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The University of Nottingham has set up a novel scheme to improve its environmental impact, while helping schools and charities to provide better facilities for local people.
Since its launch in February three local organisations have already benefited from the furniture recycling project set up by Energy and Environmental Officer Kay Cocks.
Kay explained: “This scheme, though in its very early stages, is an extension of the existing reuse scheme, which has already seen almost 3,000 duvets and associated bedding donated to good causes since June 2012.
At present, any excess University furniture is kept in storage for future use on campus, however if there is surplus furniture or items that are no longer required by the University, they are offered to charities and local community groups through the University’s Community Partnerships Team.
“The University’s main aim is to divert waste from landfill and reduce our environmental impact. However, by giving surplus items to local community groups in need, we have managed to create a mutually beneficial scheme for all involved.”
Several beneficiaries
The three organisations to have benefited from the scheme so far are: EPIC — which delivers high quality learning opportunities and support for children and their families, Signpost to Polish Success and FAME — the Nottinghamshire Children and Families Mediation Service.
Fame Manger Jayne Smith explained that the donation had come at the perfect time for the service, which provides specialist mediation for families experiencing relationship breakdown.
She said: “We have recently extended the use of our premises, so the opportunity to get some tables free of charge was brilliant.
“Mediation is expanding at the moment as more families are finding it a better way of settling disputes when they separate or divorce. It’s better for children if arrangements can be made by agreement, and people can get legal aid for mediation even though they can no longer get it if they go to a solicitor.
“Our extended facilities, along with sustainable initiatives like this one from The University of Nottingham will help us to continue to provide expert support for people across Nottinghamshire.”
For more information about sustainability at The University of Nottingham, please visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/sustainability
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was ‘one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education’, according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the UK’s Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…
FAME: Nottinghamshire Children and Families Mediation Service provides specialist mediation for families experiencing relationship breakdown, usually but not exclusively resulting from divorce or separation.
Operating throughout Nottinghamshire, professionally trained mediators support parties to have difficult conversations and to reach agreement about issues such as contact arrangements, children’s residence and property/financial matters. Family mediation can be an alternative to, or work alongside solicitors and the courts. It is now the only way most families can access legal aid for family matters. For more information go to www.famenottinghamshire.org.uk or ring 0115 985 8855.