Volunteers’ Week 2022: Meet Roy Beal, the Kayaking Litter-Picker Raising Awareness of Ocean Plastics

Last year, our #LitterHeroes Ambassador Roy Beal kayaked from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise funds for Keep Britain Tidy, and raise awareness of the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.

In 2020, Roy founded Clean Jurassic Coast, a group made up of Roy and “six other volunteers on the team who bring a diverse range of skills and ideas and experience.”

Together, they run beach cleans with members of the public, as well as business groups, attend events to showcase their voluntary work, and to “highlight the impact that plastic has in the natural world.”

Volunteering Week takes place from 1 to 7 June every year, and is a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers like Roy and his volunteer team make to our communities and to thank them for their efforts.

Roy had been volunteering for most of his life, but only started regular voluntary work for an organisation in 2019. Roy explained that “I was in a career I no longer enjoyed - I had been fixing cars for over 30 years and really didn’t want to do it anymore. Having an opportunity to be able to work part time in 2019 gave me a chance to find a new path. Now I have a mixture of voluntary work and paid work all for the good of the environment.”

And as well as doing good for the environment, volunteering has had a positive effect on Roy’s life too. In 2019, he was diagnosed with Chron’s disease – a lifelong condition where parts of the digestive system become inflamed.

“By changing my lifestyle and learning new things via voluntary work, I have massively reduced the impact Crohn's has on my life. The symptons and flare ups I was getting weekly are now few and far between.” He shared, adding that “a change of diet also helped!”

A member of the Keep Britain Tidy team said: “Roy and the Clean Jurassic Coast team’s tireless work not only helps to clean up our environment, but also inspires others to learn about the impact of plastic, and to get involved in making our oceans healthier, safer place for wildlife.”

“We want to thank Roy for his fundraising work for Keep Britain Tidy, and his support, as a member of our #LitterHeroes Ambassadors scheme. #LitterHeroes Ambassadors like Roy lead the charge against litter in their local area, help our outdoors spaces to thrive, and make our charity the vibrant and dedicated organisation it is today.”

Roy has exciting fundraising adventures ahead too, telling us “this June, for instance, I will attempt to kayak the entire 95 mile Jurassic Coast in under 24 hours!”

Check out Roy’s Outdoor Life on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with his work!

Volunteers’ Week is supported and celebrated by small grassroots organisations as well as larger, household-name charities, who together run hundreds of activities across the UK. These activities showcase and celebrate volunteers and the contribution volunteering makes in our communities.