New year clean-up brings neighbours together to remove 500kg of rubbish from our streets

New Year’s Day is often a time for reflection, resolutions and celebration, but for the young volunteers of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) in the North West, it’s also an opportunity to give back. On January 1st, 2025, more than 70 dedicated volunteers gathered across Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn, and Rhyl in North Wales to roll up their sleeves and make their communities cleaner and brighter.

With bin bags in hand and a shared mission in their hearts, the volunteers worked tirelessly to collect 35 full bags of litter—weighing an estimated 500 kilograms. Their efforts turned the page to a new year with a simple but profound gesture of service.For the AMYA volunteers, cleanliness isn’t just about tidying up; it’s a deeply ingrained value rooted in their faith.

Aqeel Mushtaq, Regional Youth Leader for AMYA North West, reflected on the importance of the initiative: “Cleanliness is a core tenet of our faith, and this initiative allows us to put our values into action while giving back to our country. Seeing our youth and community members come together on New Year’s morning to serve others is truly inspiring.”

The volunteers, ranging from teenagers to adults, gave up their morning to bring smiles to their neighbours’ faces. Many passersby expressed gratitude and stopped to chat, adding to the event’s sense of community and togetherness.The New Year’s Day clean-up is just one of the many ways AMYA members serve their communities. Under their Mercy4Mankind campaign, the group has made a remarkable impact in recent years. In the last two years alone, AMYA has:

• Raised over £750,000 for British charities.
• Donated 34 tonnes of food to food banks.
• Provided 4.6 million meals to those in need.
• Contributed over 57,000 hours of community service.

From planting trees and running blood drives to supporting the homeless and delivering meals, AMYA’s dedication to service knows no bounds. This year’s clean-up showcased what’s possible when people come together for a common cause. Volunteers collectively put in over 150 hours of service across the five locations

.This year’s clean-up initiative was a testament to the dedication of our volunteers,” said Aqeel Mushtaq. “Across the country, AMYA volunteers collected tonnes of litter and demonstrated their unwavering commitment to improving the communities we live in.”

https://ilovemanchester.com/ahmadiyya-muslim-youth-association-manchester-new-year