How to get involved

Student and Staff Engagement Plan 2023-24

Month	What	Target Audience	How	Responsibility	Resources	Measure
Sep	Welcome Week	Students	Welcome booklet and Freshers Fair	Environment Team and Student Engagement and Enhancement Team	Staff time	Attendees
Nov	Sustainability Day	Students and Staff	Sustainability Fair	Environment Team	Staff time	Attendees
Dec	Christmas Switch Off	Staff	Plasma screens, Derby Daily	Environment Team	Staff time, design costs	Energy consumption over Christmas
Feb	Sustainable Development Goal Teach-In	Staff	Derby Daily	Responsible Futures Steering Group	Staff time	No. of sign ups
March	Go Green Week	Students and Staff	Articles, talks, debates and presentations	Environment Team, Union of Students	Staff time	Attendees
May	Hedgehog Awareness Week	Students and Staff	Social Media	Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group	Student time	Attendees, Interaction with posts
June	30 Days Wild	Students and Staff	Articles and social media	Marketing Team	Staff time	Interactions with posts

All new staff cover environmental awareness as part of the standard induction checklist. It is also included in the mandatory new starter training videos and a key part of the quarterly 'Welcome' events held for all new staff. Staff with any queries are welcome to email the environment team (environment@derby.ac.uk).

For new students, sustainability is included in the Welcome booklet and the virtual induction provided in September each year.

Staff Sustainable Champion Scheme

We have launched a new sustainability initiative to encourage and reward sustainable behaviours amongst staff. We are looking to recruit sustainable champions from across the University.

What does the role of being a sustainability champion involve?

Finding out more about what the University is doing to be more sustainable
Communicating messages to colleagues to encourage sustainable behaviours in your team
Attending workshops (in person or virtually) on sustainability topics e.g. energy efficiency, waste and recycling, sustainable transport
Carrying out sustainability audits
Completing tasks to win points for your team in our sustainable workbooks

We understand that not everyone will want to get involved in all aspects described above, and that’s fine! As a Sustainability Champion, you can get involved as much or as little as you like. There is also no limit to the number of Sustainability Champions in each team. In fact, the more people who sign up in your team/department, the easier it will be to make an impact.

If you have an interest in sustainability and would like to find out more about becoming a Sustainability Champion, please email environment@derby.ac.uk.

On-campus allotment project

The Union of Students have set up an allotment at our Kedleston Road site. There are currently three raised beds, a compost bin and there will soon be a greenhouse. Contact the Union of Students to find out how to get involved.

Carbon literacy training

The Business School run Carbon Literacy training sessions which are being rolled out to staff across the University. Find more information on the become more carbon literate page. If your team would be interested in receiving this training, please email environment@derby.ac.uk.

Cup Levy Fund

Funds raised from the disposable Cup Levy are used for student-led sustainability initiatives. These have included:

£2000 for the creation of more wildflower areas on campus
£300 for 2 x wildlife cameras for the Hedgehog Friendly Campus group
£300 towards the Union of Students' allotment project
£2000 for reusable cups to be given out free to students
A £2000 donation to the Syria and Turkey Earthquake appeal
£1000 towards the Union of Students' pollinator-friendly planting project