Volunteers from a local litter-picking group are set to enjoy a well-earned hot drink and sweet treat, thanks to a community initiative from Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care.
Launched this summer, Scrivens’ Branch Out with Kindness initiative invites community groups across England and Wales to share ideas for how a £100 gift could make a positive difference locally.
The Banbury High Street branch selected Banbury Litter Pickers, recognising the group’s tireless efforts to keep the town’s streets, parks and green spaces clean.
Formed in 2020, Banbury Litter Pickers has grown substantially and now has more than 800 people engaged on its Facebook page. The group holds fortnightly litter picks on Wednesday afternoons and has already collected more than 600 bags of rubbish in 2026, surpassing last year’s total. Banbury Litter Pickers also recently joined Banbury Community Action Group (CAG), connecting the volunteer-led organisation to a wider network of grassroots environmental projects across the town.
The £100 gift will be used to thank the Banbury Litter Picker volunteers with a hot drink and sweet treat at a local high street café, recognising the time they give to keeping Banbury tidy.
Scrivens Banbury branch manager, Maisie Fox, said: “When we launched Branch Out with Kindness, we wanted to celebrate the everyday acts of kindness happening in our community. We were delighted to support Banbury Litter Pickers and recognise the incredible difference they make to the town. The team and I hope they enjoy a well-deserved hot drink and treat as a small thank you for everything they do.”
Stephen Kilsby, of Banbury Litter Pickers, commented: “I am very fond of Banbury and am inspired by the commitment of our regular litter pickers and by how much is taken off the streets each week. As a collective, Banbury Litter Pickers has made a real difference to the town and we couldn’t achieve what we do without local people giving their time to the cause. It’s lovely that Scrivens has thought of our volunteers in this way – a cuppa and cake together on the high street will be a really nice treat for everyone involved.”
Banbury Litter Pickers offers advice and guidance to anyone new to litter picking and works closely with Cherwell District Council, which provides bags and sticks and collects filled bags, so volunteers do not need to take rubbish home. The group can be found on Facebook at Banbury Litter Pickers or contacted directly at [email protected]
Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care is a family-run business established in 1938, with 166 high street stores across England and Wales and over 1,000 employees. For more information, visit www.scrivens.com.
