LONG time residents of Broadgreen will partner with some of Swindon's newest arrivals next week to brighten up their community.

The litter pick has been organised by Simon Piff, a volunteer at Broadgreen Community Centre, and Chris Morgan, from refugee-charity The Harbour Project.

The pair got together after noticing the amount of rubbish in the area and wanting to do something about it. But what started as a simple conversation about how to make Swindon a better place ended two hours later with an event fully-formed.

Annie Vickers, of The Harbour Project, said: “We care about Broadgreen, our community, and want to see this place looking nice.

"For our visitors, who have fled war and persecution, it is doubly important that they feel welcome in a well-cared for place.

"Our visitors are keen to give back to a town which they see as having given so much to them as a place of safety and in offering a fresh start”.

Simon added: “My girlfriend and I live in Swindon and were concerned about the rubbish, when it occurred to us that if you want to change something, you sometimes have to be the ones to instigate that change.

"That one conversation with Chris set the wheels in motion. The support we’ve received from Michelle Hobbs, Tesco’s Community Champion, and Tracy Scott and Frances Barrone in the Locality Team at Swindon Borough Council has been fantastic.

"The borough has donated loads of equipment and Tesco has come on board with offering free lunch to our volunteers.

“Litter-picking isn’t seen as a fun activity, but we’re keen to show that if you put a little into your local area you get a lot back.

"We’re looking for volunteers to help on Wednesday, March 8, from 10am to 2pm. Even if you can’t stay the whole time, do come along at least for a little while.

"There’ll be a free lunch and, perhaps more importantly, a chance to meet neighbours and make friends, something that isn’t always easy in this day and age."

For more information, contact Simon Piff either at the Broadgreen Community Centre or by email on simonpiff@hotmail.co.uk