About Billingham Tidy Up Group

A brief introduction to our history and what we do.

Pen pic of Billingham Tidy Up group in action

Startup

We started our litter collection activities on 12th February 2020 but had to reduce or halt them at times to comply with Covid 19 restrictions that were in force during 2020 and early 2021.

Litter Collection

We use the what3 words application to define the locations where litter we collect and bag is deposited for Local Authority collection.

Donations

Since our formation we have been extremely grateful to several local organisations for a number of grants and donations they have given us. These have provided us or allowed us to purchase items such as customised high vis jackets, refuse bags, bag holding hoops, litter picking hand grabbers, tools and PPE (Personal Protective equipment). Our intention is to use any further donations to supply ourselves with equipment that helps us undertake our litter picks more quickly and efficiently.

Keeping track of what we have done

We keep images, dates & records of locations that we have visited to clear away litter for future reference.

Keep Britain Tidy - LitterHeroes Ambassador.

In 2024. BTU founder & leader Michelle Dack was appointed as a LitterHeroes Ambassador. This role was devised and implemented by Keep Britain Tidy. It includes:
Promoting and taking part in campaigns, such as the Great British Spring Clean.
Encouraging new volunteers to connect with Keep Britain Tidy & register as LitterHeroes.
Recording & reporting individual and community group litter-picking data.
Michelle and other Litter Heroes Ambassadors benefit from access to Keep Britain Tidy Public Liability Insurance for their litter picking groups. They also get First Aid, Safeguarding and Media training. Support for their community group litterpicking activities comes through Handbooks, online guidance and webinars. They may be invited to attend annual face to face events, and meetings with politicians at Westminster.

Linking with other Litter picking groups

We are not alone in our efforts to improve our local area by doing our best to reduce levels of litter as much as possible. Numerous other groups throughout the UK have also been set up and do fantastic work to improve their local areas too. In our particular part of North East England, similar litter picking groups in neighbouring towns have been set up, and operate the same way as we do. From time to time we join them for collaborative litter picks in heavily littered areas to provide strength in numbers.

Group Designation

In March 2023, we decided to change the status of the Billingham Tidy Up group into a formally constituted body. We felt this would provide additional assurance about our internal control and legitimacy, to any organisations and others that do, or are considering to donate to us. Our constitution can be viewed by clicking here

Social Media & Internet

In addition to this website we also post on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram & Twitter. There are links to these platforms on the bottom of all of the webpages.