Making a difference – New City College students turn the tide on rubbish

Students and staff from New City College rolled up their sleeves and headed outdoors for a series of litter picking sessions around Tower Hamlets Campus, Attlee Academy and Ardleigh Green Campus – bringing young people together with the local community in a meaningful way.

Across all three sites, the initiative drew an enthusiastic mix of Student Union representatives, student volunteers and local supporters, all keen to play their part in improving the environment.

At Tower Hamlets Campus and Attlee Academy, volunteers worked side by side to collect litter and raise awareness about the importance of protecting shared spaces. The sessions highlighted how small, collective actions can create a lasting positive impact, while also giving students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and engage with their community.

Nathan Jerome-Armah, Enrichment Coordinator at Tower Hamlets Campus, praised the efforts of everyone involved. He said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event such a success. We have created a shared sense of purpose and pride in the local area and we will continue to make a positive impact on our surrounding community and environment.”

Meanwhile, Ardleigh Green Campus saw a particularly strong turnout, with students and staff joined by local community police officers and members of the Emerson Park Havering Residents Association, including Paul Harrison and Stuart Chapell.

The collaborative effort transformed the streets and grass areas around the college in Ardleigh Green Road.

After around 20 large bags of litter had been collected, Paul Harrison said: “It was wonderful for the Emerson Park HRA team members to join NCC students at this event. Community actions such as litter picking show a sense of pride in the area where we live and work. To see young people being proactive and helping look after the area is very encouraging and we would like to thank them all for their efforts.”

Natasha Bryce, Lead Pastoral Tutor at Ardleigh Green Campus, added: “It’s vital that we continue to support our community and work towards a cleaner, greener future. The success of this event shows how much we can achieve when we all join forces.”

The events helped strengthen connections between students and local neighbourhoods, reinforcing New City College’s commitment to being at the heart of its communities.

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