Keep Britain Tidy Launches Hunt For New Litter Heroes Across North Yorkshire And The East Riding

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is appealing for passionate volunteers across North Yorkshire and the East Riding to join its national Litter Heroes Ambassador programme.

The environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is appealing for passionate volunteers who are leading the fight against litter pollution in local communities to become part of its national Litter Heroes Ambassador programme.

The organisation is specifically looking for enthusiastic volunteers across North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, as well as the wider Yorkshire and Humber area, who are dedicated to eradicating litter.

There are currently fourteen Ambassadors located across the region, and the charity aims to increase that number significantly as the successful programme expands.

Litter Heroes Ambassadors work across England, supporting communities to carry out year-round litter-picking activities. The charity states that their efforts help to tackle the more than two million pieces of rubbish that are dropped every day.

The volunteer role also involves encouraging other pro-environmental activities by promoting and taking part in Keep Britain Tidy campaigns, such as the Great British Spring Clean and Buy Nothing New Month.

Keep Britain Tidy, which was originally established by the Women’s Institute in 1954, says its Ambassadors support and encourage others in the community to get involved in loving where they live.

Ambassadors also encourage new volunteers to connect with the charity and record individual or group litter-picking data via the 'Log A Pick' system. This data helps to build a national picture of the scale and impact of both litter and volunteer action.

The charity estimates that over the past year, through general litter-picking activities and the annual Great British Spring Clean, volunteers have picked up at least half a million bags of rubbish across the country.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, the Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, highlighted the importance of the initiative. She said:

"Our amazing family of Ambassadors play an incredibly important role in tackling litter and protecting the environment, inspiring hundreds of others to take action.

They bring a wide range of abilities, experiences, and perspectives, acting as everyday champions for cleaner and more inclusive local environments. By setting an example – through simple actions like properly disposing of waste or picking up litter – they show how small steps can make a big difference, while bringing people together around a shared goal.

We are committed to ensuring our Ambassador programme is accessible, inclusive, and supportive. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds in Yorkshire and the Humber, particularly those from ethnic minority communities and people with disabilities or health conditions, whose voices and experiences are currently underrepresented. Your contribution will help make our work stronger, more representative, and more impactful."

The charity has outlined a wide range of benefits for those who choose to become an Ambassador. Volunteers gain access to an online dashboard with exclusive resources, including a volunteer handbook and risk assessment templates.

Ambassadors also receive support on how to get started, alongside online training that includes first aid. Eligible volunteers are provided with free Keep Britain Tidy Public Liability Insurance.

Further benefits include access to programme logos, monthly email newsletters, an exclusive Facebook community, and potential media opportunities. Free equipment is also available to volunteers, subject to availability.

The charity provides ongoing support for volunteer activities through a dedicated Litter Heroes programme team, online guidance, volunteer webinars, and face-to-face events and conferences.

In addition to North Yorkshire and the East Riding, the search for new recruits also extends into South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire.

The Litter Heroes programme and the Ambassador role are made possible thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and are supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. The foundation is a family-founded grant-maker established in 1958 that supports charities making a positive difference across the UK.

People who are interested in the volunteer role can register their interest directly on the Keep Britain Tidy website at https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/volunteering/litter-heroes-ambassadors