Since we started in 2016, Planet Patrol has run thousands of clean ups, involving over 25,000 people in the past 4 years. Our Reps and Community Guardians are the voice of Planet Patrol in their local area, helping make all of this possible. They organise litter picks, keeping their local community updated and inspired.
We caught up with one of Reps, Jayne, based in Liverpool, UK, to share her story and top tips for anyone who would like to join the Planet Patrol movement! Jayne runs paddleboarding litter picks around Liverpool, including in the famous Royal Albert docks. If you would like to run paddleboarding, yoga, fitness or canoeing clean ups, apply here. If you would like to volunteer to run land-based litter picks in your local area, apply here.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about why you joined Planet Patrol as a Rep?
I’m Jayne, Owner & Coach over at Liverpool SUP Co. I instruct and coach Stand Up Paddleboarding here in the North West. During my sessions, I was noticing a build up of plastic pollution in our water ways, and decided to start litter picks on my board. After doing these for a few years, I noticed that more and more people were getting on board (pun intended) with cleans etc and that Planet Patrol had this amazing app to help us track and tackle the problem. Liz reached out for a rep in the area and the rest was history. I’m super stoked to be a Planet Patrol Rep and it’s awesome to see the Planet Patrol team growing with local guardians here now too helping tackle the problem on land!
Explain a bit about your role as a Planet Patrol Rep…
My role in Planet Patrol is to create an access to polluted waterways safely and under the supervision of a SUP instructor, allowing people to join in on both the SUP experience and the conservation work that we do.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found on a litter pick?
Coconuts in the canal!
What 3 words would you use to describe how being part of Planet Patrol makes you feel?
Making a difference!
Do you have any advice or tips for our community about how to live more sustainably?
Swap out Single Use Plastics for reusable alternatives. For example, I mostly find coffee cups, facemasks and plastic bottles on our patrols and these are all things that can easily be replaced by a more sustainable option.
What would your advice be to anyone applying to be a Planet Patrol Rep?
It’ll be one of the greatest things you’ll ever do! Joining this family of like-minded people, all wanting to change the world for the better, makes you realise that it’s not all doom and gloom & there is hope for the planet!
What, where or who do you draw your inspiration and motivation from?
My dog Oscar! He’s my best friend and no matter how hard things are, he always has the biggest smile on his face! He comes out on cleans with me too sometimes and loves diving in for plastic bottles. He loves new challenges and always gives his all! Definitely a role model!
Is there anything else that you would like to share with or say to the Planet Patrol Community?
Keep up the great work everyone! What we’re doing IS making a difference! Keep picking, keep tracking keep making noise.
Applications to join our Rep Programme (for qualified instructors and clubs) and Community Guardian Programme are now OPEN. Find out more and apply.
Looking to join litter picks in your local area? Join your regional Planet Patrol group for the latest news and updates in your area here.