Birmingham City Council has been awarded a £194,330 share of £9.75m from the Government to back their efforts in cleaning up our high streets and town centres.
Across the UK, councils in partnership with existing community groups will be able to use the one-off funding to support volunteers. Which will be able to buy tools such as litter pickers, gloves and brushes as well as provide training for residents on how to remove graffiti or tackle fly-tipping, as well as organise events to encourage more families to get involved.
The funding will give local authorities an opportunity to do more, encourage communities to take greater pride in their local area and support campaigns such as Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign running from 22 March to 23 April and National High Street Perfect Day, a new community-led clean-up day to help make our high streets look their very best.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: “High streets are at the centre of our communities, and as places that are well loved, they sometimes need a bit of a spruce up to look their very best.”
“That’s why we will be providing councils with £9.75 million to work with community groups who need that extra money to give their local high street a spring clean, making sure their town centres are really spick and span.”
National High Street Perfect Day was recommended in a report from retail industry experts, which called for a community-led approach towards supporting high streets, including one day in the year when every town centre looks the best it possibly can.
The first ever High Street Perfect Day will take place this summer.
High Streets Minister Jake Berry said: “This funding will improve community engagement and give councils an opportunity to do more, with community-led approaches to street clean-ups.”
“The Great British Spring Clean and the upcoming National High Street Perfect Day are fantastic opportunities for communities to get together in partnership with local businesses and ensure our high streets are places we have even greater pride in.”
