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On Saturday 23 June, between 9am and 4pm, Target North Hirst is hosting ‘The Big Tidy’ in conjunction with Northumberland County Council’s ‘LOVE Northumberland’ campaign.
The Big Tidy is your opportunity to improve your area! The North Hirst group will be assisted by Wansbeck CVS Volunteers, local uniformed and school groups as well as staff from the county council and are inviting other organisations to join in.
Following on from the success of last year, where on two consecutive Saturdays in June they organised successful neighbourhood clean-ups that saw an amazing amount of rubbish cleared from local streets.
Key clean-up statistics from last year:
- over 30 individuals involved
- five specialist vehicles used
- 27 tonnes of waste removed
- 16 separate waste pickups made
- 35 bacon sandwiches consumed
Target North Hirst (TNH) secretary, Pauline Thompson said: “We are deeply proud of our neighbourhood: who we are and where we come from.
“We will continue to work together with all of our partners and stakeholders to do everything we can to improve our neighbourhood. We have achieved some great things so far. But we are nowhere near being finished yet. Join us - and be part of something fantastic.”
TNH work is concentrated in the northern part of The Hirst in Ashington, Northumberland. Their mission statement is to put back the pride in The Hirst. This means encouraging everyone to get involved for the benefit of the entire community.
Executive member for neighbourhood services at Northumberland County Council, councillor Alan Thompson said: “It is inspiring to see a community group so active and committed to improving their neighbourhood.
“Our people have always shown themselves to be resilient and enterprising when given the opportunity and we have a long tradition of looking out for each other.
“I urge as many people as possible to join in with this year’s ‘big tidy’ to make it even more successful than last year.”
The neighbourhood faces a number of challenges. The heavy industry that once provided jobs for local people has largely gone and so the area faces multiple social and economic problems.
As well as neighbourhood clean-ups the group also organises graffiti removal, maintains hanging baskets, encourages locals to report crime and anti-social behaviour and works as an advocate for the community.
TNH is also working in association with Britain’s national ‘love where you live’ campaign, which encourages personal responsibility and positive action work in partnership with neighbourhoods to reduce litter.
If you would like to get involved in ‘the big tidy’ you can meet the group outside the Hirst Welfare at 9am on Saturday. If you would like more information about TNH, get in touch by phone on 07757776517 / 01670 813327or email targetnorthhirst@hotmail.co.uk You can also visit their website www.targetnorthhirst.com
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