Green Gown Awards 2016 – Student Engagement – Anglia Ruskin University – Finalist

ARU Green Student Societies Fund

Our ARU Green Student Societies Fund promotes sustainability awareness and action amongst our students in return for grant funding. Clubs and societies need to fulfil a set number of ‘green’ criteria depending on the level of grant applied for, covering promotion of sustainability events and activities, use Fairtrade products, sustainable travel and waste minimisation. In its first year 12 societies applied to the green fund, totalling over 500 students.

ARU Green Student Societies Fund is an on-going initiative and we’re excited by the possibilities of how this will develop next year and beyond. We’ve been taken aback by how some societies have gone beyond the minimum criteria required for obtaining the funding and we intend to review the fund to see how we can reward this kind of unprompted, proactive initiative.

Top 3 learnings

1 Ask for testimonials from successful clubs/societies to use for advertising the project

2 Meet with clubs and societies to talk to them face to face – it’s easier for them to ask any questions and to learn more about the activities they undertake

3 Work closely with your Students Union. They supported our scheme and helped us with the operational aspects.

Videos

• ARU Green Student Societies Fund (click to hide)