A COMMUNITY came together to help tidy up west Reading.
Starting from the Dee Space community centre in Norcot, children from four schools teamed up with police community support officers and other volunteers for a litter pick across the Dee Park estate and Louisehill Copse to get rid of the rubbish.
Organised by the West Reading Safer Neighbourhood Forum, which partners with Thames Valley Police and Reading Borough Council, participants included Cllr Mamuna Naz (Labour, Norcot ward), who said: “These events are important because they involve the community, it is good to involve children and neighbours and the police as well.
“It is good for the community overall, especially for our youngsters and children in school.
“If they are going to go to the park, if they take food, they not just throw the litter anywhere, they should put it in the proper place, in the bin.”
Sikandar Hayat, her husband, added: “Basically it is to raise awareness for youngsters and kids and the community to look after where they live, to keep it clean and green.
“It builds communications between the police and the community, so we are closely working with them.
“Cllr Naz and other people who represent this area are putting effort into reaching out to schools, kids, police and local residents to work together to keep it clean and green, communicate and know each other.”
Neighbours and children were also encouraged to recycle at the event as well.
At the end of the litter pick, children and adults returned to Dee Space for refreshments.
The event was attended by Year 6 pupils from Ranikhet Academy, Southcote Primary, Park Lane Primary and St Michael’s Primary School in Tilehurst.
The pupils were joined by the mini police, which is for children in years five and six in school, to give children the opportunity to gain an insight and get involved in policing.
Olivia Bailey, the Labour parliamentary candidate for the Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency also joined in.
The community litter pick was held on Wednesday, June 12.
