Project Summary

Clean Beach Happy People is a volunteer-led beach cleaning project run by Greyhope Bay, a charitable organisation based at Torry Battery in Aberdeen. The project brings people together to care for the local coastline while supporting positive mental wellbeing through outdoor, purposeful activity.

What Happens

The project offers:

• Organised group beach cleans around Torry Battery

• Opportunities for volunteers to spend time outdoors together

• A welcoming, community-based volunteering experience

• Activities based at the Greyhope Bay Centre

Sessions typically last a couple of hours and are open to members of the public.

Why It Works

Delivered in partnership with East Grampian Coastal Partnership’s Turning the Plastic Tide, the project is effective because it:

• Combines environmental action with social connection

• Encourages physical activity in a natural setting

• Gives volunteers a shared sense of purpose

• Improves wellbeing through teamwork and time outdoors

Evaluations by Turning the Plastic Tide highlight improved mood, wellbeing and a more positive mental outlook among participants.

Community Impact

Clean Beach Happy People has:

• Improved local coastal environments

• Increased community engagement with Torry Battery

• Supported mental health and wellbeing

• Created accessible volunteering opportunities

• Strengthened connections between people and place

The project was supported in 2022 by the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund, distributed locally by ACVO.

Easy to Replicate

This project shows how environmental volunteering can also support mental health. With local partnerships, basic equipment and small-scale funding, similar initiatives can be set up in other coastal or outdoor community spaces.