MORE than 17,000 teenagers will be helping to keep their streets clear after ALL the city's secondary school head teachers backed the Derby Telegraph's Clean Up Derby campaign.
Nineteen heads from Derby's secondary schools and special schools have promised to urge their students to take pride in their local areas and organise events like litter-picks.
It is a massive boost to our campaign – which already has cross-party support from Derby City Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce.
Mark Cottingham, head teacher of da Vinci Community College, in St Andrew's View, said the campaign – which encourages people to take responsibility for their rubbish – would be raised in assemblies and lessons. He said: "We place a high priority on teaching our students to become responsible citizens so we are very happy to support Clean Up Derby.
"We will do this through assemblies and discussions in tutor time and PSHCE – Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education – lessons."
The school ran its first litter-pick for the campaign yesterday and pupils said they were keen to take part.
Charlie Stafford, 16, said: "It's very important to keep the whole area looking neat and tidy. We've just had a brand new school and if there's litter everywhere it looks messy. When you go on holiday abroad, there's never any litter. Rubbish gives a horrible first impression."
Elle Bridges, 15, of Chaddesden, said: "I think the campaign in the newspaper is a great thing and we'll be helping keep Derby tidy."
And Lucy Miller, also 15, said: "It makes a big difference to how people see the city. We're all living here and don't want people to think badly of it. We want people to think good things about Derby."
Clean Up Derby was launched by the Derby Telegraph in November and scores of readers have already told us about problem areas of the city that we have then helped to get cleaned up.
These have included areas of Friar Gate, parts of Alvaston, the car park of the William Caxton pub, in Sunny Hill, and a disused Rolls-Royce car park in Nightingale Road.
Many community activists have been in touch to tell us about the amazing work they have been doing, including Arron Marsden, from Alvaston, who has even encouraged his neighbours to get involved with litter-picks.
Derby's head teachers have all said they are happy to add their voices to the campaign.
Jo Ward, head of Bemrose School, in Uttoxeter New Road, said: "It's not just young people who cause a problem, we should all have pride in our environment."
Ray Ruszczynski, head of Chellaston Academy, said students on the school council felt strongly that the school and local area needed to be litter free.
He said: "There are pockets near the school site which students have cleared in the past and we shall continue to make sure that students become proud of their local area.
"The school fully supports the Clean Up Derby campaign."
Liz Coffey, head teacher of Landau Forte College, in Fox Street, said: "I think young people should keep their local area clean because it's theirs and belongs to them.
"It's not someone else's job or responsibility to clean up after them.
"Our students would be ready to participate in anything to support the campaign. They have to use the playing fields at Darley Abbey and often have to start their lessons with a small litter pick to clear the area."
And Gary Dodds, head teacher of St Martins School said: "It's about taking pride in your community, and taking those lessons out of schools and into your own environment."
Da Vinci student Chantelle Doman, 16, said she thought pupils would be keen to get behind the campaign.
She said: "We don't want our school and where we live to look trashy."
A street clean-up called for as part of the campaign has been organised by Derby City Council. It takes place on Monday, in Harrison Street and Moss Street, from 8am. Residents had asked for help to tidy the area, which they said was strewn with rubbish, including abandoned sofas and even a water tank.
SCHOOLS ON BOARDTHE heads who have signed up to the Clean Up campaign are (pictured on Page 1):
Back row – from left: Sue Bradley, Kingsmead School; Alan Brady, Woodlands School; Ray Ruszczynski, Chellaston Academy; Gary Dodds, St Martins School; Brian Walker, West Park School; Andy Scott, Merrill College; Dr Christopher Reynolds, St Benedict Catholic Academy.
Middle row: Mark Cottingham, da Vinci Community College; Martyn Owen, Murray Park School, Steve Monks, Sinfin Community School; Cheryll Ford, Royal School for the Deaf; Phil Dover, Lees Brook Community School and Jo Ward, Bemrose School.
Front row: Liz Coffey, Landau Forte College; Phil Harrison, St Andrew's School; Ash Venkatesh, Littleover Community School; Neil Jameson, Derby Pride Academy and Wendy Whelan, Derby Moor Community Sports College. Also signed up is Mal Kerr, of Noel-Baker Community School who is not pictured.
