Voluntary group in Canton gives space to everyone to feel involved with the local community through litter picking efforts.
People in Cardiff with learning disabilities are being given the opportunity to get involved in voluntary activities to connect with local communities.
Volunteers at Keep Canton Tidy meet at least twice a month and have started a new initiative to ensure that everyone in their area is able to get involved.
“People with learning disabilities want to live independently and be part of the community. So, we come along to these cleaning drives as often as we can,” said Mark Griffiths, the community network coordinator at Mirus, a non-profit organisation working with people with learning disabilities.
One of the volunteers said, “When I was collecting litter on the road, a car stopped and rolled down the window and the driver told me thank you. It feels really good when we are appreciated for our effort.”
The group volunteering at Canton is called Stronger Communities Group, a subsidiary of the non- profit organization.
“It is good because a lot of people with learning disabilities live nearby and working with other residents of Canton helps them feel at home in the area. They get to know and interact with more people,” said Mr. Griffiths.
He said that they made an effort to listen to and value each person’s unique voice and experiences, thus creating an environment where everyone felt heard and understood.
A significant challenge faced by people with learning disabilities is social exclusion, often compounded by negative perceptions and discriminatory behaviors. This marginalization frequently prevents them from fully participating in education, employment, and social or recreational activities, thereby limiting their opportunities for personal development and inclusion in society.
“We work with others in the community to build networks that encourage people to explore opportunities, discover new interests, develop relationships and enhance their independence,” said Mr. Griffiths.
The volunteer group is supported by Mirus. Nigel Bevan from the Keep Canton Tidy group said, “We’ve been lucky enough to have bits of sponsorship from them. They’re involved with us and very supportive. Volunteering with them is always a pleasure and their company is great.”
“I strongly believe in community involvement,” said Mr. Bevan. “I don’t think everything should just be done by the government or companies. I think there is a role for volunteers, getting involved with things.”
The Keep Canton Tidy is relatively new found group just last year as reaction to the budget cuts made by Cardiff Council.
Nigel Bevan, one of the six organizers of the cleaning efforts said, “It is one of those things I decided, you can either do something about it or not. I started litter picking on my own. I bought my own poop bags and tongs… But I was doing it on my own until I bumped into a few other people, also clearly interested. So, we started from there.”
Initially supported by Keep Wales Tidy, the local volunteer group received insurance and equipment to start. Now, they operate independently with sixty active volunteers, continuing their community-focused efforts.
They have a goal to collect 400 bags of litter by the end of 2024. They have managed to collect 366 bag as of November of this year.