Community Litter Picking Initiative in Chalvey
Chalvey has long been identified as an area where environmental cleanliness and community pride are key priorities. Regular reports of littering and fly-tipping affected public spaces, parks and residential streets, impacting residents’ perceptions of safety and neighbourhood quality. In response, a community litter-picking event was arranged by Cllr Nadeem Khawar and Slough Mayor Rifaqat Zarait, bringing together residents, volunteers, community organisations and local partners to improve the local environment.
The Challenge
Litter was creating an unattractive environment and placing additional pressure on council cleansing services. The challenge was not only to remove existing litter but also to encourage long-term behaviour change by increasing community ownership of local spaces and inspiring younger residents to take pride in their neighbourhood.
The Approach
The community litter-pick brought together local residents, families and volunteers to clean streets and public spaces across Chalvey. Participants were provided with litter pickers, gloves, bags and safety guidance, while council teams arranged for the collection and disposal of the waste collected during the event.
Cardo Group supported the event as part of its commitment to creating cleaner, safer communities and working collaboratively with local residents and the council. Cardo’s team helped engage younger participants by providing superhero masks and presenting each child with a goodie bag and a Superhero Certificate. These activities reinforced the message that “super people take pride in where they live,” encouraging children to become ambassadors for keeping their neighbourhood clean and fostering a sense of pride in their local community.
Outcomes
The initiative delivered several positive outcomes:
- Cleaner streets, parks and public spaces across Chalvey.
- Strong community participation from residents, families and local volunteers.
- Increased engagement with children through fun, educational activities supported by Cardo.
- Strengthened partnerships between the council, community organisations and local businesses.
- Greater awareness of environmental responsibility and community pride.
Impact
The event demonstrated that environmental improvements are most effective when communities work together. By combining practical action with positive engagement, particularly with young people, the initiative created cleaner public spaces while encouraging long-term behaviour change.
Cardo’s support helped make the event a positive and memorable experience for children, leaving them with a lasting message about taking pride in where they live. The collaboration between the event organisers, local residents, volunteers and supporting partners highlighted the value of partnership working in delivering meaningful improvements for the community.
Lessons Learned
Key lessons from the project include:
- Community-led events are most successful when supported by strong partnerships between the council, elected members, local businesses and residents.
- Engaging children through fun and interactive activities helps build lifelong environmental awareness.
- Positive reinforcement encourages residents to take ownership of their local area.
- Collaborative working can maximise participation while strengthening community pride and social connections.
Next Steps
Building on the success of this initiative, the council will continue to support community-led litter-picking events across Slough every Sunday, working with residents, schools, community organisations and partners such as Cardo to encourage wider participation, promote environmental responsibility and create cleaner, greener and more welcoming neighbourhoods for everyone.