Partners recognised for impact of Environmental Action Days

Wirral Council’s Community Safety Team has been recognised with a national award for its efforts in co-ordinating a series of Environmental Action Days covering some of the most-deprived areas in the borough.

At Keep Britain Tidy’s annual Network Awards ceremony, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool last month, the team was chosen to receive the ‘Community Engagement Award’ in recognition of the work they had carried out in Noctorum, Woodchurch, Beechwood and Ballantyne and north Birkenhead.

Supported by volunteers, local schools, third sector organisations and other partner agencies, the Environmental Action Days sought to build a sense of community pride in the areas and foster relationships between residents and authorities to work towards a common goal of improving where they live. 

The activities were carried out in two distinct phases. During the first, which took place in May 2024, residents in all three areas were supported practically, physically and financially to help clean up their neighbourhood.

This include making free skips available for residential to use and arranging for large items to disposed of for free using the council’s usually charged-for bulky waste service. Where people could not physically move their larger items, staff and volunteers were on-hand to do it for them.

Pavements in public areas such as around shops were jet-washed and community litter picks were organised. Local properties were also leafleted with information promoting the events, providing advice and highlighting key contact information for local services.

The days were supported by partner organisations, such as Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) carrying out home fire safety checks and installing smoke alarms, Merseyside Police providing a free bike-marking service, and Involve Northwest CIC door-knocking providing information about local services. 

Local community groups were central to the activities, not only getting involved in the clean-up but also providing refreshments and food for staff and volunteers - one group even put on music to boost the community spirit.

Phase two of the Environmental Clean Up days were targeted around Halloween and Bonfire Night, which in previous years had attracted anti-social behaviour and some concerns across agencies about a number of unofficial bonfires and fireworks events.

In 2024, a new approach was tested and these communities were supported with advice and guidance to make their bonfire events safe and provided them with a small amount of financial support to obtain Public Liability Insurance, safety measures such as barriers, first aid, stewards and road closures. 

Not only was this a success in terms of community engagement, but it was also a success in terms of environmental benefits.

Community Action Days were co-ordinated in the four locations in the lead up to Bonfire Night to reduce the amount of fly-tipping on the sites and remove excess and hazardous waste from residential properties and community assets to reduce the risk of discarded waste being set on fire and the likelihood of fly-tipping.  The day after Bonfire Night large scale clean ups were co-ordinated in conjunction with local communities.