Laura Williams
Green Impact Project Officer

Mission
Green suppliers and students ’ unions, and help unions to green their institutions and communities
3-5 year vision
Unions delivering central environmental projects successfully at the local level throughout the UK, creating tangible benefits for the union, institution, community and the environment
1) Installing green behaviours
To encourage the formation of proenvironmental behaviours and habits in as many people as possible, utilising opportunities in students ’ unions, accommodation providers, departments and curriculum
2) Creating community bridges
To help unions develop positive relations with their institutions and the communities in which they sit, with unions becoming recognised as green hubs
3) Increasing employability and widening participation
To provide development opportunities for students and student officers to enable them to contribute towards the new low carbon economy
4) Making students ’ union stronger
To help position students ’ unions as enablers of sustainability, creating a sense of value and worth within their institutions and communities, whilst also generating new income for students ’ unions
5) Greener supply chain
To enhance our reputation as a leader in supply chain ethics, to reduce the negative impacts of our own supply chain, and to educate our consumers on ethical purchasing

• Departmental sustainability accreditation and awards scheme
• Founded upon NUS Sound Impact Awards
• Piloted at the University of Bristol three years ago
• 22 Universities took part in 2009/10
• 35 Universities and colleges took part in 2010/11
• 46 Universities and colleges took part in 2011-12

• 46 universities and colleges in 2011/12
• 978 teams- 44,655 staff,
• 4,807 people directly involved in a Green Impact committee
• 35,625 greening actions were completed, with 20,107 as a direct result of Green Impact!
• Over 800 student and staff auditors trained
• Green Impact Project Assistants
• 19 taking the Labs Tab
• Catering and Accommodation tabs
• The Ecologist and Office Depot partnerships

Mmmmm Fair
Trade
Coffee…….

• Project Officer uploads finalised workbook
• Lead Contact launches Green Impact to their current teams/contacts
• Project Officer, Lead Contact and key champions recruit new teams through communications, events, and workshops.
• Project Officer works with Lead Contact and union to recruit and train student Green Impact Project
Assistants

• GIPO supports Lead Contact to communicate with teams locally
• Maintain momentum and support teams centrally through workshops, newsletters and online forums
• Share best practice with other institutions through the Green Impact team

• In line with initial timelines, all teams workbooks are submitted online
• Lead Contact and Project Officer recruit volunteer student auditors
• Green Impact team train them, and audit department’s evidence and progress
• SU involvement is key!

• Lead Contact (with support from their GIPO and teams), arranges awards ceremony
• Invites to teams, higher management, SU and student auditors and assistants are sent out
• GIPO attends to support the programme
• Participating teams celebrate all award winners.

• Green Impact Team analyse results, provide feedback reports for Lead Contact and their teams.
• Lead Contact and their teams complete short evaluation for GI team to be able to evaluate and make changes to the programme for future years.
• Lead contact and key team members are invited to national round table event to share good practice and develop future plans

• A team of 7 experienced and enthusiastic Green
Impact Project Officers!
• Help at every stage: from planning to awards
• Workshops, speaking at events and linking you to other institutions undertaking the programme
• Forum, newsletters, publicity and representation at national events
• GI Guidance and Resource pack

Resources

A tour around the workbook www.greenimpact.org.uk/example email: example@nus.org.uk
password: example

Blackpool & Fylde Priorities
According to your Environmental Policy you are particularly interested in:
• Sustainable Procurement
• Energy Efficiency
• Waste reduction
• Biodiversity opportunities
• Sustainable transport
• Waste, utilities and sustainability targets
• Curriculum
• External stakeholder engagement

Project Planning
What key events do you wish to incorporate into your year?
Do you want to programme to run over the whole year?
Are there any key events or busy periods that will conflict with Green Impact?
Will you be continuing to run the project next year? You could consider running the programme all year and combining your awards ceremony and launch into one!
Other considerations:
-Legacy – what impact do you want to have?
-Partners – senior members of staff/student union involvement?

Your Green Impact Project Officer:
Laura Williams
Laura.williams@nus.org.uk
www.nus.org.uk/greenimpact