The aim of the Big Autumn Clean is for the community to come together, clean up their local environment and have fun, which of course means staying safe at all times.

Keep Britain Tidy have prepared this guidance to support all volunteers to litter-pick in the safest way possible.

Litter-picking can be carried out alone, in pairs (Method 1 below) or small groups of up to a maximum of six, including yourself (Method 2 below), based on the current government guidance for meeting with people outside of your household.

Hebden Royd Town Council offers sponsorship for each team of six, but that doesn't mean that the team all has to take part together at the same time.

Please note: Government guidance on the lockdown may tighten or ease over time, so please contact us if you have any questions about what is safe practice.

Individuals currently shielding, in 'at risk' groups, displaying symptoms (or in contact with those with symptoms) or have been directly advised to self-isolate should not litter-pick.

Method 1 - Litter-picking alone or in pairs

Before going out alone or in pairs, please remember:

• If you have equipment and wish to give it to other people for litter-picking, please follow these points:
• Volunteers are asked to use their own gloves.
  Litter pickers will be disinfected before use and available to collect at a time to be confirmed from Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
• A bottle of disinfectant spray will be available and we would ask volunteers to spray the handle of the litter-picker when they collect it and again when returned.
• Please also do this when distributing the pickers to members of your group.
• Please share the Guidance for volunteers working alone or in pairs (below) with volunteers.

Guidance for volunteers working alone or in pairs

• Tell someone where you are going and stay in mobile contact.
• Use your own gloves and a litter-picker. Clean both after use before storing.
• Wash hands before and after at home or nearby w/c facilities.
• Carry hand sanitiser if you have some.
• Stay at least one metre from fellow volunteer and members of the public.
• Don't pick up sharps/syringes.
• Litter should be tied up in strong waste sacks.

Method 2 – Small groups

A small group is defined as a maximum of six people (including the Group Leader), however, this number may increase or decrease over time – please follow changes to Government guidance.

• Directly invite volunteers to your clean-ups so that you know exactly who will turn up and to keep numbers within limits set by Government guidance.
• Be aware that certain areas could be very busy so you may want to consider the timing of clean ups eg in the evening and avoiding weekend times.
• Be aware of any 'pinchpoints' with lots of people congregating. Keep social distancing and wash hands after touching shared surfaces.
• Observe social distancing, particularly at start and end of event when equipment being handed out/collected and during the safety briefing, which should be held outside.
• HRTC will provide hand sanitiser.
• Signing in should be carried out by the group leader –rather than sharing pen and paper.
• First Aid Treatment - please see current advice from St. John Ambulance
• Any returned equipment should be sanitised at the end of each event.
• The group leader should make sure everyone has their own gloves and, ideally, bring spare clean gloves that people can take home.
• Share the guidance below with volunteers ahead of the clean-up.

Guidance for Volunteers working in small groups

• Bring your own gloves.
• Wash hands before and after at home or nearby w/c facilities.
• Carry hand sanitiser if you have access to some.
• Stay at least one metre from fellow volunteers and members of the public.
• Don't pick up sharps.
• Litter should be tied up in strong waste sacks.
• Please sanitise litter pickers before returning to HRTC