Lockdown Litter Heroes

At Lincoln City Foundation we are inspired by the efforts and commitment of residents from the Sincil Bank area who have continued to volunteer their time to clean up their local streets throughout the Covid-19 restrictions and lockdown periods.

Sincil Bank River Care and Litter Pick is a well-established group of resident volunteers who over the past years have devoted many hours to removing litter from their neighborhood, as well as maintaining the appearance of the banks along the Sincil Bank River. Whilst large group Litter Picking events have not been possible in order to keep people safe during the pandemic, the group have remained committed to keeping their community tidy.

Group Leader, Barbi Gooding, has loaned individuals their own litter picks, gloves and high viz jackets which they have been able to use to pick litter on their own accord or with people from their household. Residents who host ‘Matchday Bins’ in the Sincil Bank area have also offered their refuse bin as a way for extra bags of litter which have collected to be correctly disposed of.

During the current lockdown period, the City of Lincoln Council have continued to collect rubbish the River Care and Litter Pick group have collected once a month from an agreed collection point in the neighbourhood. This commitment from the Council has allowed volunteers to complete a community clean up across the area on the same day, but whilst continuing to carrying out the activity solo or in household bubbles, and without any form of group gathering taking place.

On Saturday 27th February, 15 local residents attended the latest community clean up, gathering several bags of waste and removing fly tipped items from the neighbourhood.

Photos provided by local resident Nick Rawsthorne.

Alice Carter, Project Manager at the Foundation added: ‘The Foundation’s ongoing engagement with Sincil Bank residents highlights that the appearance of the neighborhood is something which concerns people. I am therefore delighted by the efforts of the River Care and Litter Pick group who are motivated to act and make a difference whilst overcoming the current Covid-19 challenges’.

The Sincil Bank neighbourhood in Lincoln is one of only 10 places in the whole of England to be part of the Place Based Social Action (PBSA) programme, a joint £4.5m programme between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund. PBSA aims to create positive change by enabling people, communities, local non-statutory organisations and the statutory sector to work collaboratively to create a shared vision for the future of their place and address local priorities through social action.

To find out more about the PBSA programme and activities in the Sincil Bank community click here or contact community@lincolncityfoundation.co.uk.