Keep Scotland Beautiful have launched a Litter League to encourage and give young people across Scotland the opportunity to tackle the litter emergency and compete for clean-up glory.
The Litter League has been launched this month as part of the charities annual Spring Clean campaign, with seven awards available to be won all over the country.
Barry Fisher, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We are so excited to be launching the inaugural Litter League as part of this year’s Spring Clean.
“Young people across the country have always been committed to protecting the environment and I am sure the Litter League will strengthen this interest.
“We are facing a Litter Emergency in Scotland and we need everyone to get involved. Last year we saw thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves across more than 100 events and this year we want to do even better.
“This exciting and fun campaign is a perfect way to get young people of all ages involved and, with some terrific prizes and bragging rights on offer, we can’t wait to celebrate our league champions.”
Clean ups will need to take place between the 13th and 31st of March to be counted as entries for the Litter League. Schools, nurseries, youth groups, uniformed youth groups, after school care, children’s play groups and children’s community groups can enter the league.
The seven awards available are:
- National Spring Clean Champion
- Aberdeen and North – East Spring Clean Champion
- Tayside, Central and Fife Spring Clean Champion
- Glasgow and Strathclyde Spring Clean Champion
- Edinburgh and Lothian Spring Clean Champion
- Highlands and Islands Spring Clean Champion
- Scotland South Spring Clean Champion.
Keep Scotland Beautiful have also partnered with Play Scotland as part of their Litter Pick and Play programme, which links the climate crisis with the play crisis. From natural disasters to everyday issues, public spaces are often unwelcoming and unsafe for children to play in, with children who are already disadvantaged by disability, poverty, and other factors, are disproportionately affected by the environment.
As part of the commitment from Keep Scotland Beautiful to sustainability, winners will scoop a #SpringCleanScotland trophy to keep for one year, receive Clean Up Champion rewards and those who are also entering the Play Scotland: Litter Pick and Play will receive a certificate of participation to display and be entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of vouchers.
Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO of Play Scotland, said: “Children have a right to outdoor play spaces that are clean and welcoming.
“The Litter Pick and Play Project empowers children and young people to improve local play spaces for their benefit and that of the whole community.
“Their message is clear: ‘We have a right to cleaner spaces to play, and by working together we can create better places for everyone in the community- so join in if you can.’
“This project is a great way to support children’s right to play and invest in the health and wellbeing of our communities.”
More information on the Litter League including information on how to enter can be found at https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/media/1571185/sc-the-litter-league-info-pack.pdf with more information on the wider Spring Clean campaign available at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean.
Information on Play Scotland’s Litter Pick and Play programme can be found at https://www.playscotland.org/resources/print/How-to-Get-Involved-Greener-Understanding-Litter-Pick-and-Play-4.pdf?plsctml_id=23247