North Liverpool schools launch community-led clean-up campaign

A group of seven primary schools in North Liverpool have come together to launch Keep North Docks Tidy, a four-month pilot project aimed at enhancing their local environment and fostering community pride.

To mark the beginning of the initiative, 99 pupils took to the streets as part of the national Great British Spring Clean campaign. Their efforts resulted in the collection of over 90 bags of litter, some of which will be creatively repurposed by the students into recycled art projects.

The pilot is a collaborative effort between Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Streetscene Services, Onward Homes, Keep Britain Tidy, Veolia, and schools based within the North Docks neighbourhood.

This initiative coincides with Onward Homes’ ongoing retrofitting programme, which is improving energy efficiency and sustainability across local households. Recognising the opportunity to address wider environmental concerns, the schools and Council partnered to tackle the area’s low recycling rates and high levels of fly-tipping.

The North Docks is one of 13 distinct neighbourhoods identified under Liverpool City Council’s neighbourhood model, introduced in 2023 to better respond to the unique challenges faced by different areas of the city. This particular neighbourhood spans the Kirkdale East, Kirkdale West, County, Vauxhall, and Waterfront North wards.

Running for the remainder of the academic year, the pilot centres on the core message that “the environment belongs to everyone.” Over the next few months, pupils will explore practical and creative ways to reduce litter and waste in their community.

Educational activities will include:

• Hands-on sessions with a recycling wagon
• A visit to Gillmoss Recycling Centre to learn about the recycling process
• Workshops to design community-focused posters promoting positive environmental behaviour

The initiative will culminate in a special event at Liverpool Town Hall, where pupils will present their ideas and artwork to Cabinet Members and Council officers.

By empowering young people to take the lead in caring for their local area, Keep North Docks Tidy aims to spark long-term behavioural change and strengthen a sense of environmental responsibility across the wider community.

Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said:

“The pupils taking part in this pilot are incredibly proud of their communities and want to work together to make a lasting impact, a vision that’s shared by the Council and our partners. 

“The enthusiasm and creative ideas already shown by our young people are exactly what’s needed when it comes to influencing positive behaviour change.  

“I can’t wait to hear the ideas that they come up with at the Town Hall and work with them to help make change happen. They are the leaders of the future and it’s fantastic to be able to show them how services work and give them a platform to have their voices heard.” 

Fikrim Haxhifazliu, a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Gwladys Street Primary School said:

“We’re really happy to be part of this project because we want our young people to feel proud of their community and understand the importance of looking after the environment. At Gwladys Street, we believe that even small actions, like keeping our area clean and being mindful of waste, can make a big difference.

“Caring for the environment is something we talk about a lot in school because it’s about more than just keeping things tidy; it’s about responsibility, respect, and making sure we leave the world in a better place for future generations. This project is a great way for our pupils to see that their efforts matter and that they can have a real impact on the world around them”

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