Clean Coasts and Rehab Group take action in Blackrock

On Wednesday 30th September, approximately 100 participants from five Rehab Group centres across the east coast of Ireland, including from the Dundalk centre, took part in the first Clean Coasts Impact Day.

This collaborative initiative with Clean Coasts and Rehab aimed to promote the importance of protecting our coastlines and waterways. Participants from National Learning Network and Rehab centres in Navan, Dundalk, Bray, Ashbourne, Ratoath and Arklow came together at various locations to take action for their local coastline and waterways.

Events took place at Blackrock Beach in Louth, the Boyne Ramparts Walkway and Bettystown Beach in Meath, and Bray Promenade and Arklow South Beach in Wicklow.

While incumbent weather conditions meant that some planned clean-ups could not go ahead, participants were still able to take part in educational talks and discussions focused on coastal biodiversity, litter and the importance of caring for our natural environment.

The day showcased the positive impact of bringing communities together through shared environmental action.

Clean Coasts has held a long-standing relationship with Navan and Dundalk National Learning Network (NLN) centres, with many years of collaboration on successful coastal education initiatives with participants.

The idea of an Impact Day engaging with multiple centres, was borne from a suggestion by Lucille Savage, a teacher from Navan National Learning Network, and a long-time supporter of the Clean Coasts Programme.

This inspiring idea set the wheels in motion to mobilise five centres for a combined day of coastal care. Building on the success of this year's Impact Day, plans are already in place for an even bigger impact next year.

Siyaa Inaya, Energy and Sustainability Officer for the Rehab Group, said: “As part of Impact Day, Rehab Group joined forces with Clean Coasts for a coastal clean-up initiative, bringing together about 100 participants from multiple Rehab centers across the organization.

“The day provided an opportunity for our students and service users to get involved in meaningful environmental action, while working together to care for and protect our local coastline.

“Beyond the environmental impact, the initiative promoted teamwork, community participation and a sense of pride among those involved, demonstrating how collective action can create positive change for both people and the planet.”

Aidan Gray, Clean Coasts Regional Development Officer for the East Coast said: “It is great to have multiple centres from different locations all doing a clean-up around their local waterways and coastline on the same day.

“Actions like this show unity and the shared goal to make a positive environmental impact. The different centres spotted local biodiversity, collected and recorded litter at these nature spots, listened to educational talks and had a lot of social enjoyment, despite some adverse weather on the day.

“We hope to build on this impact with even more centres from the Rehab group next year.”