Beach clean-up with Surfers Against Sewage

 Being based in Cornwall, we love our beaches.  

And we’re so lucky to have so many to choose from. From idyllic secret coves to tourist hot spots, our lunchtimes are often enjoyed with the rolling waves.

But, sadly, it’s not always so picturesque.

Recently, our finance team noticed just how much litter was being left behind on our beloved beaches and wanted to do something about it.

That’s why, on a rainy mid-week June day, they decided, as a team, to volunteer with Surfers Against Sewage to clean up Par Beach in St Austell, a quick 15 minutes away from the office.

We spoke to Kate Rowe, our Financial Controller based in our Cornwall HQ, to hear all about why she and the team decided to swap spreadsheets for sand and collect rubbish with Surfers Against Sewage, and what impact this had on them as a team.

Who are Surfers Against Sewage?

Surfers Against Sewage is one of the UK’s most successful marine conservation and campaigning charities.

Made up of water lovers who want to protect the ocean and surrounding coastal areas, they’ve built a community that cares passionately about the ocean.

Their Million Mile Clean campaign, which is what our team joined, is all about tackling the plastic pollution in our seas and on our beaches. When you register, you’ll receive everything you need to get cleaning, as well as insurance and guidance on the clean - helping make turning the tide on plastic pollution just that little bit easier.

Beach clean-up with Surfers Against Sewage

1.  Hi, Kate! Firstly, what made you want to take part in the beach clean-up?

“Since joining Brand Revolution last year, I'd been keen to bring the team together outside of the office and make use of one of our volunteering days. When you live and work in Cornwall, and you’ve got 422 miles of stunning coastline on your doorstep, so a beach clean made the most sense!”

2. Definitely! So, how did you go about organising the litter picking?

“It was really easy. I just contacted the charity Surfers Against Sewage (as they are currently running a Million Mile Clean campaign), and we were able to choose the beach and the date to do our clean - with all the equipment provided to us.”

3. That sounds fantastic. And, how did the day go?

“It was such a good day! We arrived at Par Beach in the morning, got our kit sorted, and divided into small groups to cover different sections of the beach.

“We then worked through the morning, stopped for a well-earned lunch together, then did a final sweep before bagging everything up and heading home.

“It was a really good day - hard work but hugely satisfying.”

4. I bet! How did spending a day outdoors differ from your usual role in finance?

“It was a lovely contrast! The day job is all about detail, accuracy, and working within systems - the beach clean had that same sense of methodical progress, but with fresh air.

“And the best bit: you could literally see the difference you were making.”

5. That must have been so cool. What was the biggest challenge during the clean-up?

“Ah, that’s an easy one to answer. It was 100% the litter that worked its way into seaweed, which made it extremely time-consuming to pick up. Have you ever tried untangling plastic from spindly seaweed? I don’t recommend!”

Ground-level environmental impact

6. Talking about what you found, did you find a lot of litter?

“More than we expected! It shocked us all just how much there was when you take the time to properly look.”

7. Oh, wow! And what was the most surprising thing you found on the beach?

“It would either have to be the underwear, the tyre, or the wooden pallet.”

8. Underwear?! Insane. Did you see anything or collect anything that made the environmental impact feel more real to you?

“It was the amount of rubbish we collected and the variety - underwear, tyres, fishing hooks, plastic bottles, bottle caps - there was just so much stuff.”

9. What aspects of the day will you take back with you into the office?

“The teamwork, without a doubt. Seeing the team collaborate in a completely different environment showed me just how well we pull together.”

Reflecting on the day

10. That’s so lovely! So, how did volunteering together affect team relationships and collaboration?

“It was genuinely brilliant for team bonding. I noticed conversations and laughs happening that wouldn't occur in a normal working day.”

11. Amazing! Did the experience change the way you think about sustainability in your everyday life?

“Absolutely! I’ve always been mindful about being sustainable and try to recycle, upcycle and not be wasteful where I can - and seeing the amount of plastic on the shoreline has definitely reinforced this mindset.”

Read more: Upcycling & repurposing: How to give new life to old merchandise

12. That’s great to hear! What does giving back to the local community mean to you, both personally and as part of Brand Revolution?

“Personally, it means a lot to feel like you're doing something beyond your day job.

“As part of Brand Revolution, it feels like an extension of the values we hold — being responsible, caring about the world around us, and not just talking about doing good but actually going out and doing it.”

13. And, lastly, if you could sum up the experience in three words, what would they be and why?

“They would have to be:

• Purposeful - every bag of litter had a real impact
• Connecting - brought the team closer together
• Refreshing - From the sea air and also stepping outside of the normal routine”

Cleaning up for a better planet

Thanks to Kate and the team for their amazing efforts!

At Brand Revolution, we want our team to feel they don't have to choose between working hours and supporting causes that matter to them.

That’s why we give every one of our team members two paid volunteering days a year - for them to dedicate to causes that matter most to them.

Interested in finding out more about what our team cares about in their spare time?

Check out all our charity work and match-funded campaigns below for some proper feel-good moments.