Students’ Green Unit Exeter

Mission

The Students’ Green Unit Exeter empowered students to set up their own change-making sustainability projects. It provided training, mentoring and funding to enable students to turn their ideas into reality, creating projects which made real changes possible at the University of Exeter and beyond. The Students’ Green Unit was active at Exeter University between 2013-2017. It was inspired by the Green Office Model.

Achievements

» Supported a divestment campaign, which was successful in divesting 1 million pounds
» Empowered over 40 students running 11 long-term projects and organising 27 student-led events
» Supported the FoodCycle project to prepare meals, which prevented 250 kg of food waste

Team

The Students’ Green Unit was coordinated by a staff coordinator. One student employee worked in the team. The Green Unit also engaged many student volunteers to work on different projects at the university. The team was integrated within the Students’ Guild, which is the Students’ Union of Exeter University.

Founding story of the Students’ Green Unit Exeter

The National Union of Students UK invited Students’ Unions from around England to apply for two-year funding for sustainability initiatives. The president of the Exeter Student’s Union learned about the Green Office Model, adapted the model to his context and submitted a successful funding proposal. The Students’ Green Unit was active at Exeter University between 2013-2017.

Background

The Students’ Green Unit was part of Exeter University, in the United Kingdom. 21,000 students study and 3,300 staff work at the univeristy. Upon its founding, the Green Unit was approved and hosted by the Students’ Guild, which is the Students’ Union of Exeter University. In its final year, the Students’ Green Unit had an annual budget of €28,200.