Youngsters beat summer boredom with coastal clean up

Published Tuesday, 29th August 2017

A GROUP of Hartlepool youngsters have beat summer holiday boredom whilst helping to tidy up the town as part of their work for a community action project.

Eight young people aged 12 to 16 involved with the Council-run Beat the Boredom Summer Programme recently took part in a Seaton Beach litter pick, after researching the damaging effects of plastic pollution on sea life.

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The youngsters chose this theme to emphasise the importance of the beach and sea to their coastal communities, creating displays and art work to highlight the problem of pollution and developing solutions to combat it with support from the Council's Youth Support Services team.

Councillor Alan Clark, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “The children who took part in the litter pick have made a big impact by helping to keep our town’s beaches clean and tidy, and they should be extremely proud of themselves.

“They worked together to complete a beach litter pick, which was a great success and a tremendous team effort. These young people are setting a good example to us all, reminding us that we all have a part to play in managing our plastic waste responsibly and looking after our planet.

“Well done to all of the young people and Youth Support Service staff involved in the project.”

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Beth Major, Hartlepool Council’s Youth Work Manager, said: “For this year’s Beat the Boredom Community Action project, the children chose to focus on waste and sea pollution.

“They worked as a team to share ideas on how they could tackle the problem of plastic pollution, used their initiative to plan the litter pick from start to finish, and will now explore ways in which they can raise this issue to other young people through social media and peer education.

“We have been very impressed by the hard work and level of thought they have put into their research throughout the project, and want to congratulate all involved.”

The annual Beat the Boredom Summer Programme gives children the chance to take part in photography, sport, art, music and community action projects across the two venues of Rossmere Youth Centre and Throston Youth Project.

Young people can compete in street games, learn carnival drumming, take on team art challenges, design jewellery in specialist workshops and much more, with the opportunity to gain nationally recognised awards for their involvement.

For more information about future programmes, please contact Hartlepool Council’s Youth Support Service on 01429 284284.