‘The more we do, the more we are asked to do’
A group of dedicated community volunteers, who tidy up the streets of South Devon, are receiving police funding to continue their work – and improve unloved spaces.
The litter picking team from Turning Heads can be seen out and about wearing their high-vis tabards.
They’ll use the £3,950 donation from Devon & Cornwall Police to continue street cleaning projects around Castle Circus and other parts of Torquay.
They applied for the money from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) fund which redistributes cash or assets seized from criminals and gives it to good causes. The Turning Heads group will use the money to buy tools and clothing.
‘Turning Heads is a great example of a community group taking pride in the place they live,’ explains Torquay Inspector Rob Harvey.
‘Their new project around street cleanliness is a fantastic way of supporting the wider work that the Community Safety Partnership does in bringing visual change as well as the elements that can’t always be so easily seen.’
‘We work alongside partners such as Torbay Council and know that SWISCo staff work very hard to deal with waste and recycling, highways, street cleaning and grounds maintenance.’
‘But Turning Heads provide extra pairs of hands to keep the area looking good. POCA funding is a great source of these initiatives, and we welcome similar applications from other community groups who can make a difference locally.’
Alongside its clients and group of volunteers, Turning Heads has been renovating and improving unloved community spaces for more than four years. This has taken place in Hele, Ilsham and around Torre.
‘Making an impact is infectious’
‘Our project for this year is to tackle the problem of street litter and weeds. We want to set up a weekly group that goes out and spends time clearing up the litter on the streets of Torquay and tackling the untidiness of weeds,’ says Alan Tilley from Turning Heads.
‘We tackle roadsides that are unloved, untidy and unsightly and will throw ourselves into any projects that come our way. The more we do, the more we are asked to do. Our commitment to changing the community and making an impact is infectious.’
‘We want to have a visible presence and use this project to give our clients and volunteers a meaningful project to get involved in but we also want to use it to empower and engage local communities, helping to create positive change. Plus, it gives people taking part a real purpose.’
Turning Heads believes clean streets matter because they can serve as a barometer for how well an area is managed and cared for.
The team adds their focus on a clean environment has a significant positive impact on public health, safety, community wellbeing – and the local economy.
Devon and Cornwall Police explain that community groups which wish to bid for POCA funds can contact their local neighbourhood policing team by popping into their nearest police station Public Enquiry office.
These are located at Torquay, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge and Kingsbridge and are usually open Monday to Saturday. They’re closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
You can also speak to local neighbourhood officers face to face at local community events. There is one being held in Torquay from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday 24 March at The Medway Centre, Medway Road, TQ2 8SA.
Breaktime News recently reported on Devon & Cornwall Police’s successes in this year’s annual regional police dog trials.
