A day of action must be an activity which is suitable for lots of volunteers, who will mainly be unskilled. It is important that they see a tangible benefit at the end of the day, and that any long-term management which is needed to sustain the improvement has been planned for. The event must be well organised with enough skilled helpers to work with small groups of volunteers, showing them what to do and making sure their day is interesting and rewarding. Time is also needed for helpers to talk to volunteers and gain their views, and to hand out leaflets or other information to encourage future support. Experienced workers should be available to do any heavy, wet or messy work, which may be unsuitable for new volunteers.
When organising the day, target your effort on particular groups who are likely to be interested, and jointly organise the event if possible. For ‘open’ events, avoid bank holidays, major sports dates or popular local events such as carnivals. Publicise no more than two weeks before the event to maximise the response. Ensure you have enough materials and tools for what you hope to achieve, and organise some back-up work if possible in case more people than expected turn up. Make the event as enjoyable as possible with refreshments, photo-sessions, musicians, entertainments and so on as appropriate. Ensure there are sufficient qualified first aiders and first aid kits on site.
A day of action should:
- involve people, some of whom would not normally volunteer for practical work of environmental benefit;
- provide a day which is enjoyable, positive, and encourages people to work together.
The organisation, consultation and publicity for the day of action can itself be an activity which gets groups and individuals working together. It’s also useful if the work is visible to the local community, so that they can see what is being done, and can gain benefit from the improvement.
Suitable activities may include litter picking, rubbish removal, stream or pond clearance, bulb planting, footpath improvements or arts projects.
Mayfields Rejuvenation Project, Croydon
The Mayfields Rejuvenation Project in Croydon, Surrey started when several local interest groups got together to clear a large quantity of fly-tipped rubbish from a local open space. The nearby football club, allotment holders, local scouts group and parents worked with the local Parks Department and TCV to clear the site of many tonnes of rubbish, including some large heavy items. Beneath one area of rubbish a blocked drainage ditch was revealed. This was unblocked and restored, with the result that for the first time for many years, the football pitch did not flood during the following winter. Local support from the various interest groups has continued, and workdays are held every month to enhance the wildlife value of the area.
