The TS6 Litter Pickers group was formed through friendships made while volunteering with South Gare Litter Pickers. Janice Motson, Debra Cockerill, Karen Hubbard, Brian Johnston, Peter Atkinson and Heather Atkinson now meet every week to tackle litter across the TS6 area.
Janice said: "We all come together once a week, around two to three hours, in all weathers, whether it's pouring down, snowing, windy, we've done it all."
Bankfield Litter Pickers, founded by Steven Carsley with support from Matt Stillwel, also continue to make a significant impact in Eston and Normanby while regularly supporting clean-up efforts elsewhere in the borough.
Steven said: "We all help each other out. It's a chance to get out, get some fresh air, meet people from all walks of life and do a bit of exercise. It's really beneficial for your mental health."
The Overfields Litter Pickers have been around for three years and currently have 24 members in their group. While their main areas of activity are Overfields and Spencerbeck they are always happy to give a helping hand to other volunteers.
Redcar East Against Litter, also knows as REAL, are a group of residents who go out in all weathers litter picking and looking after the Redcar East area.
Les Holmes, who started the group a few years ago, has talked about the benefits he gets from this activity: “It is a means to chat and get a walk in at the same time. Even just wandering on my own gets me outside which helps my mental health.”
Guisborough Tidy Up came into being in January 2021. Although they don’t organise litter picking events, since they set up, the town became noticeably cleaner. In the first three months of activity, almost 1200 sacks of old litter were picked, along with mountains of fly tipping. Hundreds more bags were subsequently picked that same year.
Now the group only tries to maintain and keep on top of that improvement and level of tidiness.
The Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Ceri Cawley, said:
"Our litter picking volunteers are an inspiration. They give up countless hours to improve their local areas, protect the environment and bring communities together. Their dedication and enthusiasm make a real difference across the borough, and it has been a pleasure to meet many of them and thank them for everything they do.
"On behalf of the Council and our residents, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every volunteer who has picked up a litter picker, filled a bag or organised an event. Your efforts help make Redcar and Cleveland a cleaner, greener and more welcoming place for everyone."
Councillor Neil Bendelow, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said:
"Our litter picking volunteers make an enormous contribution to communities across Redcar and Cleveland. Whether they are cleaning beaches, parks, streets or green spaces, they are helping to keep our borough looking its best and creating places that residents can be proud of."
"I would like to thank every person who gives up their time to support this work. The new litter picking map is a fitting way to recognise their efforts, while also encouraging more people to get involved and support the fantastic work already taking place across the borough."
Anyone interested in joining a litter picking group or adding their organisation to the litter picking map can have a look at the map at https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/community-support/neighbourhood-services/litter-picking-groups-across-the-borough