Community Partner Spotlight: Harrow Litter Pickers

We were first introduced to Harrow Litter Pickers through our contact at Hatch End High School, who connected us with Casey and Keith, the CEO and Chair of Trustees.

Harrow Litter Pickers is a volunteer-led organisation founded in response to a clear need within their local community. Since partnering with TimeGivers, they have welcomed hundreds of young people to take part in community litter picks across Harrow, helping students understand both the environmental and social impact of littering.

Learning Through Real-World Action

What makes Harrow Litter Pickers particularly impactful is the way they combine practical volunteering with education. Casey doesn’t just lead litter picks; she helps young people understand the wider consequences of waste in their communities.

On one occasion, students collected 17 discarded gas canisters, each costing the local council around £15 to dispose of safely. Experiences like this make the issue tangible, helping young people understand how small actions can have real environmental and financial consequences.

Building Confidence and Community Ownership

Through the partnership with TimeGivers, Harrow Litter Pickers has been able to engage hundreds of young people in hands-on environmental action while also strengthening their links with local schools. These connections have helped them build direct relationships with schools, enabling them to continue organising sessions independently and foster a lasting culture of environmental responsibility, pride in local spaces and community care.

From the Harrow Litter Pickers Team

We spoke to Casey and Keith about their experience working with TimeGivers.

“We were introduced to TimeGivers through a contact at Hatch End High School when the school was developing its volunteering programme. They felt Harrow Litter Pickers would be a good fit, and from the beginning it felt like a very natural partnership.”

“As a volunteer-led group rooted in the local community, we immediately connected with what TimeGivers was trying to achieve.”

Why They Got Involved

“At Harrow Litter Pickers, bringing people together to improve local spaces is a big part of what we’re about. Our volunteers spend over a thousand hours each month out in the community, and we love seeing people recognise the difference they can make through simple actions.”

“Partnering with TimeGivers was a great opportunity to involve more young people, encourage them to take ownership of their environment, and help them experience the satisfaction of making a positive contribution locally.”

The Impact of the Partnership

“The students who’ve joined us through TimeGivers have brought a real enthusiasm to our events. It’s been brilliant to see young people getting involved so willingly and bringing fresh energy to the group.”

“The partnership has also strengthened our connections with local schools and helped raise awareness of environmental volunteering among younger people.”

“As a fully volunteer-run organisation, it’s especially rewarding to see the next generation recognising the value of community action.”

A Standout Moment

“One moment that’s really stayed with us was after a litter pick where a group of students went from being quite quiet at the start to feeling genuinely proud of what they’d achieved by the end.”

“One student even said they ‘didn’t realise they were allowed to care like this’ about where they lived.”

Seeing young people realise their ability to make a difference in their own communities remains at the heart of this partnership.

Originally featured in our May 2026 newsletter, this spotlight highlights the power of local partnerships in building environmental awareness, confidence and community pride among young people.

TimeGivers Community Partner Spotlight: Harrow Litter Pickers | May 2026