Shining a Light on a Local Hero: Caroline Nicholson at Rossmere Park Café Cleanup Hub
Positive change can start with just one person taking that first step. For Caroline Nicholson, caring for Rossmere Park began with a simple litter-pick and has grown into a wonderful community effort bringing people together, caring for nature and helping local people feel proud of their park.
Even in the face of anti-social behaviour, when others began to lose hope, Caroline kept going, showing determination, courage and a belief, that positive change was possible.
From a borrowed litter picker to a community hub
In July 2025, Caroline contacted Cleanup Champion Sue Bacon to borrow litter-picking equipment for the Big Town Tidy Up. Caroline and her husband who run the Rossmere Park Café, were often picking litter in Rossmere Park. Sue noticed that many community groups were getting together at weekends, but CleanupUK's existing Hubs weren't open on Saturdays or Sundays.
Sue had a simple idea: what if Rossmere Park had a CleanupUK Hub that people could access at the weekend? Caroline already had a real passion for her café, her community and the park on her doorstep. She was enthusiastic, determined and keen to encourage others to get involved.
So, in August 2025, Rossmere Park Café became a CleanupUK Hub, which meant local residents could borrow litter-picking equipment at a time that suited them, making it easier for families, friends and community groups to get outside and care for their local area.
Over the winter, Caroline continued lending out equipment and supporting litter-picks at weekends. Then something lovely started to happen, momentum was growing.
More than just a litter-pick
For Caroline, litter-picking has never simply been about removing rubbish. A cleaner park is a healthier, happier place for people, but it also makes a real difference to nature and local wildlife.
Litter can be dangerous for birds and other animals, while discarded netting, plastic and other rubbish can become tangled around wildlife or be mistaken for food.
By helping to keep Rossmere Park clean, Caroline and the growing group of volunteers are helping to create a safer environment for the wildlife that calls the park home. And perhaps just as importantly, every litter-pick gives people a reason to get outside, meet their neighbours and feel proud of their local green space.
A difficult year and a determined community
In 2026, Caroline's work became even more important. In March, Rossmere Park Café was subjected to antisemitic graffiti. From May onwards, concerns about anti-social behaviour around the park also began to grow. There were worries about harm to wildlife, litter and the impact on people who wanted to enjoy the park. Rather than stepping back, Caroline stepped forward.
On 19th May, she reached out through the Rossmere Park Café Facebook page to ask the community for support. The community rallied together, with councillors, local police officers and residents coming along to a packed meeting at the café.
Caroline spoke openly and honestly about what was happening and shared her vision for the kind of park the community wanted Rossmere to be. Her confidence has continued to grow, and she has shown real courage, determination and perseverance in speaking up for her community and standing up for positive change.
While some things began to improve, further incidents meant there was still work to do. Local councillor Quewone Bailey-Fleet became involved and walked around the park with residents to see the issues firsthand. The wider Hartlepool community began to show an interest and momentum continued to grow.
Bringing people together
Caroline has always understood that looking after a park is about more than picking up litter. It is also about creating positive experiences that help people feel connected with their local green space.
In April, Caroline organised an Easter fun day, working with Hartlepool Sport, around 450 people attended, bringing families and the community together in the park. Another community fun day followed on 13th June.
Then came the Teddy Bears' Picnic on 21st July, a wonderful community event organised by Caroline from the Rossmere Park Café CleanupUK Hub and Lynette from Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People's Resource Centre. Cleanup Champion Sue Bacon supported the event as part of CleanupUK's summer campaign.
There was plenty for children to enjoy, including stone painting, Beach in a Box and litter bingo. Hartlepool Sport provided sports equipment and activities, while Hartlepool Police and other local organisations came along to meet families and support the day and, of course, there was a community litter pick.
Standing up for the park's wildlife
In July, concerns about what was happening around the pond became particularly serious. There were reports of birds being harmed, children taking birds from nests and catapults being fired at birds. There were also concerns about rubbish and netting becoming caught around birds' legs.
For Caroline and the wider community, this reinforced why looking after the park matters. A meeting was arranged at the council chambers, helping to bring people together around a shared goal: cleaning up and protecting Rossmere Park and the people and wildlife who depend on it.
The Support Our Rossmere Park group began to take shape
On 5th August, a multi-agency meeting brought together the council, community representatives and Jonathan Brash MP who didn't just talk about the issues, they came to the park and took part in a litter-pick. The community is now working together to explore practical ways to tackle anti-social behaviour and make Rossmere Park an even better place for everyone, including looking at CCTV and improvements to the park’s toilet facilities.
There is also a growing recognition that the actions of a small minority shouldn't define a place that means so much to the majority. Caroline's work has helped change the conversation.
People are now helping with litter picks on a regular basis, people who may not have got involved if Caroline hadn't taken that first step. She has shown people that they can make a difference too.
A community hero in every sense
On 4th June, Caroline was nominated for a Green Community Champion award at the Hartlepool Heroes Awards.
Just days earlier, she and her husband had experienced a devastating house fire after returning from a walk. The fire caused huge losses and the couple were rehoused. Yet through an incredibly difficult period in her own life, Caroline continued to care about her community. That says so much about the person she is.
Caroline doesn't claim that she can solve every problem. Instead, she keeps asking a simple and powerful question: What can I do to help? and that attitude is contagious.
The power of saying, "This is our park"
The story of Rossmere Park is a wonderful reminder that community action doesn't have to start with a big plan. It can start with one person picking up a piece of litter. It can start with borrowing a litter-picker. It can start with inviting a neighbour to join you. It can start with a child picking up a pieceof rubbish and learning that they have a part to play in looking after nature.
Through the Rossmere Park Café CleanupUK Hub, people have a place to borrow equipment, meet others and take action. Through community events, children and families are discovering the park and through litter picking, volunteers are helping to make Rossmere a cleaner, safer and more welcoming home for both people and wildlife.
What's next for Rossmere Park?
The summer of 2026 has already been full of activity, but Caroline isn't finished yet. On 1st September, Rossmere Park will host another summer event, bringing people together for nature crowns and bingo before everyone heads back to school.
It will be another chance to celebrate the park, enjoy the outdoors and show that caring for your local environment can be something to look forward to.
From one person picking litter to a growing network of residents, children, families, organisations, councillors and volunteers, Rossmere Park has come a long way and it all began with someone deciding to do something.
Caroline's story shows us that one person can light the spark, but when a community joins in, that spark can grow into real and lasting change.
So, if there's a place near you that needs a little care, why not pick up a litter picker, invite a friend and get involved? The problem doesn't have to be somebody else's. Our local places belong to all of us and together, we can feel proud to help them thrive.