Community spirit shines bright in Nottingham's Robin Hood Chase cleanup
A wave of community pride swept through St Ann’s recently as residents and organisations joined forces for a transformative cleanup of the beloved Robin Hood Chase Park.
The action-packed day focused on reducing crime, boosting safety, and enhancing the local environment, bringing together an inspiring mix of partners united by a shared goal: creating a safer, cleaner community.
The event marked the first-ever collaboration between the Police and Crime Commissioner-led and Home Office-funded projects ‘Safer Streets’, ‘Antisocial Behaviour Hotspot Policing’ and ‘Immediate Justice’.
The joint effort, which included a litter and graffiti tidy-up, increased high-visibility police and council patrols and community engagement, caught the attention of local residents, with the aim for it to set a precedent for future community-led initiatives.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Angela Kandola, who captured the energy of the day, said: “The cleanup wasn’t just about removing litter or trimming foliage—it was a resounding statement about what’s possible when communities come together. Robin Hood Chase is more than just a park; it’s a shared space where safety, pride, and collaboration can thrive.
“This is all about community spirit. We’re engaging with locals, and they’re all happy to see what’s going on.
“We have so many partners here working together to clean up the area and maintain its safety.
“It’s important for residents to see that we’re here, and we’re working in partnership with the community to help make them feel safe.”
The impressive list of partners included Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Housing St Ann’s Advice Centre, The Chayah Project, Community Recording Studio’s, Red Snapper and student volunteers from Nottingham Trent University.
Nottinghamshire Police Sergeant, Ash Small, highlighted the importance of collaboration.
He said: “Our statistics show that this is a hotspot area, which is why the Chase was chosen for this particular activity.
“We’re here to tidy up and rake up some of the leaves to make the area look more presentable, as well as changing the CCTV and chopping down some of the foliage to make sure the cameras can capture things a little bit better.
“It requires a multi-faceted approach. It’s not just down to one particular stakeholder, it requires everybody’s involvement and produces better results.”
For St Ann’s Ward Councillor, Devontay Okure, the day felt like a turning point.
He said: “It’s a breath of fresh air to see the work taking place in the ward. Our special thanks go to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office and all the partners who were involved in the day of action.
“One of our key goals is to make sure that people feel safe and they can communicate and engage effectively, and with the work we’re doing here, that is at the forefront of our thinking.”
To report antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood, call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or visit the web page linked below to report.