The School’s Eco Club conduct weekly litter picks to rid their grounds of rubbish, with added help from members of the local community who were impressed by the pupils’ efforts.
Eco Club Co-ordinator Trudi Togneri has been running a litter picking program for 17 years and has watched it grow from strength to strength as more pupils become engaged in the need to look after their environment.
Mrs Togneri said: “As part of the Eco Club and Eco schools program, litter is a top topic. Children today bear the brunt about being bad for littering, but go into any town late in the evening when children are not about and see the amount of litter left by adults. We are all accountable.
“I did litter picking with Eco Club volunteers after school and by chance met a member of the public out walking who praised us for what we were doing. He asked to join us and the community involvement began from there.”
Stirling High’s Eco Committee wanted to include the wider school in their efforts and proposed to use their PSE (Personal Social Education) lessons to take pupils litter picking with the volunteers in the local area.
Mrs Togneri said: “We take a handful of pupils from a different form class each week to do the picks. It takes a full year to get round every class but at the end of the year every class has been represented in the community
“It gives pupils a chance to see what litter was dropped and also a chance to talk to our community. Litter picking offers an opportunity to make a difference regardless of ability and to gain a sense of pride. The project has been a great success and one I am very proud of.”
The group now has nine community volunteers who work with them on a rota basis.
Community volunteer Valerie Milligan said, “All the volunteers enjoy taking part and seeing what a huge difference the efforts of the pupils make to the way the local area looks. It’s good fun for us and the children are always enthusiastic to do their bit. I’ve taken part for 16 years and have watched them gain confidence from seeing how their efforts can make a real difference to the community.”
Convenor of the Children and Young People Committee, Councillor Susan McGill, said: “The litter picking group is a shining example of the pupils working together with the community in order to positively impact the local area. The longevity of this programme is proof of the impact it is having on the pupils and I am sure that the group will continue to grow in popularity in the future.”
Vice Convenor, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said: “The dedication of the pupils is great to see, as is the continued support from members of the local community. I would like to congratulate the litter picking co-ordinators for organising such a successful enterprise that has provided so many learning benefits.”
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Stirling High Litterpick (0) -
Stirling High Litterpick (1) -
Stirling High Holding Eco Schools Flag (2) -
Stirling High Litterpick (3)
