Quadruple green win for SVP!

Eco shop supervisor Tash Fletcher, CEO Clare Mahdiyone, and SVP volunteer Rosie Wingate showing off the Green Impact certificates awarded to SVP

Stroud Valleys Project (SVP) were among the winners of a scheme recognising sustainable businesses to collect their awards on Tuesday 6 September. The Stroud-based charity picked up prizes in the National Union of Students (NUS) Green Impact scheme, a United Nations award-winning programme designed to support environmentally and socially sustainable practice.

SVP picked up the highest award, Platinum, for their day-to-day sustainability, as well as an Above and Beyond award for the eel pass they installed at Arundel Mill Pond, near Stroud town centre, and commendations for Sustainability Hero for volunteer Rosie Wingate and for Sustainability Improvement on last year’s entry, when they picked up a Gold award.

SVP’s sustainability coordinator Carolyn Buckley says, “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at SVP, every day of the year – so we’re delighted to have this recognised in the NUS Green Impact Awards.

“We’re always focusing on reducing our environmental footprint both in the office, on site when working on projects, and on the way to work. One action we take is reducing our use of electricity – our staff turn off computer monitors when they move away from their desks and unplug at the end of their working day. We only fill the kettle to the level of water we actually need but use a thermos if we get it wrong! Washing up is left until the end of the day when we use a washing-up bowl to reduce water use and also power.

“We sell sustainable cleaning products in our own eco shop, so we’re fortunate to be able to refill our washing-up and cleaning fluids as soon as they run out.

“We have a compost container for food scraps, which one of our project officers takes to our hot composting bin, and we recycle our office paper, cardboard and hard plastics. You can also find a complete list of which flexible plastic recycling we can accept from the public, which then raises funds for us, by visiting https://www.stroudvalleysproject.org/svp-eco-shop and scrolling down the page.

“We’ve also reduced the use of plastic on our sites; for example, recycling or only using cardboard tree guards where possible and finding alternatives to plastic fencing.” 

Carolyn was responsible for ensuring the wide range of sustainable measures taken by staff were recorded, resulting in their impressive performance. She said of Green Impact, “It’s been a very valuable process to be able to focus on all we do to help the environment and local people and seeing the many ways we make a positive impact locally.”

The awards ceremony took place at the New Lawn courtesy of Forest Green Rovers FC, hosted by members of Going the Extra Mile (GEM) project.