On Tuesday 6 August, from 9.00am - 4.00pm, I was enlisted to take pictures and report on quite an unusual, and perhaps not exactly glamorous, event in Braunstone, Leicestershire.
Sharan, the former Neighbourhood Coordinator (NC) for the area, had observed that many residents' front gardens and the streets were full of rubbish bags, discarded pallets, and unwanted items. While it would usually be the responsibility of residents to contact the council to dispose of these items or to simply bin them, as the Braunstone estate had not had their own NC in years, Sharan saw this as an opportunity to build good will and to bring some pride back into the area.
Out of her Neighbourhood Improvement Fund (assigned to all NCs to give their communities a boost), Sharan arranged for 3 skips to be delivered — 1 on Hand Close, Webster Road, and Wellinger Way respectively. With the expert supervision of Andy from our DLO, some help from the b inspired neighbourhood support base, and great representation from our Neighbourhoods Team in the Midlands, my plan for the event was to take pictures and get quotes as the team oversaw that it was only PA Housing residents filling up the skips.
The best laid plans of mice and men…
As the contractors couldn't find a place to put 1 of the skips in the morning due to parked cars, they left to perform all their other errands which meant that 1 of the skips didn't arrive until after 12.00pm, and the third even later than that! So, until they showed up, we accepted that residents would have to leave their rubbish in the collection spots where the skips were going to be because they couldn't wait around all morning.
Once they arrived, it was all hands on deck for the PA colleagues, and I got involved too in the hot and humid weather. With some clever stacking, we maximised how much rubbish we could fit into the last 2 skips. However, we underestimated just how much people would want to get rid of as many residents also used this as an opportunity to clear unwanted items from their homes too. This left us with more items than we could physically put inside the last skip.
Keep scrolling to see some of our images from the day, some excellent resident feedback, and to find out how we successfully got around this tricky predicament…
Some examples of what the streets previously looked like — with fly tipping and rubbish that had been left out before the second skip arrived.
While we were out on the street, we took the time to engage with local residents, many of whom were very grateful for the gesture (and to get rid of some of their rubbish).
"Sharan, I want to thank you and the volunteers yesterday for collecting my stuff. I am so grateful. xxx"
Vanessa, Resident
“I would like to thank you for bringing skips for the residents of Braunstone. It was extremely beneficial and much needed. It is really difficult to get rid of rubbish and to have clear space is absolutely brilliant and so uplifting. I thank you for bringing that community spirit and your recognition of how important it is to have a clean community, away from dirt and rubbish. It was a very empowering day and I thank you so very much.”
Andrea, Resident
Kelly, another resident, offered an optimistic view, noting that the day’s good deeds might provide the positive encouragement needed to spark change and further improve the neighbourhood.
And if you look to your left, you'll see our volunteers helping by taking items from the front gardens of residents who needed extra support to move them.
The team also supervised and did their bit to fill up the skips responsibly and efficiently (complete with protective gloves).
Now, as I mentioned at the start, we were left in quite a tricky situation at the end with an excess of rubbish. Just how did the stockpile we had become the clean, tidy street you see below?
Well, the third skip arrived and we were able to clear about half the pile. But then, Andy made a very important call and drafted in Stefan (to the rescue!) with his rat catcher's van, which was able to carry most of the other items to the tip. For the inconvenience of the late arrivals, the skip contractor took some of the left over, fly-tipped items in their own van the following morning so we no longer had to worry.
And the final result? Through teamwork and everybody chipping in, what could've been a disaster became a worthwhile day for colleagues and residents alike that I wouldn't have skipped for the world!
By Marco ∙ August 14, 2024
