Denise Bickley, chair of the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors and Surfers Against Sewage representative, writes for the Herald

On September 14, the BBC featured an article that stated nearly 60% of young people approached said they felt very worried about climate change. More than 45% of those questioned said feelings about the climate affected their daily lives. Three quarters of them said they thought the future was frightening with over half saying they think humanity is doomed. Feelings described were sadness, fear and anxiety, despair, grief and shame. Many of those questioned perceive that they have no future. I pondered this issue whilst clearing up the back of the youth centre last weekend. I felt sad that teenagers cared so little about the squalor they were sitting in. When I met one of the teens who meets others there regularly, she commented how much nicer it looked. Are we failing our kids, if their expectations are so low that they can’t be bothered to keep their own environment clean? One reason people litter is ‘context’. It has been proven that if an area is free of rubbish and well-maintained then it is considerably less likely to attract rubbish than a place where waste has already piled up – ie litter breeds litter. If one teenager throws their bottle, crisp packet, McDonalds bag and carrier bag on the floor, it is easier for the next one to add to the mess with less worry. Teenagers by nature don’t like to stand up to each other, and it will take a lot for them to confront their friends even if they disagree with their behaviour. The lovely girl I met could easily persuade her friends but something must be stopping her – social pressures, name calling, being called an ‘eco-Nazi’ (yes that’s really happening) – I guess avoiding these things is important to a 15 year old. Another reason for litter is the sheer volume of rubbish generated. The nearest shops are filled with plastic bottles, cheap crisps, very cheap single use bottles of water – but no water fountain for refills. The area is littered with cigarette filter tubes, broken glass, bottle lids, cigarette butts. There is one bin at the basketball court, but it isn’t positioned where the majority sit. I may be humouring them or patronising them, but if the bin is too far away, let’s get one as close as possible! Let’s try and talk to our younger generation about why we don’t want plastic waste on the ground – one good rain storm and it has gone, to the drains, to the river, to the sea. I want informative signs put up explaining that cigarette filters contain plastic and each one can pollute up to 50L of water. And…here’s a thought…let’s encourage our shops not to market these products and let’s make it normal for everyone to clear up after themselves. It amazes me that so much fuss is made about ‘weeds’ and grass being left too long, but less seems to be made about the rubbish all over the ground. Well done to all of those who give up their time to help clear it up, and to Streetscene for doing a difficult job in very trying times. I was honoured yesterday to attend a zoom meeting entitled ‘Political Voice – Coffee and doughnuts’ for young people to discuss the ‘Devon Doughnut’ (see devondoughnut.org) and it was great to hear from Devon’s two Youth Parliament representatives, (Joe Hartley is YMP for East and Mid Devon). To hear engaged young people is reassuring and of course indicative of how this generation is switched on, bright, enthusiastic and articulate. We mustn’t ignore their opinions in decisions we make for their futures. It is vital for mental health to feel that your voice is being heard, whatever age you are.

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.” – Kofi Annan “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank. When thinking about my article, I wanted it to be about the volunteers who get things done, so I researched some inspirational quotes and the two above stood out, because my ‘thing’ is the environment and making our planet better, and trying to draw attention to the harm we are doing by the path we are on. The recent IPCC report has underlined the urgency and I will step up my efforts. If you’re interested in helping the environment in any way, I’m happy to put you in touch with someone who will need you – email greensidmouth@gmail.com. Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, Plastic Warriors, Friends of the Byes, Sidmouth in Bloom, Sidmouth Arboretum, Repair Café and the SVA are just a few of the groups who always need more help. I’d also like to open a ‘Library of Things’ (somewhere to cheaply rent for equipment that you don't need to buy) so will need help, and all our wonderful festivals take a huge amount of volunteer help to get going as well. If you’d rather help people, how about offering some time to Sidmouth Voluntary Services who are fantastic – you can help out at Twyford House or by getting people to appointments or assist on the lunch club. Volunteers are also needed at Sidmouth Hospiscare. You could offer to read with children in school, or help in the school garden, or if you enjoy a bit of mayhem help out at a toddler group, scouts or guides! Or at one of our sports clubs, passing on love of a sport to the next generation? (A DBS check is needed if working with children or vulnerable adults). Another place that relies on volunteers is The Donkey Sanctuary – they have a dedicated page on their website with all the types of volunteering they offer. I’ve always liked to get involved for many reasons – yes it gives me a warm feeling that I am ‘doing my bit’, but it’s also helped me out. Before marriage and children, I lived on my own, and know that loneliness and boredom can be crippling. Volunteering and becoming part of a team gives a reason to get up, a chance to talk with like-minded people and make friends, and a sense of feeling needed. It’s great for both physical and mental health, and has been proven to reduce stress. If you are younger and need some work experience, volunteering can help you discover how you fit into a team and what your passions are. If you’re older, and retired, many people feel the benefit of staying physically and mentally active, and feeling like a valued member of society again. For some, their volunteering gives a whole new lease of life and purpose. Funding is not around for many projects so volunteers are how we can make our world better, and bring those ‘extras’ above the basic services the council runs. From my own experience, I’d rather do a litter pick than expecting the council to do it, as I think scarce local public money should stretch further. In my mind, if something bothers you or you feel passionate about it, don’t expect someone else to do it, get involved yourself! So thank you to everybody who volunteers – some of whom I know well and many I haven’t yet met – and if you’re thinking about joining in let me know if I can help. It would be great to see some new faces as very often the same people turn up for everything! Many of the groups mentioned can be found through the Town Council website at sidmouth.gov.uk

Remember last year… One year ago, the world was a very strange place. And yes, I know it still is, but a year ago to some of us it felt like we were on the edge of something exciting – coming out of a hideous pandemic that allowed us to dream of coming back bigger, stronger, greener and kinder. We made a point of thanking those who were helping us – NHS workers, key workers, teachers, neighbours, volunteers. Remember the huge efforts of those who pulled together to ensure that nobody went without food and prescriptions? The shops that changed the way they operated by doing deliveries? The delivery drivers working flat out to meet the online shopping demands? The bin men dealing with Christmas week-sized rounds every week as everybody was working from home? The people who started making PPE equipment for NHS frontline staff who were going to work ill-equipped? The teachers who worked throughout the lockdown keeping the children educated, both in school for some and online for those at home? The overwhelming feeling for many of us at the time was gratitude and a new found respect for those who kept our country going. Fast forward a year and it feels like that goodwill and love for fellow man has been put to one side. So many of us are fed up with continued restrictions; we’re tired of being told what we can do; the confusing messages of large sporting events but small weddings being allowed has jarred with us. Social media is a hot bed of toxicity. Patience has run out. The awful mix of Brexit and Covid has left us with staff shortages, businesses closing, services interrupted. The Vision Group for Sidmouth, in partnership with the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors, Transition Town Network and Sidmouth Town Council, decided to do something to try to reverse this. We want everyone to think back to those who helped them get through. We have set up three awards, and want you to think of individuals, groups or businesses who helped in one of these areas. The awards are entitled: