Green Impact 2014
Blackpool and The Fylde College
Get bonding and help us make a difference! Welcome back to the start of a new academic year and the third year of the Green Impact scheme. We are welcoming new and returning teams to join us in our campaign for change. Green Impact not only helps the environment and contributes to the College’s sustainability projects; it also encourages team bonding and a chance to give something back to the community. There are plenty of small but important activities you can get involved with as part of the Green Impact scheme. Included in this newsletter are a number of ideas, some of which are already activities in the workbook. If you require money for a project or activity, funding up to £100 is available for each team. Please contact pam.reynolds@blackpool.ac.uk for more information.
1. Boost Local Biodiversity Why not get involved with the grow your own project at the Bispham campus? This is a new project aimed at enhancing biodiversity by growing our own vegetables and sensory plants over the academic year. Or you could take part in the Friends of the Earth National Bee Project. Click here to find out more information. You could get started by organising the planting of bee friendly plants in each team member’s garden.
look after your beach... Volunteer yourself for the local Beach Clean events. Monthly events take place across the coastline, click here for a list of events.
For further information, go to www.blackpool.ac.uk/greenimpact
2. Get the energy-saving buzz
HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE? IF you really want to make a difference, why not carry out a week-long energy shutdown and hold staff accountable for their good and bad energy actions? A prize could be awarded at the end of the week for the most energy-efficient member of staff. Or you could get involved with the Christmas jumper competition, which is being held from December 15 to 19. Staff are being encouraged to wear warm but crazy Christmas jumpers to reduce the amount of energy used to heat the office. And to make it interesting, the best and worst jumpers will win a prize! Send your photos to greenimpact@blackpool.ac.uk
How you can play your part 3. Become an energy conscious spotter
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!
Staff can take prompt action to help bring down energy wastage at the College. If a team member notices energy wastage – for example, lights left on in empty rooms, etc – here’s all you have to do: 1. Take a photo 2. Send your photo with a description of the room/ building/ location to greenimpact@blackpool. ac.uk 3. You will receive an update about the action taken and will also be helping to reduce energy and carbon emissions at the College. So keep your eyes open. There will be a prize draw at the end of the year.
For further information, go to www.blackpool.ac.uk/greenimpact
4. Hold a Fairtrade Bake-Off Let the baking begin... With a Fairtrade Bake Off, the team holds a weeklong bake-off, where team members bring in freshly made cakes or baked goods made using at least two Fairtrade ingredients. Team members taste and rate the food using the scorecard template (contact pam.reynolds@blackpool. ac.uk for a scorecard). For a fun but informative training/team-building session, the team learn about Fairtrade cocoa production while chocolate tasting! To download the session click here
MAKE IT FAIR
5. Fun with food Together with your team, you could contribute towards and promote Fairtrade. Small Fairtrade changes in your daily life encourage better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for workers in the developing world.
WE’RE KEEN TO HEAR ALL YOUR IDEAS... Want more involvement with sustainability at the College? The College has a sustainability committee and we’re keen to hear your ideas and suggestions. If any members of your team have any questions or concerns about current sustainability practices at the College and would be willing to attend the next College Sustainable Development Committee meeting or can put a business case forward to really make a change, contact pam.reynolds@ blackpool.ac.uk
DON’T BE BOARD... Feeling creative? You could always keep yourself busy by producing your own office notice board dedicated to Green Impact, and fill it with photographs, information and evidence of the activities your team has completed to keep you motivated.
For further information, go to www.blackpool.ac.uk/greenimpact
6. Travel Green Travel is cheap – so take part in the annual Car Share Week from November 10 to 15. One team member should car share at least one day that week and enter their details online. They will then be entered into a prize draw to win a fabulous goody bag. Team members will be able to log their car sharing journeys online at www.blackpool.ac.uk/GIshare
CYCLING TRAINING If you feel unsafe cycling on the roads or need to refresh your cycling skills, then free training is available with Blackpool Council. It’s fun and gives you the skills and
confidence to cycle on today’s roads – if you’re interested, contact pam.reynolds@ blackpool.ac.uk for further information or to book a place.
7. Waste and Recycling
MOOCH ABOUT WITH BOOKS Organise your own departmental book swap and create an area dedicated to the book swap including a diary to keep tabs on who’s borrowed each book. You could also get involved with an online book swap such as Book Mooch – click here to find out more. Arrange an office charity collection of clothes, food or toys for a local charity. Reduce paper wastage this Christmas by designing and using your own team e-card. Donate to the College stamp collection, donation boxes are available on all main reception desks.
keep up to date with
Green Impact
The first Green Impact forum will be held on Thursday, September 26 from noon to 1pm at Bispham in room T110b/T110c. A buffet lunch will be available for all attendees. This is an excellent opportunity to share ideas, tackle issues, suggest improvements or receive help about specific questions or points in the workbook.
Events and Activities Calendar Make sure you add the following dates to your diaries! 2014 September 26 Green Impact Forum October 1 Launch of the Workbook November 10-14 Car Share Week December Charity Collection December 15–19 Christmas Jumper Competition 2015 16 January Green Impact Forum February Charity Collection February 14 Love Sustainability Competition 23 February - 8 March Fairtrade Fortnight/Green Week 31 March Submission deadline April Workbook Audit June Celebratory Award Ceremony