A Sandwell community-led environmental charity has received a top national award from BBC Dragon’s Den expert Deborah Meaden for its efforts to reduce the litter on the streets and help schools of the borough become sustainable.
Tipton Litterwatch won the Recycling Champion of the Year award at a presentation at the Dorchester Hotel in London – and then picked up the overall highest accolade, CIWM Award for Environmental Excellence.
The two new awards from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Awards for Environmental Excellence come after three other top wins in environmental competitions this year.
Tipton Litter Watch has just two paid employees, but has developed partnerships with the area’s young people, local businesses, the Sandwell community as a whole and schools covering the six towns of Tipton, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Oldbury, Smethwick and Rowley Regis.
It’s ‘Think Before You Throw’ educational programme has reached 32,000 young people in the area and is linked to the national curriculum. More than 17,000 young people have actively litter picked with the charity.
The CIWM judges were impressed with the fact that the scheme had helped local residents, but especially the youngsters, to “put pride and sustainability back into their towns”.
Bob Lloyd Senior, chairman of the group said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Sandwell Council, the borough’s schools, members, community and business supporters and most importantly the young people who have worked with our charity. The CIWM awards are extremely prestigious and recognise outstanding environmental best practice throughout the country.To win two awards, including the overall winner, for a small charity like ours against multi million pound companies with huge budgets and an even bigger workforce is completely overwhelming.
“It goes to show that with the right passion, energy, commitment and the drive to make a difference you can achieve unthinkable results.”
Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing Cllr Mahboob Hussain said: “This is a remarkable achievement for a small company to win over some of the biggest names in British industry. The work tht Tipton Litter Watch do is truly remarkable and they deserve all the success they get at award ceremonies.”
Cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Ian Jones said: “I am pleased that they have been honoured in this way. It is a very worthy initiative that has a great impact in our schools and the wider community.”
Lindsay Richmond, Project Manager of the charity added: “We are still in shock from winning but are extremely happy and grateful to CIWM for recognising our charity’s achievements and rewarding us with such fantastic awards. We often get asked how are we able to achieve so much considering how small a charity we are.Our response is that we do not feel small, as we have great people and partner agencies supporting us. This award does not just belong to Tipton Litter Watch – it for everybody who has played a part in funding, helping, supporting, publicising, developing and enhancing our charity’s work. We are extremely proud of Sandwell.”
For more information about Tipton Litter Watch please visit the website.
