BMW is supporting a school-based litter-picking programme, Picker Pals, which is set to be brought to additional 2,400 children in over 100 classrooms around Ireland.
Picker Pals aims to remove 12,000kg of waste from communities across Ireland.
BMW is partnering with VOICE (Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment) an environmental NGO, to address the problem of waste in the environment. Together, the organisations hope to raise awareness of circular economy solutions and foster environmental stewardship in children and families.
The programme includes a ‘Picker Pack’ which is delivered to each classroom involved and includes resources for teachers and children to engage with in the classroom, at home and in the community.
The pack is taken home by a different child every week who leads a family litter-picking adventure in their local area.
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They report back to their classmates on Monday to tell them about their litter picking activities on the weekend.
Founder of Picker Pals, Patrick Jason said “It’s not just about learning about litter. It’s not just about becoming aware of litter. It’s about actually getting out there and picking up litter. Picker Pals gets children onto the first rung of the environmental ladder. Thanks to BMW Ireland’s generous corporate partnership, we will now be able to grow the programme significantly and reach more children and schools around the country.”
Kevin Davidson, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland said, “We aim to be a leader in sustainable business practices and this ambition reflects the work we are doing in all relevant aspects from our supply chain to the production of our cars, and through to being a corporate citizen and doing good for our local community. This clever initiative motivates and equips children to understand the challenges we all face in our local environment on a daily basis.”
The concept of Picker Pals came about less than three years ago and has grown to include 1,060 schools and almost 1,300 classrooms across the country.
Picker Pals Project Manager, Angela Kenny stresses the many benefits of litter picking, “[It] can have a really positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing, getting people out of the house, relieving stress and anxiety and giving a great sense of achievement and empowerment,”
The Picker Pack includes everything needed to go litter picking as well as story and activity books, in both Irish and English and on any given weekend there could be over 1,000 children out litter-picking with their families. The programme’s growth is set to continue throughout 2023 with support from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and local authorities.
Along with BMW, the programme is actively looking for more corporate partners.
Picker Pals is also now looking for schools to join the programme for the 2022-23 school year and is encouraging people to apply here if they want to take part.
Image: Picker Pals founder Patrick Jackson and children from Burrow N.S. Sutton on a litter picking adventure
