December 2011 - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

10 The Shuttle DECEMBER2011
ROE LEE
RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION
4Irene with Christine Pudsey
These residents are making
NOW they are asking y
4Michael
Pemberton
Irene Heaney, from Roe Lee,
is the chair of the Roe Lee
Residents Association.
What volunteering do you do
As well as being on the board
at Twin Valley Homes, I’m chair of
the Roe Lee Residents Association.
We get involved in anything
that affects our community
whether it be planning issues,
highways, the buses.
We also run clubs like the over
50s club.
Everyone in the association
works together and we all play a
part pulling together as a team.
Why do you volunteer
If you like the area where you
live you want to keep it as it is or
improve it especially when you
have elderly population you have
to fi ght the corner for them.
What would you say to other
people thinking about fighting
for their community
If you want the best estates
and the best parks then we all
need to help out and think about
the future.
St Gabriel’s litter pickers
Richard Morgan and Michael
Pemberton are members of the
litter picking group.
They go out on the last Saturday
of each month. Both are very passionate
about making their areas
better places.
Richard, 40 from Pleckgate,
said: "I got involved just before
Christmas last year. I thought there
was litter everywhere and the place
was so messy.
“It’s a real shame people don’t
take more pride in the place they
live.
“It’s too easy to buy something
and then throw away the bit, you
don’t need. It’s a crying shame.”
“Litter picking is a good way of
getting out and doing your bit. It’s
something everyone can do and we
even get families coming when the
weather is reasonable.
He adds that volunteering is very
rewarding. "You get to meet people
and you get real satisfaction."
Michael, from Sunnyblower,
added: "Volunteering is about being
part of your community. It’s give
you a sense of satisfaction and litter
4Richard Morgan
picking especially is quite therapeutic.”
The keen volunteer also urged
others to come forward and look after
their town. "It’s just about taking
that fi rst step and making a contribution.
“If everyone just got a litter picker
and did the place where they are
that would be the answer!”
Saif Nemir (right), 47, from Whalley
Range, came to Blackburn four years
ago and wanted to thank Blackburn
by doing things in the community.
What volunteering do you do
I volunteer for the British Red Cross,
Amnesty and a number of local community
groups. I have also joined a gardening
group.
Why do you volunteer
I came to Blackburn four years ago
and when I came here I decided that I
needed to be part of the community so
I wanted to do something for the community.
What would you say to other people
thinking about volunteering
This is everybody’s home
and we are obliged to keep it
nice and clean and tidy for
the future.
Everybody has a role
in that.
Dorothy Osborne, 64, from the
Ashworth Estate
What volunteering do you do
I’m part of the Green Pastures
gardening group.
We meet once a fortnight
to tidy up the land behind
Bank Top’s Neighbourhood
Learning Centre.
It was neglected and
nobody was taking responsibility
for it but a
few of us could see its potential.
Why do you volunteer
I fi nd it diffi cult to look at it as volunteering
as I get so much personal
pleasure from it.
What would you say to other people
thinking about volunteering
You’re meeting new people and
you can make great friends as well.
It can make a big difference to your
quality of life.
www.blackburn.gov.uk/your-call