Bingham Close benefits from litter pick thanks to local volunteers

A team of keen volunteers from local housing association Aster Group recently spent the day litter picking with customers throughout Bingham Close, Verwood.

The team of 10 Aster colleagues were also joined by members of the local community including customers. Together they tidied up the pavements, grassy areas and communal walkways in the neighbourhood, filling an open-back truck with rubbish and other items.  

Organised by Aster neighbourhood manager Paul Worthen, he said: “Not only was it great to be part of a group dedicated to cleaning up this community, it was also lovely to be out interacting with people again as we’ve not be able to do group activities like this due to the restrictions imposed in light of the pandemic.

“Seeing neighbours working together, helping each other bring items to the lorry and talking about how proud they feel about living at this estate showed just what a great community there is here.”

Each year Aster colleagues can spend up to two working days volunteering though the housing association’s Aster VIP programme.

Aster Foundation director, Cam Kinsella, said: “Volunteering is a great way for our teams to get involved with our communities over and above their day job to spend some time working together on projects like this litter clean.”

Despite the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, during the pandemic colleagues got creative with their volunteering, helping local people remotely and volunteering at roll out vaccination clinics and NHS Test and Trace centres.