A number of different community groups joined forces over the last week to clean up some on the forgotten and unseen parts of the community of Wetherby. This massive partnership effort to improve the environment of the Ainsty’s and Hallfield’s estates in Wetherby came about through a partnership between East North East Homes Leeds, Outer North East Area Panel and local environmental charity Groundwork. The environment week will join East North East Homes Leeds, Outer North East Area Panel and Groundwork with local community groups, schools and organisations, including the Hallfield’s Resident’s Association, The Salvation Army, Wetherby High School and Leeds City Council.

Jacq McNee, Community Coordinator at Groundwork, said “We’ve had a great week so far alongside local groups. It is great that so many organisations are willing to get involved, and make a real difference to the two areas, and the youngsters from the high school have been brilliant.”
The project was undertaken in the hottest week of the year but this did not deter the volunteers from clearing paths and pruning back walkways and bushes. A number of local residents came out of their homes to say thank you to the young people in particular. An resident of Montague road expressed her appreciation as it now meant that she could walk down a ginnel direct to the bus rather than having to take a much longer route round the estate.
In the first two days alone two whole skips were filled with rubbish. The youngsters, who are linked to the Salvation Armys Inclusions project, sanctuary threw themselves wholeheartedly into things. The Inclusion project is a thriving work amongst Wetherby High School students and comes out of a growing and strengthening partnership with the Salvation Army. The youngsters were thrilled to give something back to the community and were also appreciative of the trust and support they were shown during the week. One boy commented, ‘its been great sir and so much fun, we not all bad are we?’