Litter-picking is the act of finding and collecting litter from your local streets, parks, rivers and beaches. The benefits of this activity extend beyond volunteering to support your environment, as Active Lincolnshire staff discovered when we went out on a litter-pick near our office recently. Alongside making you feel good by doing something positive for the environment, litter-picking can also reduce physical inactivity and is a chance to make connections with new people.

Active Lincolnshire's litter-picking event was organised by student Kouki Kobayashi who has been doing a work placement with us. Kouki, from Tokyo, Japan is studying International Sports Business Management at University of Lincoln with his dissertation looking at the cultural differences of volunteering between Japan and the UK in sport.

Colleagues from Nicholsons Chartered Accountants and Simons Design, joined some of the team from Active Lincolnshire for the litter-pick near our office. The group was divided into four groups, each working together and picking up litter. Surprisingly, there was more rubbish than expected and the rubbish bags were full within 30 minutes. Thank you to One NK and North Kesteven District Council for helping provide the equipment for the litter pick.

The activity was featured on BBC Radio Lincolnshire the breakfast show, with Kouki and Active Lincolnshire CEO, Emma Tatlow chatting to Scott Dalton about the litter-picking project. Thanks you to BBC Radio Lincolnshire for helping raise awareness of the social contributions of volunteering, and helping support a cleaner county!

Kouki commented:

A lot of support has made this litter-picking activity possible. As global warming and environmental destruction have become major issues in recent years, the awareness of each one of us is significant. A small change in awareness and action will create a better life in the future. Let’s make a better life together.

Following positive feedback from those involved, the litter-picking activity will take place every month helping to make Lincolnshire cleaner as well as the supporting the wellbeing of all participants involved in the project.

Active Lincolnshire is encouraging other workplaces to try a similar scheme with their employees.

For more information and support relating to litter-picking visit Keep Britain Tidy