Media Releases

Register For Rescue

17/02/2009

Press Release

The countdown has started to this year's RESCUE clean up event which takes place next month all over Reading and surrounding areas.

The clean up weekend is 14/15th March with local businesses doing their bit beforehand on the 12th and 13th March. Groups keen to get involved need to register by 23 February.

Organisers also want to hear now from people who have identified litter hotspots in their neighbourhoods which they would like the RESCUE teams to tackle.

Last year's RESCUE attracted 30 local community groups and businesses, which totalled to 535 volunteers over the weekend. A total of 31 tonnes of rubbish was collected from 35 different parts of Reading, including open spaces, woodland areas, and river banks.

Thames Water is sponsoring the event and it is being supported by a number of local firms including Andrew Sansom Photography, Yell directories, Novotel Hotels and Designation. More businesses will join in to clear up over the weekend.

This year's event will feature events for younger volunteers. Reading University Volunteers will be decorating the recycling bins at Waterloo Meadows Children's Centre - RESCUE's HQ - and a tidy up of a run down park in East Reading will be undertaken. V-involved and Berkshire Agents4Change - two of Readings youth volunteering schemes - will be organising this event.

Paul Gittings, Reading's Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, said: "Community and business involvement in projects such as RESCUE are absolutely key to their success and my thanks go to all those involved."

Sally Evans, Community Investment Co-ordinator for Thames Water, added: "We're happy to be sponsoring Reading RESCUE .We are passionate about protecting and improving the environment for the communities that we serve. As our headquarters are based in Reading, we will also be encouraging our employees to take part in this fantastic project."

There's more information on the new rescue website - www.readingrescue.org.uk

Anyone interested in joining this year's RESCUE or identifying a hotspot should contact rescue@reading.gov.uk Tel: 0118 939 0100.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:
PHOTOCALL: You are invited to send a photographer to picture Cllr Gittings and Sally Evans picking up litter on Waterloo Meadows. Meet at Waterloo Meadows Children’s Centre on Tuesday February 24th, 11am.

Oscar Mortali
Tel: 0118 939 0301