Eco volunteers reap national reward

Students at Northumbria University, Newcastle have received national recognition for their outstanding environmental efforts. Northumbria Students’ Union’s environmental volunteering programme, Eco NSU, was crowned winner of the Environmental Category at the highly prestigious National Council for Voluntary Youth Services Young Partners Awards held in London on Saturday. The NCVYS Young Partners Award (YPA) celebrates voluntary and community youth organisations or projects who work in partnership with young people, involving them in the decision-making processes of their work. The award provides recognition to organisations that show an outstanding commitment to youth participation and their involvement in decision making. Eco NSU’s fully student-led model and active programme of diverse environmental projects scooped the award amongst stiff competition, being shortlisted alongside two national charities People & Planet and the UK Youth Climate Coalition. Eco NSU volunteers organise and take part in diverse environmental projects, including helping out in local farms, organising recycled ‘vintage’ fashion shows and sales, and creating climate campaigns. Students are encouraged to start their own bespoke programmes or volunteer on existing eco projects, with the student-run Eco NSU leadership committee providing support with funding, training and mentoring. Sarah Price, NSU Vice-President of Activities and Development, heads Eco NSU’s leadership committee. She said: “I feel very privileged to lead such an amazing project, and to get national recognition is just amazing. The award ceremony was a great way to celebrate the students’ hard work and really made them recognise the significance of their volunteering on a national level.” One current project, called Living Off the Land, promotes local produce and supports eco organisations in the North East. Student volunteers work with the Rising Sun Farm in Wallsend, helping with preparing land and planting produce. Greener Streets is an on-going project that encourages students and the local community to reuse and recycle. Events include clothing amnesties, food drives and the recycling of belongings. There is a focus on saving and recycling desks, electrical equipment and books from the landfill when students move out of their accommodation. Sponsored by BIG Lottery and Participation Works, the NCVYS Young Partners Award is a celebration of young people and adults working together to make decisions. NSU President Natalie-Dawn Hodgson said: “Huge congratulations to our Eco NSU volunteers on winning this award. It is great to see our volunteers have been nationally recognised for all their hard work.” Northumbria University will showcase its Students’ Union building, campus and courses to prospective students during its Open Day this Saturday, October 26th, from 10am-3pm. Prospective students and their families can either register online or turn up on the day. For more information, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/opendays.