The City Council’s £4m campaign to rid our streets and communities of litter, graffiti, fly-tipping, fly-posting and dog dirt has stepped up another notch with the launch of the Clean Glasgow Community and Voluntary Organisations Charter, which comes during national Volunteers’ Week from June 1-7.
Backed by Glasgow’s Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS) and Glasgow Volunteer Centre, Council bosses today revealed the full extent of their plans to recruit the city’s army of volunteers and community champions during the launch at Temple/Shafton Youth Project in the city’s West End.
There are currently around 16,000 paid staff and a further 30,000 unpaid volunteers working across more than 1,000 voluntary organisations in Glasgow.
The Clean Glasgow Community and Voluntary Organisations Charter aims to encourage these groups to take pride in the neighbourhoods where they deliver their services - in turn enabling communities to feel safer in an environment that is cleaner and greener.
Community and voluntary groups who sign up to the new Charter can also access financial aid, with £50 available towards the cost of carrying out environmental improvements in their area and a further £200 available if a group commits to maintaining its project over a longer period of time.
Over the coming weeks the Charter will be delivered to all 850 GCVS members. Those who wish to get involved in the campaign will receive 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.
Chief executive of Glasgow’s Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS), Helen MacNeil, said: “The environment that people live in has a huge impact on how they feel, so I really welcome this campaign to clean up our communities. It’s particularly pleasing that voluntary organisations are involved, as they have the commitment and the knowledge to make things happen at a local level.”
Those views were echoed by David Maxwell of Glasgow Volunteer Centre, who said: “We very much welcome an initiative that enables people to take control of local issues and work in partnership with relevant agencies to improve their communities. The Charter is designed to do just that, and Glasgow Volunteer Centre is happy to lend its support to Clean Glasgow in any way we can.”
Jason Birkbeck (17) attended the launch of the Community and Voluntary Organisations Charter at Temple/Shafton Youth Project, which provides a free, information and support service to help young people aged 12-25 living in the G13 postcode area access education and training services within their communities.
He has been attending the group since he was 10 and has spent the last year as a full-time volunteer youth worker.
He said: “Clean Glasgow is a great way to involve young people in contributing to issues that are on their doorstep. It is important that young people learn to take responsibility for their environment and by engaging community, voluntary and youth groups this will build on the good work already being carried out through this campaign.”
Group leader at Temple/Shafton Youth Project, Paul Smith, said: “Our aim as a youth group is to provide the young people who access our service with lifelong skills that will help them become active and valuable members of their communities, which is why we are delighted to be supporting this campaign.
“Clean Glasgow not only provides us with the tools to do this, but also raises awareness of environmental issues that will affect the lives of these young people now and in the future.”
Councillor Jim Coleman, deputy leader of Glasgow City Council, commented: “It is great to see such support and enthusiasm for Clean Glasgow from the city’s voluntary sector and community groups.
“If this campaign is to continue to progress successfully then the support of these organisations – who are at the heart of Glasgow’s communities and working at grassroots level – is invaluable. I look forward to seeing the impact that the introduction of the Community and Voluntary Organisations Charter has on the cleanliness of our city.”
Groups or individuals who would like to get involved in community clean up events in their area are urged to call the Clean Glasgow hotline on 0800 027 7027.