This month, we’re celebrating Phil Craig, whose community efforts have made a lasting impact in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
Whether it’s running the local parkrun on Saturdays, or volunteering for organisations like the Lion’s Club, the Northallerton Carnival, and the Junior Parkrun, Phil is an active member of his local community.
His litter-picking journey began in 2018.
“Most of my time is spent solo, cleaning up litter around town,” he shared. “I’m really passionate about keeping Northallerton clean and green. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to a cleaner community.”
Phil Craig, Litter Heroes AmbassadorWe’ll head out and have some fun while picking up litter - let’s see who can be the quickest at picking up litter! It’s a light-hearted way to motivate everyone.
In 2020, Phil expanded beyond his solo litter-picking efforts.
“While litter-picking around Romanby, we bumped into Friti, who runs the Goosecroft Centre in Northallerton,” he told us.
“He mentioned that he’d like to start a litter-picking group once the Covid restrictions were lifted as an additional activity for individuals with learning disabilities.
“I went to a meeting to discuss everything related to litter picking, and they loved the positive response. The group was then formed, and we normally meet on the third Saturday of every month, except for August and December.”
Phil explained that the group members have developed a regular routine for their litter-picks, starting with an essential health and safety briefing, before deciding on a route for their litter-pick.
He said: “We’ll head out and have some fun while picking up litter - let’s see who can be the quickest at picking up litter! It’s a lighthearted way to motivate everyone.”
He describes the group as a great way to give back to the community, to meet new people, and have a positive impact on the environment, and the group comes with social benefits too.
“After the litter-pick, we’ll return to the Goosecroft Centre for a warm bowl of soup and a roll. It’s a great opportunity to socialise and relax.”
Phil Craig, Litter Heroes AmbassadorBeyond the physical act of picking up litter, these events have fostered a strong sense of community and camaraderie.
These social gatherings have become a cherished part of the experience for Phil and many in his community.
He says: “Beyond the physical act of picking up litter, these events have fostered a strong sense of community and camaraderie.
“It’s been a joy to build relationships with the Goosecroft Centre and the participants, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthwhile cause.”
Another big change for Phil came in 2020. During the lockdown in 2020, he decided to grow out his hair, and used it as an opportunity to raise money for charity, earning himself the nickname ‘Litter Afro’ in the process.
“I ended up raising nearly £2,000 for the Herriot (Hospice) charity after everything got cancelled. It was amazing to see how people rallied behind my crazy hair and good cause.”
“Phil is a fantastic Litter Heroes Ambassador, whose hard work, creativity and commitment to both the environment and his local community is inspiring.” said Patsy Mulcahy Litter Heroes Project Coordinator.
Applications are currently closed for our Litter Heroes Ambassador programme, but if you’re a litter-picker and you want to keep up-to-date, you can register as a Litter Hero. You’ll get the latest litter-picking news, campaigns, and events, access to exclusive resources, and you’ll be the first to hear when applications to join our Litter Heroes Ambassador programme open.
*originally published 13/12/2024*