Northampton youth group litter picks for just an hour and collects 15 bags of rubbish

A youth group who wanted to raise money and help their community completed an hour of litter picking.

During that time, the youngsters between the age of eight and 11 filled 15 bags full of rubbish.

Free2Talk, the youth group who completed the litter picking, found nappies, toilet brushes and deodorant cans as they searched the streets, alleyways and bushes around the Blackthorn area.

Rachel Clarke, leader of the youth group, said: “As the young people were planning their 12-week sessions they requested being able to go on a trip to Boost, the local trampoline centre.

“As Free2Talk is a charity organisation we don’t have funding to do this especially as we run many centres across Northampton for young people 8-19, so this term I thought I would try to make that happen for them.

“I suggested to them, that if they wanted it to happen, they would have to come up with fundraising ideas to help fund it.

“The litter picking was a great idea because it meant they can do something for their community too.”

The litter picking took place during the group’s normal meeting time on Monday (February 3) and was supported by Northampton Borough Council who provided the litter pickers.

The children walked around the area’s sheltered accommodation estate, along alleyways, in the local park, around the local shop and in bushes to remove any litter they could find.

Rachel added: “The young people listened to safety instructions prior to the collection and we all set off. They were so enthusiastic collecting rubbish even calling out when they picked up something out of the ordinary.

“At the end of the litter picking when we headed back to the centre the young people groaned at the thought of finishing as they wanted to carry on.”

Members of the youth group took sponsorship forms home to raise money for the group and the trip they would like to go on.