Welcome to Rochford District Council’s Voluntary Litter Picker Network, an initiative that encourages Rochford District residents to volunteer their time to help keep our local environment clear of litter.
How to volunteer with us:
• Register as a Voluntary Litter Picker
• Organise a Community Litter Picking event in your area as a school or community group. Please note that our Events Application will need to be followed for any volunteering events in the district.
• Register as a part of your Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE). If you are under 18 years old, a 'Responsible Adult' will need apply on your behalf and accompany you litter picking.
A 'responsible adult' is a person aged 18 or over who is either your parent, legal guardian, or a person who has responsibility for the you at that time, such as a member of staff at your school.
What does being a Voluntary Litter Picker require?
There is no formal commitment required to become Voluntary Litter Picker, you can give as much or as little time as you like, either in a group or on your own. It could be 15 minutes when walking the dog or on your way to work, a Saturday morning once a month with some friends or any time you get the urge to make a difference in your community.
What are the benefits of becoming a Voluntary Litter Picker?
- Satisfaction of seeing your district clear of litter
- Taking part in positive actions to improve your local environment
- Discovering a link to a community of like-minded and environmentally conscious people
- Helping to encourage responsible behaviour around litter
- Directly preventing plastics from entering the wider environment and polluting our rivers and seas
- Improve mental health and wellbeing by being outdoors
Safeguarding
The Council require all volunteers and event organiser’s to comply with the Council’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults with Care and Support Needs policy and, where relevant, have their own policy, procedures and training in place.
A 'responsible adult' is a person aged 18 or over who is either the child’s parent, legal guardian, or a person who has responsibility for them at the time. A responsible adult should always supervise volunteers under the age of 18 and volunteers with care and support needs. Permission for their participation should be gained from a parent or guardian. In the interest of safeguarding, responsible adults will be required to provide an in-date Criminal Record Bureau certificate.
If the responsible adult (such as a teacher/carer) is supervising multiple children, Rochford District Council require the responsible adult to follow NSPCC’s guidance on supervision of children. See below the required adult to children ratios set out by NSPCC:
- under 2 years - one adult to three children
- 2 - 3 years - one adult to four children
- 4 - 8 years - one adult to six children
- 9 - 12 years - one adult to eight children
- 13 - 18 years - one adult to ten children
This is only guidance, therefore depending on the needs and abilities of the children, you may need to have more adults than the minimum stated above.
Provisions
Subject to availability, we can provide a welcome kit that includes a litter picker, gloves, bag hoop, and high-vis jacket for both adults and children . We will provide you with guidance on how to safely litter pick, including resources such as a risk assessment and checklist.
Support is available via the Customer Service Team:
Email: customerservices@rochford.gov.uk
Telephone: 01702 546366
Disclaimer
Volunteers should not participate in litter picks unless they understand and accept that participation is entirely at their own risk. Volunteers are not working for, or on behalf of Rochford District Council and therefore the Council cannot be held liable for any loss, damage or injury caused as a result of the actions and omissions of volunteers.
In the interest of safeguarding, responsible adults tasked with supervising or working with children or volunteers with care and support needs will be required to provide an in-date enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. The Council will also require you to evidence and follow a safeguarding policy. If you do not have a policy, you will be able to adopt the Council’s safeguarding policy.
Community Litter Picking event organisers are required to hold a current policy of insurance in respect of Public Liability or Third Party Risks. The level of indemnity must not be below Ten Million Pounds and the Council reserves the right to require a higher limit if deemed necessary. Please note the Council has an obligation to protect itself and therefore anyone wanting to hold any activity on Council Land (no matter how small) MUST have a current insurance policy. No exceptions can be made, and your application will not be given approval unless you have insurance.
Getting involved
If you’re interested in getting involved, we kindly ask you to fill in the registration and equipment forms as necessary and read through/fill in the below documents before each litter pick: