New research reveals benefits of ‘eco-action’ as charity launches this year’s Great British Spring Clean
84% of children and young people aged six to 17 in the South West believe they are capable of making a positive difference to the future of the planet, but almost three in five (59%) of those say they need others to help them.
The findings, from a poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to coincide with the launch of the year’s Great British Spring Clean, reveal that taking ‘eco-action’ outside, such as litter-picking, makes children feel happier (58%) and like they are taking control and doing something positive for the environment (44%).
43% of the children and young people surveyed across the region reported they had taken part in litter-picking.
The survey also revealed that more than a quarter of parents (26%) in the South West said they had done litter-picking with their children though, worryingly, one in five parents (20%) have done no ‘eco-actions’ with their offspring, which includes going plastic-free/ reducing waste, litter-picking, mindfully reducing energy consumption, growing things in the garden, walking more and using the car less.
Almost half of South West parents (47%) agree that their children worry about the health of the environment and more than a third (35%) agree their child takes action for the environment.
In the survey, almost two thirds of parents (61%) reported that they were worried about their children’s mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More half (48%) in the South West said their child’s mental health had suffered as a result.
But children are not the only ones whose mental health had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than half of parents (55%) saying their own mental health had suffered.
Commenting on the results of the survey, Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “The Great British Spring Clean is a great opportunity for everyone – families, schools, communities, businesses – to get outside and do something that is good for the planet and good for them too.
“Our own research with volunteers shows us that people feel happier and less anxious after as a result of taking part in the Great British Spring Clean and making an immediate and tangible impact on their environment for the better and this research backs that up, with 58% of children and young people in the region saying they feel happier when they are doing an ‘eco-action’ like litter-picking outside.
“Small individual actions, when taken together, can make a big difference and this year we are aiming to remove one million bags of rubbish from our environment with our #BigBagChallenge.
“It is so easy to get involved and anyone, whether aged eight or 80, can get involved by pledging to pick up one or more bags of litter during the campaign.”
The Great British Spring Clean 2022, in partnership with the Daily Mail, is made possible thanks to headline sponsors KFC and Nestlé, and is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The campaign is also supported by Clear Channel, Red Bull, Walkers, Pepsi MAX, McDonald’s and the Garfield Weston Foundation.
This year’s Great British Spring Clean will take place from March 25-April 10 and will see communities across the country taking part. To find out more and to make a pledge visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
