University of Surrey Students' Union wins Silver at this year's Sound Environmental Impact Awards

Thursday 23 April 2009

The Sound Environmental Impact Awards is an accreditation scheme to help Students’ Unions do their bit for the environment. Now in its third year, over a million students have seen environmental initiatives put in place in their Unions through the awards. This year, seventy-nine Students’ Unions took part from across the UK.

The University of Surrey Students’ Union are amongst the best performing Students’ Unions in the country by gaining a Silver Standard in this year’s scheme. The Silver Standard is new for this year’s Awards. To reach this standard, The University of Surrey Students’ Union had to meet twenty-two Bronze essential and eleven Silver essential criteria as well as gain an overall score of 400 points. In recognition of their achievement they receive a certificate and an exclusive Silver Standard award made out of recycled wellington boots.

The Students’ Union’s Vice President for Welfare, Natalie Forrester said: “This award recognises the hard work the Students’ Union and the University’s Estates and Facilities Department has done to make reducing our environmental impact a part of the everyday ethos at Surrey.

We recycle all glass, paper, cans and cardboard, we have installed energy saving lights, use recycled paper, and have fair trade tea and coffees sold in Chancellors.

Our Environmental Officer also ensures that the student’s voices are heard and has created policy to make sure that the Union is continuing its work. I hope next year we will be able to achieve a gold award”.

Anna Heywood, Project Founder and Sound Environmental Impact Awards judge, said: “The Unions have really stepped up a significant level this year and have surpassed themselves”. Anna added “It’s great to see how enthusiastically Unions have taken on board environmental improvements and I feel really proud of how far they’ve come.”

Writer, comedian, actor, broadcaster and director, Hardeep Singh Kohli - probably best known for presenting The One Show on BBC1 - hosted the event.

Media Enquiries

Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk