After the bells had chimed 12 on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and most people were thinking about heading home, a group of about 30 people were getting ready to begin their work, the full extent of which became visible only as the streets cleared of people, revealing the litter and detritus left behind.
After the bells had chimed 12 on Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and most people were thinking about heading home, a group of about 30 people were getting ready to begin their work, the full extent of which became visible only as the streets cleared of people, revealing the litter and detritus left behind.
1.15am, before the clean up began
In their hi-viz jackets and Brewdog sweatshirts and hoodies (part of a huge donation to Social Bite’s Christmas Campaign) the night crew consisted of refugees, people affected by homelessness and Barbara Haig (Babs) from our own Social Impact Team. They began work at 1am and worked right through to 10am in the morning. A further 20 fresh workers joined them at 7am and worked through until the afternoon. They had all been employed by Immediate Waste, the company contracted to clean up after the street party and ranged in age from 19 to 62 years old.
Immediate Waste had contacted Social Bite through Ian McCaig of Grow Your Own Talent and expressed a wish to offer employment for the night to a group of people who were keen to work but might be experiencing difficulties or barriers to accessing employment.
The group cleared the whole of the Princes St area and gardens, and according to Babs, had a lot of fun, and did a great job.
“When I saw the extent of the litter I thought it was going to be an impossible job, but they got stuck in and worked really hard. They were incredible.”
Their hard work and effort has resulted in the opportunity of further work at future events throughout the year.
