Raise the Standards - Basingstoke

09/10/2026

BIG news for the group 🥳🥳

We’re incredibly pleased to announce that Howden Insurance are supporting Raise the Standards!

A massive thank you to Cameron at Howden, who has kindly offered to help arrange free insurance for our group litter picks, as well as access to spaces for things like coffee mornings and group meetings.

And it all starts NEXT WEEK! 🚮💪

We want to kick things off with our first group litter pick, but we need your help deciding where to go! Let us know in the comments

09/10/2026

STANDARDS RAISED: BRIGHTON RETAIL PARK 🫡🚮

Got absolutely soaked today working my way around Brighton Retail Park! 😅 Every bush, island and trolley bay got some attention, and there was plenty to keep me busy

I make a point of revisiting BRP relatively regularly because litter seems to accumulate here incredibly quickly, particularly around McDonald’s 😒 A few hours in the rain later and it looks so much better

-RTSB Team

08/10/2026

LOCAL LEGENDS SHOUTOUT 🫡

A massive thank you to Mark and Brian from our page, who got out there today and tackled Viables! 💪Between them, they managed to collect two full bags of litter, making a noticeable difference to a high-traffic area that many of us see on a regular basis

Mark and Brian, you're both absolute Local Legends. 👏 Thank you for giving up your time and helping keep our town looking better.

Small actions. Many hands. Big difference. 💚

06/10/2026

ANOTHER huge community Thank You
🫶

I can’t put into words how much support I’ve received from the community since starting Raise the Standards 🤯 These litter pickers and hi-vis waistcoats have all been kindly donated by members of the community, and they’re going to make a huge difference when we’re out doing group litter picks.

As well as this, people have offered their time, equipment, complimentary insurance, donations, recommendations, locations that need attention and even just a kind word when they see us out and about

We’ve had people message offering pressure washers and gardening equipment, volunteers giving up their weekends, anonymous Local Legends quietly doing their own litter picks, and now people are making sure we have the equipment we need to get even more sorted 😎

I started this page thinking I’d mostly be out there doing this myself. I honestly couldn’t have expected this 🥲

-RTSB Team

04/10/2026

ABSOLUTE Local Legend Shoutout 🥳🤯

The team received a message from Howden following from the postponed group litter pick post.

A legend by the name of Cameron has offered to help get our community set up with the correct insurance, for free, through Howden 😧To say I’m blown away by the generosity and help is an understatement!

Thanks to them, we should soon be able to set up monthly group litter picks and do so safely for all volunteers! We still need things like Hi-Vis vests and whatnot, but this is a massive step in Raising the Standard around our town ☺️

Humongous thanks to both Cameron and Howden’s for selflessly aiding the cause 💚

03/10/2026

Standards Raised - War Memorial Park

After the group pick being postponed (exciting news on this soon), I still wanted to make an area near the town centre a little bit better. The weather this morning was perfect for a scenic litter pick around War Memorial and Crossborough park ☀️

I didn’t realise there was some kind of fun-run occurring at the same time, I ended up having quite the audience during the cleanup 😅 Lots of kind words and encouragement from people passing by, which genuinely makes a difference when you’re out there

Where should we Raise the Standards next? 👇
RTSB Team

02/10/2026

GROUP LITTER PICK POSTPONED! ☹️

It is with a heavy heart we have to postpone the group litter pick organised for tomorrow.

I was under the impression that voluntarily-attended events required no insurance. I have since learned that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council specifically says public liability insurance is required for litter-pick events taking place on council land when they aren't directly supervised by council staff 😔

Very sorry to anyone looking forward to the pick; we are now getting in touch with the council to reschedule. I just got in a batch of pickers for everyone attending 😫

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

If it don’t grow there, it don’t go there! 🤨

This afternoon we took on the challenge of going through every street, alley, green space and hedgerow in this estate. Knock on wood, there shouldn’t be a single piece of litter anywhere!🤞

Amongst the normal litter, someone destroyed and abandoned a VCR machine 😒 Electrical waste is particularly bad for the environment, containing lots of heavy metals/screws and jagged metal edges that won’t degrade for millennia.

Another Standard Raised, and hopefully one less place for people to use as a dumping ground 😎

RTSB Team

01/10/2026

LOCAL LEGENDS SHOUTOUT 🫡

The Basingstoke Night Light Winter Shelter provides rough sleepers with a warm, safe place to sleep, hot meals and access to support during the coldest months of the year.

Running from December through February, the shelter relies on a dedicated team to keep everything running, from helping at the shelter itself to laundry, cooking and logistical jobs.

There’s an open evening at The Safe in Wi******er Street on 20th October where you can find out more about what they do and the different ways you can help.

If you’ve got some time to spare this winter, this could be a brilliant way to make a genuinely meaningful difference locally!💚