A survey carried out on the lead up to the launch of Clean Glasgow’s Schools Charter revealed that almost 90% of pupils backed the City Council’s £4m campaign to rid our streets and communities of litter, graffiti, fly tipping, fly posting and dog dirt.
Council bosses today revealed the full extent of their plans to involve the city’s 29 learning communities – consisting of secondary schools and feeder primaries - during the launch at St Mungo’s Academy in Glasgow’s East End.
The Clean Glasgow Schools Charter aims to encourage teachers, pupils and local residents to keep their grounds and surroundings clean and safe by disposing of litter responsibly and treating their environment with respect. There is also a pot of £60 000 available to finance school projects which will focus on maintaining the cleanliness of schools and their surrounding communities.
Over the coming weeks it will be rolled out to schools across the city, with each receiving a ‘community tool kit’ offering guidance and support on how to organise clean ups as well as a range of educational materials and protective equipment including gloves and litter pickers.
Clean Glasgow has brought a great reaction from the public since its launch in February, and the same is expected of the new Charter.
Initial reaction from pupils is good. Over the last two months, hundreds of young people from schools throughout Glasgow have completed an online questionnaire asking for their reaction to the campaign.
Pupils visiting the City Council’s Fuel Zone website were asked for their views on how best to tackle litter problems which cost Glasgow taxpayers a staggering £16m in unnecessary spending every year to clean up.
More than 70% of students quizzed said they felt “disgusted” when they saw an area blighted by litter, while 82% agreed that its removal would make a “massive improvement’” to their community.
Additionally, the survey uncovered that 69% of pupils believe young people, like adults, should receive a £50 fine if caught dropping litter while 46% agreed that such action would prove a useful deterrent.
And when asked why young people drop litter, half of the respondents said laziness and a careless attitude were contributing factors. Encouragingly, 89% of the pupils insisted the campaign was a good idea and said they would happily get involved.
First year pupil Rebecca Park (12) attended the launch of the Schools Charter at St Mungo’s Academy and is a member of her school’s eco-committee.
She said: “The Clean Glasgow campaign is a great way of getting young people involved practically in keeping both their school and local community clean. It has certainly raised awareness among the pupils at St Mungo’s Academy that we are each responsible for the school environment and ensuring that it provides a healthy place in which to learn.”
Headteacher at St Mungo’s Academy, John Reilly, said: “I have been delighted with the enthusiasm shown by all of our young people in supporting Clean Glasgow. It is part of the ethos at St Mungo’s Academy to promote responsible citizenship and this campaign will go a long way to encouraging not just our students, but those across the city, to take pride in their school and prove to their communities that they take an active interest in maintaining a well kept and clean environment.”
Baillie Gordon Matheson, who attended the clean up, commented: “It is great to see such support and enthusiasm for the Clean Glasgow campaign from Glasgow’s school pupils.
“The Clean Glasgow Schools Charter not only asks pupils to be mindful of how they dispose of their litter but also encourages them to learn more about citizenship and to appreciate their environment.
“Education is key to the Clean Glasgow campaign. I look forward to seeing the impact that the introduction of the Schools Charter has on the cleanliness of our city – now and in the future.”
Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell said: “We must change the mindset of the minority of young people that view dropping litter and graffiti as acceptable and repeatedly spoil their school and community environments for everyone else.
“No city authority can keep a city clean on its own and the launch of the Schools Charter is about engaging effectively with young people, teachers and parents to better educate and inform them of the steps necessary to make a real difference. The enthusiasm shown by the pupils at St Mungo’s today is what we want to see repeated in learning communities across Glasgow.”
Phil Walker, managing director of Glasgow Community and Safety Services – the driving force behind Clean Glasgow - said: “Local people in neighbourhoods throughout the city have come forward to back Clean Glasgow and have taken part in large numbers in many neighbourhood clean-ups. We are now asking the army of pupils in Glasgow to help clean up their schools and the areas immediately around them. The positive reaction to our survey is very encouraging and I am confident they will do their bit.”
Groups or individuals who would like to get involved in a school or community clean up event in their area are urged to call the Clean Glasgow hotline on 0800 027 7027.