"We believe in making a difference, no matter how small, it all counts."

As part of the A Million Acts of Hope campaign, we are highlighting three volunteers and their contribution to the local community through their volunteering role.

In our second instalment, we speak to Hayley Collins, a volunteer at Great Ashby Community Rangers:

"I started Great Ashby Community Rangers in 2024 after becoming increasingly frustrated by the amount of litter around the local area and seeing our neighbourhood centre not being properly maintained. I care deeply about where I live, it's a family-friendly area and I wanted to do something positive to make a difference rather than just walk past it.

What began as a simple idea to tidy up the area has grown incredibly quickly into a real community effort. We now have many local residents regularly joining us to litter pick around the shops at the neighbourhood centre, surrounding roads and woodland areas across Great Ashby in Stevenage.

One of the reasons I think the group has connected with so many people is because it’s micro-volunteering - there’s no pressure to commit to a formal role or give up huge amounts of time. Family life and work-life balance are really important to me, and I know they are for many others too. People can simply come along when they can, whether that’s a Sunday morning session or an evening walk and litter pick when the weather is nice and the evenings are lighter.

What I enjoy most is knowing we’re making a visible difference to the local community, even small actions add up. And, there’s also a really strong social side to the group.

We’ve got a wide range of members, including families and it’s been fantastic meeting like-minded people who all care about the area we live in. Being outdoors together, especially in good weather, creates such a positive atmosphere."

"I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that you don’t need to make a huge commitment to make a huge impact. Even giving a small amount of time can help improve the environment and bring people together. When a community works together, no matter how small the contribution, it really does count.

To anyone thinking about volunteering, I’d simply say: come along. It’s a great way to meet people, spend time outside, and make a genuine difference to your local area.

Everyone is welcome to join us, there’s no age limit! Local people can find us through our Facebook group:

Great Ashby Community Rangers Facebook Group

Want to become a One in a Million?