AFC Bournemouth mascot Cherry Bear helping Elm Academy children during a litter pick of a park in West Howe
Bournemouth primary school children are helping kick litter in their local community into touch.
Children from the Elm Academy have joined forces with AFC Bournemouth and Bournemouth Borough Council to help clear and recycle the rubbish people drop near their school.
The youngsters have been going out on weekly litter picks in West Howe with AFC Bournemouth players and mascot Cherry Bear.
Before every expedition they are reminded what can be recycled and what is general rubbish – and they are given a bag for each with the goal being that most items found will not go to waste.
AFC Bournemouth’s Steve Fletcher joins year 5 students from the Elm Academy for a litter pick around the West Howe area of the town
Head of the Elm Academy, Helen Janda, said: “The children have really enjoyed getting out and about and helping to make the local community a nicer environment.
“They get very excited about joining up with Cherry Bear and the players and they are helping to make a fantastic difference to their neighbourhood.
“The children are also learning valuable lessons about recycling and the damage litter can cause to the environment.”
The litter picks are part of Bournemouth’s award-winning Green Goals project.
This is a unique partnership linking football, the local council, education and business and aims to improve environment, raise awareness and deliver benefits for the community as a whole.
Cherries commercial director and founder Rob Mitchell said, “Working with local schools to spread important environmental messages through the Green Goals project is an important part of AFC Bournemouth’s corporate social responsibility programme.
“Football is a powerful medium to engage with young people and we work hard as a club to help improve the local area.”
