AT the frontline of war on grime

May 18 2009 by Gavin Pennie, Paisley Daily Express

HARD-WORKING Karen Anderson is playing a key role in the efforts to keep Renfrewshire looking spick and span.

The 39-year-old Paisley woman is a project co-ordinator for the Clean Renfrewshire campaign, which is making a big difference in local communities.

Karen recently moved back to Paisley from London to take up her role and admits her working day flies past at a pace which makes The Big Smoke seem more like The Big Easy.

She handles general calls and enquires from members of the public who want help to organise and co-ordinate community clean-ups.

Karen said: “My typical working day is very busy from the word go. The phone is always ringing and there is always someone talking in our office. There are always a million and one things to do.

“On a daily basis, I generally provide support for a lot of people.

“I have successfully set up many different processes and procedures that enable people to do their job more effectively.

“Conveying information from the public into real actions is one of my key roles and responsibilities.

“We get a lot of calls, so it’s important to be organised.

“If we weren’t, there would definitely be far fewer clean-ups taking place.

“My role itself requires a lot of organisation to ensure that I can deal with all enquiries.

“Co-ordinating community clean-ups can be a hard process as it involves quite a lot of attention to detail.

“To do this effectively, I work closely with the development officers and notify them of areas that are badly affected by litter, graffiti and fly-tipping.

“We are then able to plan dates to tackle these areas by liaising with different groups and the development officers.

“The end result is very uplifting as we make a visible difference in the areas that we clean.

“I particularly enjoy witnessing the positivity and enthusiasm from the community groups that take part in numerous clean-ups across the Paisley area.”

Renfrewshire Council joined forces with the Paisley Daily Express to launch the Clean Renfrewshire campaign in May last year and it has been a huge success.

A massive £2.7million is being pumped into the campaign by council chiefs and every Buddie can get involved in the war on grime.

Since the launch, around 1,500 volunteers from a wide variety of youth and community groups and schools have taken part in dozens of clean-ups across Renfrewshire.

Karen, who works from an office in Paisley, said her job is very rewarding.

She added: “I remember being part of a community clean-up at Eastgate Church in Elderslie which was very inspiring as they created a rubbish dump on the stage in their hall to showcase all the litter they had collected from the surrounding area.

“After all the rubbish had been collected, they recycled any reusable items and made models of garden favourites such as sunflowers and wheelbarrows to display.

“They have now adopted a cycle track in Elderslie and carry out regular clean-ups there.

“Community spirit is always high when you help clean a local area and it’s great to be part of the process, from the initial call right down to helping out at the event.

“I’ve met many interesting characters while carrying out my community role. I was particularly impressed by the determination of members of the Paisley West and Central Community Council.

“They staged a clean-up that I took part in and the rain was coming down in sheets.

“We tackled back courts that were prone to fly-tipping and the group, which included some elderly helpers, were all lifting mattresses and removing old chairs.

“This was a hard day’s work but the group’s enthusiasm and devotion to keep going was admirable.

“Dealing with people who want to be involved in the Clean Renfrewshire campaign is really inspiring and I love working within the local community.

“The positive feedback that we receive after clean-ups makes you really appreciate the dedication and commitment of everyone who is involved in the campaign.”