How Leam Trash Friends Is Bringing Communities Together to Clean Up Warwickshire

What began as one resident’s frustration has grown into a community initiative tackling litter, hazardous waste, graffiti and environmental damage across five local areas.

A difficult beginning and an unexpected pause

When Matt launched Leam Trash Friends in 2018, it was driven by a simple frustration. He was unhappy with the condition of his town and felt the response from the local council was insufficient.

The initiative began as a local effort to tackle litter, but Matt says its early relationship with the council was challenging.

“The biggest obstacles were back in 2018 and 2019, when the previous council administration did everything in its power to shut Leam Trash Friends down, including refusing to collect waste.”

The initiative then faced a much more personal setback. After suffering a collapsed lung and sepsis, Matt had to place the project on hold while he focused on his health.

Following his recovery, he relaunched Leam Trash Friends in November 2025. The restart also provided an opportunity to rebuild its relationship with Warwick District Council.

Matt credits Councillor Roberts with helping to reset that relationship and says the council has subsequently become more responsive and supportive.

From business clean ups to community action

During its early years, Leam Trash Friends primarily worked alongside local businesses to organise cleaning activities. Since relaunching, its focus has shifted towards community shifts involving residents from across the area.

There is no expectation that volunteers must make a long term commitment. People can simply arrive at the beginning of a shift and participate as frequently, or infrequently, as their circumstances allow.

This flexible approach makes volunteering accessible to people who might be unable to commit to a fixed schedule.

Leam Trash Friends also varies the activities it organises. Alongside conventional litter picking shifts, volunteers have supported local music events, the Peace Festival and food festivals. River cleaning activities provide another distinctive opportunity for people to become involved.

Volunteers receive goodie bags during each shift, while refreshments and practical support are frequently supplied by local businesses.

Responding to much more than litter

The group’s responsibilities have expanded considerably since 2018.

“In the early days, we were mainly dealing with used heroin needles. Now we deal with needle retrieval, knife retrieval, litter picking, fly tipping clearance, fly posting removal and public realm improvements.”

Those improvements include cleaning bus shelters, removing graffiti and refreshing utility cabinets.

Some of the situations volunteers encounter can be extremely distressing. Matt recalls witnessing an individual injecting drugs into an intimate part of their body. It is an experience he says has never left him.

The work therefore extends beyond making streets look more attractive. Volunteers are sometimes removing dangerous objects and hazardous waste before they can harm residents, children, pets or wildlife.

Waterways are among the most problematic locations. Waste frequently accumulates beside rivers, canals and brooks, creating risks for wildlife and allowing rubbish to travel far beyond the place where it was originally discarded.

Leam Boat Centre supports the group’s river cleaning activities by lending boats and necessary equipment.

Partnerships that reduce the burden on taxpayers

Leam Trash Friends has developed ongoing partnerships with major retailers including ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons.

Following concerns raised by members of the public, these businesses now dispose of a significant quantity of collected waste instead of leaving the cost entirely with the taxpayer.

Other organisations contribute in different ways. Fat Birds Café regularly supplies food and water for volunteers and has hosted a celebration event for the group. National Grid has provided a large supply of bags and gloves, while members of the public contribute through the Leam Trash Friends GoFundMe campaign.

The group also works regularly with societies from the University of Warwick. Their members provide valuable additional capacity during larger shifts.

“I am constantly overwhelmed by the support we receive from the community, whether that comes from businesses or residents. We are grateful to all our partners and supporters.”

This range of partnerships demonstrates how community projects can build support without relying upon a single organisation. Businesses can donate refreshments, equipment, materials, waste disposal capacity or funding according to the resources available to them.

Changing behaviour as well as clearing litter

Matt also serves as a Litter Hero Ambassador for Keep Britain Tidy. His role involves encouraging people to begin litter picking while also addressing the behaviour that causes littering in the first place.

One element of this work is the Leam Trash Friends Adopt My Area scheme. Residents are provided with equipment and refreshments, allowing them to look after their chosen area whenever they have time.

The group has also introduced a behavioural change signage programme. According to Matt, areas where these signs have been installed have experienced reductions in littering ranging from 50 per cent to 95 per cent.

Each sign costs £2.99. Although individually inexpensive, installing them across numerous affected locations requires consistent financial support.

Paint and behavioural change signs are currently among the group’s main overheads. Sponsorship of either programme would enable Leam Trash Friends to improve more public spaces and expand its preventative work.

A model that other communities can follow

For anyone concerned about the condition of their own neighbourhood, Matt’s advice is simple. Make contact and ask for help.

Leam Trash Friends can provide equipment and guidance for residents who want to organise their own litter picks. It can also help people establish independent community groups based on a similar model.

In the medium term, Matt wants to establish sister groups within the different communities Leam Trash Friends currently covers. These smaller local groups would be able to respond directly to their area’s needs while remaining connected to the wider initiative.

The ultimate ambition is more unusual. Matt hopes the group will eventually become less necessary.

“The future plan is to get to a point where we are not needed to be out two or three times a week cleaning up.”

That aspiration captures the real purpose of the project. Success is not measured simply by the number of bags collected or shifts completed. It means creating cleaner public spaces, encouraging residents to take ownership of their communities and preventing littering before another volunteer has to remove it.

What other organisations can learn

1. Make participation flexible so people can contribute without accepting a permanent commitment.
2. Build partnerships around practical resources, not only financial donations.
3. Listen to residents and expand services in response to genuine local needs.
4. Combine immediate action with efforts to create lasting changes in behaviour.
5. Use setbacks as opportunities to rebuild important relationships.

Leam Trash Friends at a glance

• Founded: 2018
• Areas covered: Leamington, Warwick, Whitnash, Sydenham and Lillington
• Cost of one behavioural change sign: £2.99
• Reported reduction in littering where signs are used: 50 per cent to 95 per cent

Support Leam Trash Friends

Businesses and residents can support the paint programme, sponsor behavioural change signs, volunteer during a shift or ask for help establishing a local group.

Visit Leam Trash Friends on Facebook

Support Leam Trash Friends on GoFundMe