The aim of this project is to work with communities across the UK to rid our oceans & beaches of plastic pollution.
To do this Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) will train up to 175 volunteers over two residential weekends to act as Regional Representatives for its coastline. Each year these amazing volunteers will organise over 350 beach cleans, remove up to 30 tonnes of plastic pollution from the UK’s beaches and engage over 10,000 local community volunteers. They will deliver environmental education talks at beach cleans to community groups, businesses, schools and universities encouraging everyone to go “Plastic Free”. Working together, plastic pollution will be removed from beaches, people will be taught about the damaging effects it has on habitats and species and stop it getting there in the first place. By working with communities, businesses & local government the project aims to have “175 Plastic Free Communities” committed to reducing single use plastics.
The Update
Final update:
This project is now complete and has successfully undertaken three training events resulting in 140 Regional Reps being trained to lead SAS activities and campaigns to protect beaches, oceans and wildlife.
As a result of the training, 352 Rep led beach cleans were undertaken, with 10,506 volunteers removing 16.2 tonnes of marine plastic pollution. The cleans covered the length and breadth of UK from Herm in the Channel Islands to Cape Wrath in Scotland, and Great Yarmouth in East Anglia to Portrush in Northern Ireland. Ages ranged from 1 – 72 years of age.
365 educational talks were carried out in schools, community groups and events such as local and national festivals, reaching over 10,680 individuals.
175 communities have pledged to become plastic free, and 23 of these are now fully approved.
