Darlington BC

A quirky initiative which has captured the imagination. Darlington Council works closely with Darlington Cares an organisation which coordinates businesses CSR. Once a month, employee volunteers from Darlington Cares and volunteers from members of the public meet on the Town Square at 4.00 p.m. on a Friday, litter pick for an hour and a half then meet back at the pub for a Pie and a Pint (or soft drink and something healthy) paid for by a different business sponsor each month. Over the year the scheme has removed 1000 bags of rubbish from the Town Centre.

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council-owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. Many councils are seeking to establish a new relationship with local people and local communities. Community involvement and engagement is increasingly important as a way of shaping council thinking, contributing to service design and improvement and to responding to continuing resource pressures. It may also involve direct community involvement in service delivery. This award is intended to showcase the whole range of community involvement.