The organisation Proper Strand Lopers (Clean Beach Walkers) has been recognised as an environmental association. The recognition by the Flemish government unlocks cash for the organisation that campaigns against the incredible amounts of waste that visitors discard on our beaches. For the next two years Proper Strand Lopers will receive extra subsidies enabling the organisation to work more efficiently. Proper Strand Lopers can count on a Flemish subsidy of 80,000 euros per year.
Ostender Tim Corbisier founded Proper Strand Lopers 9 years ago as a Facebook group. People could post photos of rubbish they had picked up during walks or runs on the beach. The initiative met with great success and grew into an association. It is now supported by the coast’s mayors, the Province of West Flanders and the federal government. Flemish recognition was lacking, until now.
Buying time and a vehicle
‘The extra funds give us more security for the future and will also allow us to work more professionally,’ says Tim Corbisier. The cash means Proper Strand Lopers will be able to continue to count on Tim as a full-time employee for the next few years: ‘We also want to rent extra storage space for our equipment and we are going to buy a bigger vehicle. Now I have to use my own small family car to drive back and forth all the time. It is just no longer feasible.’
‘In short, you can say that the additional subsidies will allow us to work more efficiently and more quickly,’ Tim concludes. ‘It's actually time we will be buying.’
Last year, Proper Strand Lopers collected more than 110,000 litres of waste discarded by visitors on the beach. That's almost a quarter more than the previous year.