A new programme has funded groups of students at three UK universities, giving them the resources to put their sustainability related ideas into practice.
The UPP Foundation is delighted to announce the winner of the inaugural Student Sustainability Fund – a pilot scheme launched at Exeter, Hull and Leeds Beckett universities.
Three student-led groups received funding to deliver their projects, which ranged from a dashboard to improve flood risk management, a series of slow fashion initiatives and an on-campus ‘community post box’ constructed using reclaimed materials.
An expert panel has chosen ‘Stitch by Stitch’, the sustainable fashion project led by students at the University of Exeter as the winner.
The Stitch by Stitch team set out to make Exeter’s fashion ecosystem more circular and sustainable, through a series of activities. They held speaker events and workshops, taught students repair techniques, held clothes swapping events and boosted awareness around fast fashion and sustainable clothing.
Emily Pink, Co-President of the Stitch by Stitch project said:
“From the conception of our project, Stitch by Stitch, we wanted to create something that outlasts our time as students here at Exeter.
“Reflecting on my final four years here at Exeter, I cannot think of a more rewarding end than winning the Student Sustainability Fund. I am so proud of the team for all they have accomplished. We’ve engaged thousands of students, forged new local partnerships, connected the university with the wider community, been recognised both locally and within the institution, and, crucially, instilled a passion for slow fashion in so many people.”
Hannah Pritchard, Sustainability Manager at the University of Exeter said:
“We are thrilled to learn that the Stitch by Stitch project at University of Exeter has been selected as the overall winner of the Student Sustainability Fund! Working in partnership with the UPP Foundation has enabled us to support this dynamic student-led project, which has seen high levels of engagement from our student community and has made a genuine contribution to supporting and promoting sustainability across the university.”
Kay Cameron, UPP Foundation and Social Purpose Manager said:
“The Student Sustainability Fund has been an amazing opportunity to work with our university partners across the country, to explore what sustainability means to our students.
“It has been fascinating to see the passion, the learning and the engagement that each one of these student teams has been though over the past year.”
Each member of the Stitch by Stitch team will be awarded a £250 prize and the team will take part in a three week paid placement at the UPP Foundation in July, which includes free accommodation at Garden Halls, the University of London and UPP accommodation in central London.
