The youngsters are aiming to clear 10,000 miles of litter during the Big Summer Clean

Scouts are set to spend their summer holidays helping to clear up Scotland.

Scouts Scotland have come together to make their communities better by pledging to clear around 10,000 miles of litter as part of the Big Summer Clean. Scouts Scotland want to empower their young people and volunteers to look after their community and help their local environment by taking part in this campaign from Keep Scotland Beautiful.  

Litter levels continue to be at their worst for more than a decade, and surveys conducted in June 2020 showed that 30% of people felt the overall condition of their local neighbor deteriorated during lockdown.

Callum Holt , Scouts Scotland commissioner for community impact, said: “We are proud to join up with Keep Scotland Beautiful and be a part of the Big Summer Clean. Our young people and volunteers are passionate about making a difference in their communities, and as scouts, we are equally as passionate about protecting our planet for future generations. We hope that by being involved in this campaign, our young people will be more empowered to help their local environment”

Barry Fisher, chief executive, Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “We are delighted that Scouts Scotland is supporting our Summer Clean, an organisation that inspires so many young people right across the country. We are thrilled to have the support of community groups and individuals who are committed to cleaning up Scotland one piece of litter at a time. Together we can all help to keep Scotland beautiful.”

Scout groups are able to meet outdoors under current restrictions. Protecting the environment is one of the six national themes that young people in Scouts have chosen to take action on.