The University is committed to extending our sustainability work to the wider community.
A Communications and Community Engagement plan which helps us to raise awareness on current and planned sustainability initiatives and encourage behavioural change among staff, students and all University stakeholders. This plan includes baseline information and ways to measure our progress, the roles responsible as well as a resource allocation. See our Green Campus Revolution page where we work with students on and off campus and the Student Sustainability Hub, which brings members of our community in to volunteer with students, for example on regular crafting and sewing activities. Students are actively encouraged to support this work including part-time digital creative students. Read our effectiveness and impact report.
Community involvement targets
Our current targets and some examples of how we are going to achieve them can be found in this document:
Sustainability Targets 2025/26
Community involvement projects
Worcester Craftivists, working with students, staff and the community, created an Air Quality banner, used in School assemblies to raise awareness, and encourage active travel to school.
Student projects
A website www.susthingsout.com, whose strapline is "change today protect tomorrow", provides a magazine format and commentary space for all University stakeholders. It links curriculum, campus and community, and students co-create content as part of their studies. It is used in teaching sustainability and is promoted to all new students and employees. The magazine was 10 years old in 2024 and has featured in many conference presentations.
Some examples of whole institution (university and students' union) and community projects are the joint work of the Sustainability network and the Campus Conservation Crew. This is one example working with the RSPB, developed since 2021, supporting farmland birds. Our Student Sustainability Hub is the focal point of all activities.
Students, staff and many local organisations supported the International Bike Bus conference organised by Bike Worcester highlighting the issues of air quality locally. The air quality banner pictured continues to tour Worcester school assemblies, educating school students on transport-related emissions.
Taking carbon literacy training out into Worcestershire’s libraries this interesting student led research work with library staff, took account of very varied demographics and tailored the sessions for adults and families.
Students repurpose discarded fabrics and campus-grown lavender to make lavender bags so that all incoming residential students have one. Accompanying the bag is a QR code that directs them to a post about the project and how they can volunteer to make bags for future residents. It also discusses the health benefits of lavender and the harms posed by fossil-fuel fabrics and modern-day slavery, which are sometimes used in the production of small organza bags.
Go Green Week
Another collaborative project is Go Green Week where students lead awareness raising activities with local businesses and charities and the local community and schools are invited to take part.
University Community Forum
The University takes its role within the wider community seriously and is committed to establishing and strengthening partnerships with local businesses, charities, and other organisations.
The University Community Forum tackles issues of mutual concern to local residents, students and the University. The Forum meets three times annually. It is chaired by the Pro Vice Chancellor Students & Academic Registrar and its membership includes other senior members of University staff, together with representation from the Students’ Union, Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council Councillors, local head teacher and residents. The West Mercia Police are also regularly represented at meetings. Regular reports on sustainability are presented to the committee.
