‘We all need to play our part’: Beatrice Onashile is on a mission to keep her street clean
As a week of action in Govanhill takes a multi-agency approach to cleaning up the neighbourhood, we spoke to one resident who heads out every day to make a difference. This article first appeared in Issue 5 of the print magazine.
By Rhiannon J Davies | Photos by Virginie Chabrol
Beatrice Onashile (also known as ‘Bola) can’t help herself as we walk down the street. A litter picker in one hand and a bag of rubbish in the other, she leans over a fence to grab a plastic bottle from someone’s front yard. A particularly stubborn bit of cardboard seems stuck to the pavement with chewing gum. She scrapes away at it with her feet as we talk. Finally free, she deposits it in the nearby bin.
She’s out most days, usually by herself although she has one neighbour who helps. “There’s rarely a day when people don’t drop litter so there’s always some to pick up. When I see someone drop litter, I say something – nicely. And they usually oblige. Sometimes some of them offer me money. I say ‘I don’t need money’. Just don’t throw your litter. The council will do the rest.”
Sometimes people park their car and just throw out an empty can. I say to them, ‘if a million people do what you are doing, just imagine what it is going to be like’. That makes sense to them. I thought we could have a community get-together and show a picture of an area that is well-kept and an area that is a dump and just say to people ‘which one do you prefer’.
“I went to London for a week to see friends and when I arrived home, I burst into tears when I saw the street again. I went inside, dropped my suitcase and came straight back out. I spent one and a half hours picking litter that day – until it was clean again.”
Beatrice is 74 years old, but you would never guess. Originally from Nigeria, she has been in the UK since 1966. She studied nursing, midwifery and health visiting in Manchester before moving to London. She’s only lived in Govanhill since 2019 after her daughter came here for work.
“When my daughter was looking for somewhere to buy, she told me she didn’t want to leave this area and now I can understand why. It’s so vibrant. I love the diversity. It’s the strength here and it’s wonderful. So when I moved here, I thought I’d do whatever it takes to make it nice. I live in a Govanhill Housing Association flat. They have cleaners. They come to the close every week. They don’t do the back yard, but I do that.
“The first time I took a taxi to Govanhill from the airport, the driver asked me ‘what are you doing there? That’s the worst place’. But I love it here. I love Victoria Road.”
Despite living here less than three years, she’s hugely involved in the community. She’s a member of the Living Rent tenants’ union, and the Tenant-Led Housing Commission (Private Rented Sector). She’s also a volunteer with the Govanhill Community Development Trust, Growing Govanhill, Crosspoint, and Govanhill Baths. She also attends the women’s group at Milk Cafe. She’s had to get an Alexa to remind her where to be when.
Read more: Residents Develop 'Let's Take Care of Our Home' Poster
Along with other members of Living Rent, she’s been in talks with Glasgow City Council, calling for a cleaner environment to live in, saying: “When you live in a nice place, it does something to you. It brings out the best in you.
"The council must perform their essential duties, to keep our streets clean, free of litter and overflowing bins, thereby reducing environmental stress which may lead to mental health issues. The council needs to create an ongoing awareness to educate the community and school children about environmental sanitation, as well as producing leaflets in different languages for the diverse community in Govanhill."
She previously worked as a mental health nurse and believes there’s a link between your environment and your mental health: “I want people to have greater awareness that where we live is our sanctuary and we should respect where we live. It uplifts you when your place is nice. I’m not complaining. I just want people to be aware and to think before they throw something on the ground. I don’t think it’s intentional. They just don’t think.”
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