Grassroots Westcliff looking for volunteers to join

March 20, 2024

Grassroots Westcliff, set up just over a year ago with a vision to create real community spirit and make Westcliff an even better place to live, are looking for more local people to volunteer and join them.

From just 12 people they now have over 240 members and have already delivered several successful community projects to improve their local area from building pocket parks to organising litter picks and improving areas such as Victory Path. Grassroots Westcliff already boasts 1 in every 100 residents as part of their membership, but their ambition is for 1 in every 20 Westcliff residents to join them and create an even greater community spirit.

Anyone can volunteer and you can get involved as little or as much as you like in the weekend outdoor activities the group set up to improve the many green spaces in Westcliff.

Ian Brown has recently moved to the Westcliff area and was keen to meet new people and do his bit to help improve where he lives. As parks services manager for Southend-on-Sea City Council, he takes huge pride in the award-winning green spaces he is responsible for and in his spare time has been involved in many community-based initiatives over the years. Ian said: “I’ve been involved with Grassroots Westcliff for six months and I’ve been so impressed by the community spirit amongst the group who like me are passionate about making the most of our outdoor spaces.

“Recently I volunteered over two weekends on a Saturday to help re-plant the ‘pocket park’ outside the Trading Room pub. The council donated the plants from the parks nursery and along with a dozen or so Grassroots Westcliff members we completely transformed a drab and unused outdoor space into a beautiful pocket park with shrubs and perennial plants that will flower all year round. It makes such a difference to the area and is now a pleasure to walk past. I really do encourage other local Westcliff residents to get involved as it’s so rewarding.”

Councillor Meg Davidson, cabinet member for environment at Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: “It’s great to hear that our residents are coming together to help further improve the outdoor spaces where they live. It really does highlight the fabulous community spirit in Westcliff. I wish them every success with all their future projects.”

For more information about Grassroots Westcliff and to become a member and volunteer please visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/people/Grassroots-Westcliff/100091805679801/