Parents volunteer to clean up the streets near Sheffield primary school

A group of parent volunteers have been lending a helping hand to rid the community of litter as part of a project run by a Sheffield primary school.
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In an effort to support the community surrounding Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, in Shirecliffe, the like-minded group of volunteers have begun litter picking once a week to help keep the area clean and tidy.

They have been supported by the school’s headteacher, Ian Read, as well as other staff members, and are keen to get the pupils involved once it is safe to do so.

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The idea came about earlier this year but was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group of volunteers from Watercliffe Meadow Primary litter picking outside the schoolThe group of volunteers from Watercliffe Meadow Primary litter picking outside the school
The group of volunteers from Watercliffe Meadow Primary litter picking outside the school
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Mr Read said: “As part of our lottery-funded Reaching Communities programme we have started a volunteer programme each week litter picking in the community. We are hoping that this will grow into other community improvement projects.”

The volunteers are earning credits through the TimeBuilders project which acts to support people to develop themselves and contribute to their community

"Our families and the wider community have always been really important to us,” Mr Read added. “We've always had volunteers in school but they’ve generally been supporting children in class which is obviously a bit more difficult at the moment.

Kerry Wigginton, a volunteer at Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, recycling plastic bottlesKerry Wigginton, a volunteer at Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, recycling plastic bottles
Kerry Wigginton, a volunteer at Watercliffe Meadow Primary School, recycling plastic bottles
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"From talking with Graham at TimeBuilders, the notion of being a volunteer has an impact on people’s self-worth.

"We were trying to think of something that would help us engage with people, do something for the community, and something we could do during Covid as they're actually outside and can be socially distanced.

"During lockdown because we had more contact with parents than we normally do, phoning them every week, we realised how important having a sense of purpose is and so it was one of the things we wanted to get started.”

Around 12 people took part in the first litter pick, collecting around six bags of rubbish on September 12.

Ezmae Bailey-Seaton and Kairen Bailey litter picking outside Watercliffe Meadow Primary SchoolEzmae Bailey-Seaton and Kairen Bailey litter picking outside Watercliffe Meadow Primary School
Ezmae Bailey-Seaton and Kairen Bailey litter picking outside Watercliffe Meadow Primary School
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Sarah Flanaghan, a family worker at Watercliffe Meadow, has been leading the group.

She said: “It is a way to get the parent volunteers back involved with the school, get them back chatting to each other, supporting each other, and the community as well.”

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