Gymnasts join Donnington community litter pick to support street champions
Residents, businesses, volunteers and elite athletes came together in Donnington last week for a special community litter pick organised through Telford & Wrekin Council's award-nominated Street Champions scheme.
Members of the Great Britain Junior Men's Artistic Gymnastics Squad, currently attending a training camp at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, swapped the gym for litter pickers as they joined local Street Champions, councillors and partner organisations including local businesses to help keep the area clean, green and welcoming.
Several of the gymnasts have recently represented, or are preparing to represent, Great Britain at European and World Junior competitions. As part of their commitment to giving back to communities, the squad selected environmental action as their chosen cause for the year and used time during their week-long training camp to support the local community.
The event, held on Thursday 5 November, saw volunteers from Kuehne + Nagel join residents at Donnington Community Hub before heading out across the community to collect litter and support local environmental improvements. The six teams of volunteers between them collected twenty bags of general rubbish and recycling.
The litter pick forms part of the Council’s Building Safer and Stronger Communities programme, bringing together residents, community partners and elite athletes for an afternoon of positive action and local pride. These organised litter picks take place several times across the year.
Telford & Wrekin Council's Street Champions scheme has grown to more than 1,800 volunteers since launching in 2013 and was recently recognised nationally for its contribution to cleaner, safer communities. Volunteers support their neighbourhoods through litter picking, reporting environmental issues and getting involved in local projects.
Councillor Paul Davis, Cabinet Member for Strong Communities, Local Pride and Veterans, said: "Our Street Champions teams continue to show what can be achieved when people come together to take pride in where they live.
"It was fantastic to welcome members of the Great Britain Junior Men's Artistic Gymnastics Squad to Donnington and see them working alongside residents and volunteers to make a positive difference.
"The fact that these talented young athletes chose environmental action as the cause they wanted to support this year makes their contribution even more special.
"Events like this demonstrate how everyone can play a part in helping create cleaner, safer and stronger communities."
The Street Champions scheme provides volunteers with equipment, training and ongoing support, with no minimum time commitment required. Anyone interested in becoming a Street Champion can find out more at www.telford.gov.uk/streetchampions.