Students step up for Manor Drive community clean-up

Students from Manor Drive Secondary Academy, part of the Four Cs Multi-Academy Trust, proudly rolled up their sleeves and spent two Fridays this May helping to clean and improve the Manor Drive estate, showing outstanding commitment to their local community.
Supported by local volunteer organisation Peterborough Litter Wombles, community volunteer Harry Machin, and local councillor Sandra Bond, students spent their time collecting litter, tidying public spaces, and helping make the estate a cleaner and more welcoming place for residents. Members of school staff also joined the clean-up efforts alongside students, helping support the initiative and demonstrating the importance of working together.
The initiative highlighted the growing importance of young people giving back to their communities and taking pride in the environment around them. Equipped with litter pickers, gloves, bags, and safety equipment provided by the Peterborough Litter Wombles, students worked enthusiastically despite the physical challenge of the task.
During the clean-up, students collected dozens of bags of rubbish from around the estate, nearby fields, and ditches surrounding the school grounds. Among the more unusual items recovered were several buckets, abandoned footballs, metal forks, and broken pieces of garden furniture. Students also removed a concerning number of empty nitrous oxide cylinders from the fields and pathways around the estate, highlighting the growing issue of laughing gas misuse in Peterborough.
All rubbish collected during the project was carefully sorted by the students with support from the MDSA site team, ensuring recyclable materials were separated and disposed of responsibly wherever possible.
Skye, a Year 8 student, said: “It felt good knowing we were helping people in the area. You don’t always realise how much litter builds up until you start cleaning it.”
Noah, a Year 10 student, added: “Working together made a big difference. It showed that small actions can really improve the community.”
The experience also provided valuable life lessons beyond the clean-up itself. Students learned about teamwork, responsibility, environmental awareness, and the positive impact volunteering can have on others.
Harry Machin praised the students for their attitude and dedication. “The students were fantastic. They worked incredibly hard over both Fridays and showed real pride in their local area. It’s inspiring to see young people taking responsibility and setting such a positive example.”
Sandra Bond also thanked the students for their efforts and emphasised the importance of community partnerships in keeping neighbourhoods clean and safe.
The clean-up sessions have already received positive feedback from local residents, some of whom stopped to thank the students during the activities. Mrs Sludds, Headteacher at Manor Drive Secondary Academy, said: “These two Fridays of service showed that when schools, charities, councillors, staff and local residents come together, they can create meaningful change and inspire real community pride across Manor Drive.”
Organisers now hope to make the project an annual “Spring Community Clean-Up” event, bringing together students, residents, local organisations, staff members, and volunteers each year to help maintain pride in the Manor Drive estate and strengthen community spirit.