Teenagers' anti-litter campaign

TEENAGE volunteers have started an anti-litter campaign in Warrington by applying graffiti all over a wall as part of the O2 “Think Big” National Citizen Service programme.
A team of 16 and 17 year olds turned negative youth stereotypes on their head by organising a fun day in Hood Manor to tackle the problem of litter dropping.
As part of the “Kleen Streetz” project, an old wall was decorated with graffiti messages encouraging young people to look after their local area.
The team were among 62 young people from Warrington who completed the National Citizen Service programme this summer. As part of the project they were involved in social action projects with Participation Through Sport and the O2 Think Big.
The volunteer team’s fun day in Hood Manor was aimed at young people, in the hope of changing habits and reducing litter in the area. This included a litter treasure hunt involving more than 30 local children with fun challenges along the route.
Georgia Feeney, one of the volunteers, said: “We all had to respect one another and we learnt to work with people we wouldn’t usually choose to.
“Helping the community and being part of our own project reminds us that we can help to change things, and we can achieve something.”
The project also offered benefits to the volunteers themselves, teaching them new skills, giving them something to add to their CVs, and providing experience including teamwork and organisation.