Volunteer litter picking group, Dorset Devils, reminisce achievements on 12-year anniversary.
Local volunteer group based in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have created a program that welcomes all members of the community. Dorset Devils aim to facilitate an adjustable meet-up schedule that can help eradicate litter in public spaces. Through composing these meet ups, they hope that Bournemouth locals will take initiative to increase overall cleanliness of the area they live in.
The Dorset Devils were set up by Peter Ryan in 2013 with hopes to “engage with the local community and beyond”. By offering a flexible approach to litter picking those who choose to be part of the Dorset Devils can pick litter whenever and wherever.
Ryan states that in 2020, a number of students had shown an interest in volunteering to complete their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award. DofE is a UK-based youth achievement program that challenges young people to develop life skills and resilience through personal challenges in volunteering.
This aligned with Ryan’s wish to engage with the community as he states: “DofE awards is a fantastic program to engage with the local Dorset youngsters,” getting the next generation aware and involved with the environment.
Ryan had received 400 applications from teenagers to be a part of Dorset Devils because of the popularity of the DofE program.
The popularity continued and Ryan commented that in the last year students from five local schools had chosen to continue with the litter picking. Some of these students subsequently went on to gain a gold DofE award which consisted of 52 weeks of litter picking.
Ryan also disclosed that around this time of year 4-7 students, a parent with each of them, meet with him, most popularly in “Bournemouth or Eastcliffe,” This indirectly has supported Ryans initial intentions of successfully engaging with the community and sharing the role of helping the environment and local community.
Peter Ryan encourages people to “open their eyes” both to the physical litter that can be picked up on Bournemouth streets and to the wider issues that need prolonging throughout the year.
He hopes his main message to residents “Talk as much rubbish as you can” continues to keep people aware of the paramount issue and to keep the environment green.
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