Meet eight-year-old Emilia James from Nantwich who is melting hearts with her campaign against litter, including ours here at Nantwich News!
We’re backing Emilia as she wages war on litter in a bid to protect wildlife and pet dogs out with their owners around the Nantwich loop.
The Nantwich Primary Academy pupil launched her campaign as part of activities towards a “Speaking Out” badge with 5th Nantwich Brownies.
But she was so passionate about it, she decided to take things further.
She bravely spoke up at Nantwich Town Council earlier this month, earning a round of applause from councillors.
And she has created a GoFundMe page to raise £200 for litter-picking equipment so she and classmates can go on regular clean-ups.
In front of a packed council chamber, Emilia spoke about the danger to animals and how we all need to do our bit to clean-up.
“Did you know litter can be eaten by animals and every year it kills three million in the UK,” she told councillors.
“The fields on the Nantwich loop near Queens Drive have lots and lots of rubbish in the bushes.
“The main roads, like Hospital Street, also have a lot of rubbish.
“In the summer, I even saw a toilet dumped on the footpath by the train crossing!”
Nantwich News editor Pete Leydon was at the meeting, and said: “I was so impressed with Emilia.
“It’s quite a thing for a young girl to speak up like that, so brave for someone who is eight.
“She’s clearly passionate about Nantwich and committed to the cause. We’ll back her all the way to her fundraising target.”
Emila’s GoFundMe Page expands on her aims saying she wants to support “sustainability action” at her school and brownies.
She states: “The first project is buying litter-picking equipment like grabbers, gloves and bags at my school so pupils can safely take part in litter picks and help keep our town clean.”
On top of that, Emilia has made a poster and animation showing a hedgehog getting caught in a take-away container thrown in bush which can be seen on her page.
Fundraising is in full swing for the litter-picking equipment with several pledges so far.
The keen little baker is also planning a cake sale at her school, baking cupcakes and biscuits herself to sell after the Easter holidays.
There will also be a raffle – Chatwins has donated a voucher.
Emilia told Nantwich News: “I love animals and don’t want them to get hurt.
“I also love Nantwich, it has some lovely walks and I like having an ice cream on the square when it’s warm.
“Please support my campaign by not dropping litter in Nantwich and anywhere else come to that.”
Her mum Sam James said: “Emilia is truly passionate about this. We’re so proud of her and the way she spoke up at the town council.
“Big thank you to Nantwich News for helping to spread the word and to people who have donated so far.”
To support Emilia’s fundraising go to her GofundMe page here
As a recent resident I am amazed at how little volunteer work goes on in the area, there are a number of adults doing very good work, however so few children or teens are involved.
In my home town every school had a team of litter pickers out every month in the community, we also helped on weeding and planting, and many of us went to older community homes to work in the allotments, play cards, sing, and entertain the residents. Seems there is scant attention paid by parents locally into helping their children relate to the community they live in and help care for it.