Little Alfie Underwood resides in Sacriston and finds joy in picking up litter alongside his grandmother, Gwyneth Avery.

Together, they dedicate hours to keeping their village clean and educating passersby on the importance of not littering.

When Alfie expressed to his grandma that his top Christmas wish was to have his own litter picker, Gwyneth reached out to Newcastle City Council’s civic pride team. Impressed by Alfie’s enthusiasm, the team, which supports communities in beautifying their neighborhoods, decided to surprise him with an early Christmas gift.

Alfie received a high-visibility vest, a junior litter picker designed like a raptor, a Bag o Hoop to hold bin bags open, and a Tidy Ted storybook, complete with best wishes from the anti-litter mascot.

Furthermore, Alfie and his grandmother participated in an hour-long litter pick alongside Cabinet member for neighborhoods and climate change, Cllr Mark Wilkes, during which they filled two bags with waste along a circular route. Cllr Wilkes remarked, “It was a real pleasure to join Alfie on one of his litter-walking sessions, where his dedication to keeping the community clean was evident.

“Addressing environmental challenges like street litter extends beyond enforcement; we must also inspire and educate everyone to contribute towards a cleaner, safer, and greener County Durham. It was heartening to witness someone as young as Alfie considering the impact of littering on the environment and recognizing his role in being part of the solution.” The civic pride team assists residents, community groups, schools, and businesses in their efforts to create cleaner and greener neighborhoods.

They offer various forms of support to the community, including providing litter-picking equipment and offering educational programs for schools, youth organizations, and community groups free of charge.