Communities invited to Big Clean-Ups

Six Big Clean-Up events are being held in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton to help local people and organisations make some real improvements within their communities.

Thirteen is working with a wide range of partners to run the events. Activities are based on feedback from Thirteen customers about what will be benefit their community and will include environmental clean ups, community action days with free food, live music, cooking demonstrations and prizes; tree planting, birdbox making and litter picks; advice sessions around money, jobs and energy use, and loads more.

The first Big Clean-Up is taking place in Middlesbrough’s Grove Hill from 4 to 7 April. Other events are taking place in:

• Primrose Hill, Stockton: 11 – 14 April
• Pallister Park, Middlesbrough: 19 – 22 April
• Gresham, Middlesbrough: 25 – 28 April
• Owton Manor and Dyke House, Hartlepool: events coming soon.

Angela Corner, head of community resilience at Thirteen, said: “Everyone’s invited to come along to these events to help make big changes in their communities.

“We’ve been working with our partners in each area to develop brilliant programmes of fun and constructive events for all the family, so I hope as many people as possible will get involved.”

The Big Clean-Ups will also see the launch of five-year locality plans that Thirteen has developed in partnership with communities to help make improvements in each of the six areas.

Angela continued: “The locality plans will help us to bring together a range of partners to support members of the community, enabling the better use of resources and helping partners work together with local people to improve their neighbourhoods.

“We spoke to residents in each of the six areas last year about the issues that were most important to them. The locality plans will respond to this consultation, developing new projects and activities, bringing in funding and supporting the communities to focus on the changes that they want to see.”

In each area, Thirteen is working with partners to host the Big Clean-Ups and implement the locality plans over the next five years.

Partners include Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton councils, Cleveland Police and Fire Brigade, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, the Illegal Money Lending Team and a range of other local community organisations.

For more details about the events or the locality plans, email community.resilience@thirteengroup.co.uk

Grove Hill flyer

Primrose Hill flyer