Last Saturday, a ‘gang’ of Conservative PPCs – including Spencer Pitfield, Michelle Donelan, Anne Crampton, John Sharp – descended upon the centre of Stocksbridge for a team litter-pick. What an effective, worthwhile and easily arranged social action this was.
Having borrowed the necessary equipment (litter grabbers, gloves and bags) from the local authority we split into pairs and within a few hours had cleaned up the town centre’s main thoroughfare. It’s amazing how many bags were filled!
Committed to social action, our aim was to do something really valuable with a clear ‘before and after’ effect. We were determined not to do anything tokenistic and some other options (with people) are hampered by Mr Brown’s ridiculously bureaucratic CRB requirements. I’m fully aware of the need for robust systems, but with the teacher, ex-police officer and GP on the team we have CRB checks coming out of our ears.
Spencer – the candidate in the target seat of Penistone and Stocksbridge – identified litter in some parts as being a real problem, and we can all relate to that in our patches. Also, my time in crime reduction leaves me in no doubt as to the synergy between clean, green environments and lower crime.
As well as the satisfaction of seeing the clean street, we thoroughly enjoyed it! To work together, talk over campaign experiences and share problems for a few hours proved a refreshing break. So – we are going to do it again. One warning though – be aware of who you are working with. We certainly don’t want to add to the dearth of recent criminal legislation but if and when the time comes, I shall be recommending that ‘mischievous or reckless use of litter grabbers’ is made an offence.
( 1 comments ) Tags: Penistone and Stocksbridge, PPCs, Social Action, South Yorkshire
Comment by val cartwright on March 16, 2010 at 8:10 pm
My son, who is doing a pgtc has had 4 police checks done on him in the past 2 years because he was having teaching practice in schools under different authorities.
My daughter who is 16 wanted to go into her Aunties class in a primary school to help out and get a taste of what it was like to become a primary school teacher but had to apply for a police check by which time it was too late.
Her Auntie has been a teacher in the school for more than 20 years and has been closely connected to my daughter for all of her life.
Crazy.