Charity Beach Buddies was the focus of an interview by the University of Central Florida on their ’global perspectives’ programme.

Founder Bill Dale appeared on the American channel PBS to speak about the charity’s origins and its plans for the future.

He explained how it started out with him walking his dogs along the beach in Kirk Michael and cleaning rubbish up there, on what was then one of the most polluted beaches in the island.

The American interviewers asked questions which they felt would be on a lot of people minds, such as what difference could be made by a small number of individuals picking up beach litter.

Mr Dale said: ’So many people said "Why are you bothering, there’s only going to be more arriving on the next tide?" But if I pick up one piece of rubbish it’s got to make a difference, so if we pick up 100 pieces of rubbish, and 100 people get involved - that’s got to make a difference.’

’This trash has been gathering for 15, 20, 30 years and when you remove it you realise that there is still stuff arriving on the tide, but it’s nothing like the quantity you shifted in the first place, it’s a manageable amount.’

He explained that as the group gained momentum ’We basically launched an assault on the beaches in the Isle of Man’, with an unexpected 1,500 volunteers after the first year.

’Even if they hadn’t gotten involved, I probably would have carried on regardless’, Mr Dale told the interviewers.

He also highlighted the charity’s educational aspect, and how the number of children participating are now educating the adults, which is much more effective at getting people involved.

The interview is at: video.wucftv.org/video/bill-dale-5ss7mq/