Welcome to the Advent Calendar, day 17. People say one person can’t make a difference, but they can if they invite everyone to get involved, which happened last Saturday.
Last Saturday (10th December), a group of people from all over Harehills and as far afield as Oakwood and Headingley to do a litter clean-up around the Compton Centre and the nearby shops on Compton Road. And did we say litter-pick in Harehills? Of course, Adam Asam and some of the young people from BDB/JSH were there to join in too.
We were brought together by Chijioke Ojukwu, who goes by John, who had planned the hour or so of Ecological Care (which is the single most delightful way to describe a litter pick, and I want to always use that term now).
We met in the delightful Compton Centre, a warm space, as has been promised, and a welcome relief from a cold December morning.
A few of us were there early, and after waiting for others to join, John brought out the litter-pickers (sorry Ecological Carers), gloves and other accoutrements we would need.
We were joined by a couple of police officers, who were joining us for the pick, who advised on litter picking safely. Safety is always vital.
We started with a mini-Ecological Care on the grounds of the Compton Centre as a bunch of novices got to grips with the pickers, and then we moved out to the patch of grass behind the bus stop on Compton Road. Several of us attacked it, filling at least five or six bags in short order.
Then many of us moved onto the space behind the shops on Compton Road, where there was a large accumulation of rubbish, some of its household, some of it commercial, and much of it seemingly things that had been sold in the area, food containers, alcohol and other drink containers, even cutlery.
It took at least twenty of us, over the course of an hour, to make a dent, and there’s still more work to be done there. There were definite signs of improvement, and many bags were filled. It was great seeing people chatting as they worked hard, with lots of cooperation and problem-solving. Young people, older people, local residents, people from anywhere that cared, police officers and community leaders got stuck in.
Even I, one of the laziest people in Harehills, got stuck in. It’s also why there weren’t many photographs, and the one above doesn’t truly reflect just how many people were working hard.
After longer than had been planned, we all made our way back to the Compton Centre for some well-earned food and more chances to chat and get to know new people and great old friends.
It really was a lovely afternoon, and while it was challenging and more has to be done about spots of litter accumulation, this group of wonderful people did good. So thank you to everyone involved and Chijioke Ojukwu for bringing us all together, and I hope to see so many eager people at the next Ecological Caring session.
Harehills ❤️ Love 
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