Green Impact

The logo for "Green Impact" next to the logo for the "National Union of Students."

Green Impact brings the university community- student volunteers, research programmes, and external organisations to empower individuals and departments to reduce their sustainability impacts by encouraging, rewarding, and celebrating sustainability improvements.

Green Impact is a change and engagement programme that aims to help people to understand sustainability and social responsibility and give them ideas of what they can do to make a difference, as well as supporting them in achieving these actions.  Students help to co-create and run projects throughout the year.

Please see our Green Impact Report 2023-2024.

Please see our Green Impact Report for 2022-2023.

Team Members' favourite part of taking part in a Green Impact Project

"Being able to actually make a difference by getting my hands in the dirt and actually grow something in a place that wasn't there before"

"Being able to spread information about a number of species native to the UK (that can be threatened) to a variety of ages to gain nature connectivity - care more for the environment"

 Students strongly agree that "Being in a Green Impact team made me feel part of something"

Project Examples

Sustainability Podcast

sustainability podcast

Spread awareness on how anyone can make small changes to their lifestyle to become more sustainable so that together, we can combat the climate crisis.

Create a safe learning space for everyone and reiterate it’s not about being perfect but making conscious choices.

City Campus Gardening

City campus gardening

Increase the environmental and social value of the outside space by creating gardening spaces throughout the campus.

This offers a space to decompress (SDG3) and improves the attractiveness of the open spaces for birds/insects and maybe animals (SDG15).  

This is available now on both City and St John's campuses.

All Green Impact team members and student auditors receive a digital badge to showcase their personal and professional development. ​ ​All award-winning Green Impact teams also received a terrarium.​

Environmental Auditing Volunteering Experience

Auditing experience group

SOS-UK and the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ offer an exciting opportunity, open to all students, to receive IEMA-approved training on sustainability auditing and then put those newfound skills into practice by conducting Green Impact audits of university departments/ sustainability projects. The training supports students in developing and practising transferable employability skills, including communication, teamwork, decision-making, time management, and organisation. Students also better understand sustainability in the workplace and what the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ is doing to be more sustainable.

“The passion for the topic was reflected by the each team members excellent and in depth knowledge of the topic and project. The effort to make learning and lectures, more enjoyable was also greatly appreciated, attention was given to make the games as fun and accessible for people and students of all backgrounds.”

Green Impact Auditor

"The engagement with the student body has been quite successful. The students involved in this project has shown great evidence of hard work and enthusiasm and wish for the project to expand further to create a larger impact. The hub itself is a great area which offers students an area to escape stressful assignments.”​

Green Impact Auditor

“The team effort and commitment has been very productive, the team has worked very well during their planning stage to ensure all aspects are considered. Also, the audit was handled very professionally with honest answers and reasoning. Most importantly, the project conveys an innovative way for students to develop their knowledge and enhance their student experience. The project idea is also great for anyone who wants to develop their knowledge within sustainability.”

Green Impact Auditor


Since Green Impact launched at the ¹ú²úÊÓƵ, in 2011, we’ve seen 173 team awards presented for over 2,300 positive sustainability actions and 78 projects, led by more than 343 people directly involved in Green Impact teams.

 

23 teams ran projects
43 people across Green Impact teams
19 students received training and development opportunities as project assistants
650 staff, students and community members were positively impacted
29 students recieved IEMA-approved environmental auditor training