SCUBAHUB
Time to clean up again
Guidance for helping Ukrainians
SPORT ENGLAND HAS RELEASED guidance on how the sport and physical activity sector can help in this time of crisis for the people of Ukraine .
The effects on the Ukrainian people – millions of whom are seeking refuge across Europe – are profound and will last for a long time .
We all want to do our bit to support those who ’ ve been forced to flee their homes . People who – until a few weeks ago – would have enjoyed sport with friends and family , including scuba diving and snorkelling .
Sport England has now pulled together guidance on how the sport and physical activity sector can help .
The guidance gives details of how individuals , clubs or communities can help , whether via a financial donation , fundraising , a donation of essential supplies or even by applying to host or sponsor a refugee .
BSAC IS PARTNERING WITH SURFERS AGAINST Sewage ( SAS ) for the second year to support its fight against plastic pollution with the Million Mile Clean 2022 .
The Million Mile Clean 2022 looks to build upon the success of its inaugural year , which saw 142,428 volunteers taking part in 4,216 beach , river , street , and mountain cleans . A total of 398,179 . kg of plastic and packaging pollution across 1,116,226 miles of the UK was cleared , making it Europe ’ s biggest beach clean campaign .
Million Mile Clean 2022 is now set to mobilise 100,000 volunteers across the UK to each clean 10 miles of blue , green , and city space .
BSAC CEO Mary Tetley welcomed the opportunity to partner with SAS for a second year .
“ We ’ re excited to announce the continued collaboration with SAS . This is a fantastic community and citizen science project , and we encourage as many members as possible to get involved .”
As with last year , BSAC will bring the underwater litter pick element to the campaign and BSAC clubs , members and centres can now register their underwater clean ups .
Registering an underwater litter pick or beach clean
To register an underwater litter pick or beach clean ( or for more information ), go to www . beachcleans . org . uk . When you register your litter pick / beach clean , make sure you select ‘ BSAC and underwater cleans ’ in the ‘ Volunteer type ’ dropdown list .
BSAC has also compiled guidance on litter pick planning and safety to help clubs and members organise a Million Mile beach or underwater clean up - bsac . com / underwaterlitterpick
Holding government and industry to account
The Million Mile Clean is an integral part of the SAS campaign to hold business and government to account for the tide of plastic pollution choking the UK ’ s coastline . The 2021 campaign found that the top 12 most polluting brands were responsible for 65 % of the packaging pollution collected , with Coca Cola and Pepsi-Co taking the top two spots of ‘ The Dirty Dozen ’. Year-round data being captured by volunteers across the UK through the Million Clean will help SAS better understand the scale of the issue and hold those responsible to account . Amy Slack , Head of Campaigns and Policy at SAS , said : “ Cleans are a fantastic way of getting out and about in your local environment and making a difference in your community . “ While we aren ’ t able to pick our way out of the plastic pollution problem , volunteers can help the fight against plastic pollution by taking part in a clean and gathering evidence to help us hold government and industry to account .”
Below the Surface centre returns to the fold
THE GROWTH OF BSAC ’ S CENTRE NUMBERS CONTINUES apace , with Hebden-Bridge-based Below the Surface the latest centre to come on board .
Veteran BSAC diver Bill Painter established the Yorkshire centre after leaving the military over 30 years ago . Below the Surface has now joined the BSAC fold to re-establish the connection .
A recent BSAC Instructor Crossover course has seen Bill refresh his BSAC Open Water Instructor status , with more of the Below the Surface team set to follow .
Centre instructor and co-owner , Sal Painter said the team were looking forward to the opportunities ahead .
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“ We decided to re-connect with BSAC as we feel the time is right and are excited by many of the courses , which offer new skills to those we teach currently ,” she explained . “ We look forward to a new challenge and hope to offer some exciting new courses to our divers .”
Having access to a 25-metre pool with a 3m drop-off that ’ s ideal for training , as well as training rooms , dive club and dive shop , Below the Surface is well-placed to support divers and BSAC clubs in the region .
For more information on Below the Surface go to www . belowthesurface . co . uk
Is your club looking for more training support ? Check out the BSAC Centre + Branch Partnership scheme at bsac . com / partnershipscheme