J&B News & Updates

23.10.20

11-year-old Harry Aylett took to the streets of Hartlepool litter-picking this month to raise £1,100 for Hartlepool charity, Poolie Time Exchange.

Harry donned his hi-vis vest and black bin bags for an hour a day, every day for a week making his way around Hartlepool and Seaton collecting 15 bin bags full of litter in total.

Harry said: “The support was brilliant. It made me smile and want to keep going even in the rain.

“There were lots of alcohol bottles and cans and one day I picked up 26 facemasks in an hour!”

The team at J&B Recycling were so impressed with Harry’s hard work and dedication to keeping the town clean and raising money that we decided to match the £550 that he had so far raised.

Vikki Jackson-Smith, CEO of J&B Recycling, said: “I am so pleased we could help Harry with his fundraising, I followed his work on social media and was so impressed with the work he was doing both for our local community and also for the local charity that I just wanted to support his project and match the outstanding £550 he had already raised to take his grand total to £1,100.

“For a young man of his age to have that much get up and go and want to do something so positive is absolutely fantastic and a credit to his family.”

A fan club for Harry’s work started in the town with news spreading on social media and people coming to meet, thank and sponsor Harry for the amazing work he was doing.

Poolie Time Exchange, the charity that the money has been raised for, offers people the chance to upskill themselves to help to improve their CV and prospects for job-searching. Trial job interviews, obtaining on the job experience, energy advice, CVs and training courses are all offered by the charity.

During the national lockdown Poolie Time Exchange also provided hot meals and support for the most vulnerable in the area who were shielding during the pandemic, and since they have been working hard to support the people in the town when needed.

Harry plans to continue litter picking to help keep the town beautiful and trying to raise money too, selecting a different place in Hartlepool to focus on each week.

You can listen to the interview with Harry on BBC Tees from 03:52:09 here.

Keep it up Harry, you are doing Hartlepool proud.