Archive for category: News

News stories from across the Facilities Directorate at the University of Leeds.

Alumni make impact at the Commonwealth Games 2022

23rd September 2022/by Matt Hamnett

The 2022 Commonwealth Games took place in Birmingham, England from 28 July to 8 August 2022, marking the third time England has hosted the Commonwealth Games. The Games were the largest ever, with 72 countries participating and ticket sales of over 1.2 million. England achieved its best Games with 176 medals this year, 57 of them gold.

At University of Leeds, we are extremely proud of all our staff, students and graduates for playing a role in helping to ensure that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games were such an amazing success. Our very own Head of Sport Suzanne Glavin volunteered at the games as part of the media team. She interviewed Paul Blanchard,Chief Executive of Team England and alumni at the University of Leeds. He talked about his time at Leeds as a student and the important role Universities play in supporting young talented athletes in their sporting careers.

“We are here to win medals; we’ve won a lot so far” Paul said.

Birmingham 2022 saw extraordinary performances from athletes from across the Commonwealth. But nothing delights us more than seeing our staff, students and graduates perform well, and here we have some hometown heroes:

Sam Dickinson

Sam justified his selection for team GB by winning GOLD in the triathlon mixed relay! And not just satisfied in winning team gold he also helped his former Leeds housemate and training partner Alex Yee to gold in the individual event! It was an all-around amazing performance from the Leeds Graduate!

Sam was cheered on in the crowd from his mum who cares for his grandma with Alzheimer’s. Sam who struggled to contain his emotion at the finish line said:

“My mum doesn’t get to see me race and to see her in the crowd was stunning, it has been emotional to see her in the grandstand,”

Jessica Fullager

It was all gold at the games for Jess Fullager, a recent graduate student and a sports scholar at the University of Leeds as she and Team England teenager Katie Crowhurst claimed a famous victory in the women’s Paratriathlon. Jess Fullager acted as guide for the 18-year-old Katie as they claimed a famous gold at the games.

Jessica after the race said about Katie

“I think she’s got so much potential. We’re honest with each other and I think that what made us such a good team today. I’m just so lucky that Katie let me have this opportunity with her, so I’ll be forever grateful.”

Tyler Smith

Sports scholar and triathlete Tyler is a Bermudan triathlete who frequently trains at The Edge. Tyler achieved a 13th place finish in the triathlon at the Commonwealth Games, hailing the best performance of his career to date. His previous best was 21^st.

He said:

“To go from 21st to 13th has taken four years of hard work and the support of so many people. There is no medal for13th but to come out here and deliver a result is really special to me.”

Tyler suffered a foot injury and then broke his wrist just eight weeks before the Games, making his achievement even more special. We hope to see more from Tyler in future as he an inspiration and we are proud to say he is a University of Leeds Alumnus.

The Edge ready for new term with major refurbishment

20th September 2022/by Natalie Sem

The Edge’s new facilities – which include a complete upgrade of cardiovascular and resistance equipment – are now complete and ready for use.

The improvements position it as one of the premier health and wellbeing centres in the city.

The new layout of the fitness suite provides more space for strength and resistance training and spin studio has been refurbished with a new layout and bikes.

Flooring and lighting have been replaced to create a warm and inviting atmosphere and a new sound system to create a better ambiance.

Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport & Physical Activity, said:

“This major update helps The Edge to stand out from competitors to an even greater extent. It is essential that we cater to the ever-changing needs of our customers, and currently there is a focus in fitness on strength and functional equipment, which we have met by including equipment such as a master centre rig.”

Jon Webster, Site Manager for Sewell Construction said;

“We’re proud to play a part in this development, which will help improve leisure facilities for staff and students at the University of Leeds, as well as the wider community.

“As with all our schemes, sustainability and carbon impact are high on our agenda, and we have ensured that any waste from site has been disposed of in a responsible way. Across all our sites we strive for 96% being diverted from landfill and we hope this will continue to be improved even further.”

Find out more about The Edge and Sport & Physical Activity at the University of Leeds.

Flood management scheme is first in the UK

20th September 2022/by Natalie Sem

In May, the first natural management facility of its kind in the UK opened at the Brownlee Triathlon Centre.

It will reduce flood risk in the area and make it more resilient to the impact of climate change.

Some of the measures include the planting of 5,000 tress, creating leaky barriers, installing a balancing pond and wetland areas, and improving the drainage which helps to slow the flow of water and increase flood resilience in the area.

James Wright from Estates and Facilities, whose team supported the construction and planting phases, liaising with academic colleagues to coordinate soil sampling, said:

“As well as helping to reduce flood risk, this fantastic new development provides a ‘living lab’ for research and teaching at the University of Leeds and contributes to the understanding of flood management at a national level.”

“The trees act as a shield to stop and slow rainfall before it reaches the ground and increase carbon capture and storage capacity, providing valuable habitats for local wildlife.”

“The University is working towards a Net Zero by 2030 campus.

Michael Howroyd, Sustainability Projects Officer at the University of Leeds, added:

“The site at Bodington Fields will be invaluable to academics and students, providing hands on research opportunities and data, whilst also providing benefits for local residents, biodiversity and climate.”

“The project is a fantastic example of how collaboration across stakeholders can make use of University land for world class research and teaching, which will have an impact across the wider city region and beyond.”

Find out more about the Sustainability service at the University of Leeds.

Awards for the Residences team!

20th September 2022/by Natalie Sem

The Residences team have recently scooped two prestigious awards.

St Marks residences won the purpose-built student accommodation category at the Rate My Landlord Awards held at Leeds University Union on 8 September.

The Rate Your Landlord website aims to allow students to talk about their personal renting experiences and for others to learn from them, helping to keep students safe

Many students are new to the world of private renting, so other people’s opinions can be a useful tool. It allows landlords to respond, and for students to learn about the world of renting.

Rate Your Landlord is a partnership between Leeds University Union, Unipol Student Homes and Warwick Students’ Union.

Student star

Student Penelope Milner was named a College and University Business Officers (CUBO) Residence Life Student Star for her work at Devonshire Hall.

Penelope was shortlisted with other assistants across the UK and was one of only six people to receive the award.

Residence Life Assistants (RLAs) are essential to the successful operation of student accommodation, offering round-the-clock peer support to help make life in halls the absolute best it can be.

Penelope was nominated by the team at Devonshire for making a significant impact in the community and working to promote sustainability by organising weekly litter picks on the grounds.

She has also been working on developing a website about the Society of Old Devonians to celebrate the history of the hall, which first opened its doors to students in 1930.

Penelope said:

“It was an honour to attend the CUBO conference to accept my Student Star Award in recognition of the work I have been doing in my Hall of Residence as the President of the Student Hall Executive in my first year and as a Residence Life Assistant in my second year.”

“During my time at the University of Leeds, I have created a partnership between the North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association and Leeds Rotaract Club which I established in October 2021. Rotaract is a charity with clubs located across the world and over 200,000 members aged 18-30 who are passionate about volunteering for charitable causes.”

Find out more about Residential Services at the University of Leeds.

Accessible makeover for the Sustainable Garden

20th September 2022/by Natalie Sem

Ayesha Fitzwilliam Hall, an apprentice in the Grounds and Gardens team, spotted an opportunity to develop her skills by redesigning and refreshing the Sustainable Garden, a much loved area of campus which had become overgrown following COVID-19 lockdowns.

She has worked with her colleagues and the Sustainability service to redesign the space to improve accessibility and usability. This includes the introduction of raised planting areas, new furniture to support workshops and learning, and establishing new edible planting to ensure that the space is ready to welcome students and staff back to campus in 2022.

Ayesha said:

“The Sustainable Garden is a wonderful area but lockdowns and fewer people on campus had an impact on its usability. I enjoyed leading a team of colleagues on the redesign work to make sure that the space was once again a great place for everyone on campus. The bigger task though, has been restoring the garden in line with the University’s sustainability principles. It’s hard work but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I hope to welcome lots of people to enjoy and volunteer in the space over the next year.”

More improvements will be added over the coming weeks and months, including a wellbeing area, with a view to bringing back regular volunteer gardening sessions for staff and students through this term and beyond.

Find out more about the Sustainability service at the University of Leeds.

Cleaning and Catering colleagues being presented their leadership course award

Colleagues commit to team leadership

7th September 2022/by Natalie Sem

Colleagues from the Catering and Cleaning teams have completed a course in Principles of Team Leadership that will shape the needs of future learners.

The course was a pilot for a Facilitated Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Team Leading. Primarily distance learning, there were also weekly sessions on campus with Jo Westerman from the Organisational Development & Professional Learning Team. Learners committed their own time to completing the course within the deadlines set by the Skills Network.

One of the participants, Carol Haynes, Operations Team Leader in Cleaning Services said:

“When I started the course, it was because I wanted to learn different leadership styles and improve what I already knew. It was difficult trying to fit it in around full-time work but I enjoyed finding new ways in which to manage a team that I can now use in my role as team leader. The sense of achievement when I got my certificate was worth all the hard work.”

The course covered topics including understanding how to communicate work-related information, principles of equality and diversity in the workplace, and understanding how to develop and deliver a presentation.

Julie Tong, Head of Retail Catering said:

“We are incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment that the team have shown in working to achieve their qualification. Each individual has not only grown in confidence and knowledge but benefited from the University of Leeds ongoing commitment to professional development across all departments.”

Jill Roberts, Head of Cleaning Services said:

“I am extremely proud of the team leaders who volunteered to complete this pilot scheme and the dedication, commitment and time they put into it. There were some lessons learned as the time constraints were difficult at times for our team leaders, however they carried on regardless with determination to complete. It is a wonderful achievement for them and all have benefitted from the knowledge they have gained.”

Those taking part were: Lukas Safranek, Zoe Read, Violetta Marzycka and Aileen Mulcahy from Catering, and Anna Oledzka, Caron Wilson, Cindy Sylvester, Jonathan White, Carol Haynes, Jackie Blakeborough, Gail Radcliffe and Matthew Blakeborough from the Cleaning team.

New low carbon floodlights latest step to Net Zero by 2030

26th August 2022/by Becky Knight

Low energy LED floodlights recently installed at the Sports Park Weetwood – part of the University of Leeds – are set to reduce carbon emissions by 6.7 tonnes a year.

Their installation is among the latest activity in the work by Estates and Facilities to move the campus towards delivering net zero emissions by 2030, a key commitment of the University Climate Plan.

The LED floodlights use less electricity than previous equipment and have greater light output, which means fewer fittings need to be installed. They also have a longer life span.

It is estimated the new lights will save 29,879 kWh of energy per year, which equates to a reduction of 6.7 tonnes of CO² equivalent emissions.

Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development said:

“All the work that we do makes a difference to students and staff however our work to move the campus towards delivering net zero by 2030 is the biggest single project by the Estates and Facilities team to make a difference to our planet and is at the core of the University’s Climate Plan.”

“It includes the targeted refurbishment of buildings, the installation of low carbon technologies and solar panels across the estate – including sports facilities like those at Weetwood – and the electrification of our vehicle fleet.”

“This work builds on activity over many years to save electricity across the breadth of the Leeds campus including installation of LED lighting and working with Faculties to use out campus more effectively.”

Reducing carbon emissions across the University

Other activity to reduce emissions – outlined in the recent Climate Plan quarterly report – includes work to develop a new heating, cooling and ventilation policy to reduce energy use. A shutdown of the steam network over the summer months contributed towards a 15% reduction in emissions between June and August 2022.

University Residences have begun a programme of low energy lighting upgrades, starting at Lupton.

A major project is currently underway to assess the opportunities for building retrofit and heat pump installation across campus to reduce energy demand, alongside identification of opportunities to install further solar panels on University buildings.

Further work has been commissioned including a report into climate resilience on campus, and an analysis of electrical requirements over the next 25 years.

Find out more about Estates & Facilities at the University of Leeds.

Residential Services Sustainability Awards won in 2021

Residential Services Annual Sustainability Report (2020-21)

13th January 2022/by Nick Holden

Residential Services manages the residential accommodation portfolio for the University of Leeds, with circa 9,100 bed-spaces in both University and private partner sites. Residential Services also operates according to the University’s Sustainability Strategy, which comprises the following four key themes:

Embedding sustainability through collaboration
Building knowledge and capacity
Being a positive partner in society
Making the most of resources

Residential Services started to work on its Blueprint Action Plan in 2018/19, and as required by the plan this annual sustainability report covers the progress made during the third year, September 2020 – August 2021. Actions are also highlighted with icons where they address United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs) – find out more about these on the Sustainability website.

Embedding sustainability through collaboration

Blueprint

Residential Services continued to develop its Blueprint Action Plan during 2020/21, and was awarded with a Blueprint Leader Award in May 2021. In addition, Residential Services also won the University’s ‘Protecting Our Planet’ Award in June 2021, for outstanding work on integrating United Nations Sustainability Development Goals across its service delivery operations. Residential Services has delivered on 13 Blueprint actions out of 15 (87%); and 15 Blueprint Plus actions out of 21 (71%) in the last three years.

Details of the Blueprint Action Plan for Residential Services can be found in the Sustainable Living Guide.

Collaboration with internal stakeholders

Residential Services appointed two Student Sustainability Architects during 2020/21. Caitlin Harris completed surveys of three residential sites, and generated biodiversity action plans and site maps for Ellerslie Hall, Henry Price Residences, and Lyddon Hall. Caitlin was also a member of the Urban Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, working on monitoring areas around campus and its residences.

Milan Thottahil is an international MSc student, who arrived in January 2021. He has worked with fellow student architects to demonstrate the negative impacts of single-use plastics on wildlife; set-up a plastic pen recycling scheme for the Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity; has produced an online game to help explain what students can do with waste and recycling; and also planned a food donation scheme for helping local foodbanks for Christmas 2021.

During this period, Residential Services has also worked successfully in collaboration with other internal stakeholders across the University. These included student ambassadors on the Urban Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, which saw them receive an award from the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) in April 2021, and a Bronze Award for the Hedgehog-Friendly Campus initiative. The latter included Residential Services staff monitoring and recording hedgehog activity around residential sites in Headingley and also on sites closer to campus.

Recording hedgehog activity near residential sites

Residential Services also worked with a student-led USH Bike Hire Scheme, which will hopefully launch on campus and in certain residential sites in early 2022. Estates and Facilities Services and their consultants in delivering a new accessible ramp for wheelchair users and landscaping next to Charles Morris Hall. Residential Services continues to collaborate with student ambassadors; student sustainability architects; and student volunteers in providing them with opportunities to apply their learning for hedgehog monitoring; food waste; bike leasing; circular resource use; and single-use plastics.

Collaboration with external partners

Residential Services has also worked closely with a number of external partners throughout the year.

One of the key partners was Green Tourism. Residential Services currently has a total of eight conference-facing residential sites that are accredited under the hospitality industry’s Green Tourism accreditation scheme for sustainability. Andrea Nicholas, Chief Executive of Green Tourism, confirmed that they consider that the University of Leeds is now a leading Green Tourism Ambassador, in sharing good practice and leading the way in sustainability management (October 2020). Green Tourism also highlighted our sustainability successes on their blog in December 2020.

Other partners included:

Bishops Beds in supplying new longer-life mattresses, and recovering 17.2 tonnes of old mattresses for recycling in summer 2021.
Outco Grounds Services, with the introduction of electric-powered tools, and a vehicle on the contract commencing January 2021
The British Heart Foundation (BHF), in collecting a total of 3,199 bags of items for re-use, donated by students and staff; diverting the equivalent of 25.6 tonnes of waste away from landfill; and generating £44,786 of revenue in BHF shops in Leeds, to help support research for heart and circulatory diseases, some of which takes place here in Leeds.
Northern Consortium UK (NCUK), through links with our International Office, information was provided to NCUK, to help show what we do for sustainability here at the University of Leeds, and this appeared as one of three case studies for international students considering studying at the University of Leeds (April 2021).
In addition, Residential Services also collaborates with third sector charities; Estates and Facilities Services; supply chain partners; private sector accommodation providers; and Sustainability Services.

Outco contractors with electric-powered tools

Building knowledge and capacity

The Sustainable Living Guide

The previous in-house Living it Green Guide was renamed as the Sustainable Living Guide for 2020/21, and included a new section on ‘Your Leeds Community’. This section outlined how students could get involved with their local community through volunteering, and by supporting local independent businesses, events, and elections. It also encouraged staff to become a Positive Impact Partner, by getting involved with local charities and other volunteer activities in their area.

Communications with students

The Residence Life Team continued to send out communications to students resident in University and private partner accommodation throughout the year, via email and social media. This included hosting online events that provided information, and interesting activities for students to take part during covid-19 restrictions. In addition, Milan Thottahil organised the following:

A series of three posters aimed at highlighting the impact of throwing away litter, that then impacts on wildlife, and hedgehogs in particular. The series highlighted: the need to place litter in bins; the alternatives to single-use plastic items; and the impact of discarded rubbish on hedgehogs. The posters also incorporated QR codes that could be scanned to access further information on related themes (May 2021).
A collection of used plastic pens, which generates funds for Ellie’s Fund, an initiative for Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) (June 2021).
Planning an online waste & recycling game that we help students with improving recycling rates in University residences (2021/22).

Being a positive partner in society

British Heart Foundation

British Heart Foundation collection banks are located all year round at all University owned residential sites, and students are asked to donate any unwanted items for subsequent reuse. During the period Oct 2020 – Sep 2021, 3,199 bags of items were collected, amounting to 25.6 tonnes. The items went on sale in local BHF retail outlets in Leeds, and raised an estimated income of £44,786 for coronary heart research, making a total of £277,660 raised in the last seven years.

The University of Leeds was subsequently the only university to be shortlisted for the BHF Heart Heroes Awards 2021.

British Heart Foundation collection at Charles Morris

British Heart Foundation collections at Charles Morris

Local foodbanks

Surplus non-perishable food items were collected from a number of University-owned residential sites during the year, and they were donated to the Rainbow Junktion Café (Burley); Horsforth Food Hub; and Kirkstall Community Pantry for redistribution to local families and people in need. 181kg of food was collected prior to Christmas 2020, and 601kg during June/July 2021.

Food donations to Rainbow Junktion café

Improving access

Residential Services worked collaboratively with Estates and Facilities Services, their consultants and contractors to help improve wheelchair access between the Students’ Union and Cromer Terrace, with a new ramp and landscaping at Charles Morris Hall (2020/21).

Making the most of resources

Carbon management plan

An energy-efficient Student Hub was constructed at Montague Burton during 2019/20, based on Passivhaus principles for building fabric and mechanical ventilation heat recovery. Passivhaus accredited bi-fold doors were proposed in the design, but these were replaced with less efficient Regulation M accessible doors, as the original threshold would have been too high for potential wheelchair users. An energy performance survey was subsequently completed (December 2020), which rated it as EPC Band B (32).

Biodiversity

Caitlin Harris delivered three biodiversity action plans and site maps, for use in planning future improvements to biodiversity on University-owned residential sites at Ellerslie Global Residences, Henry Price Residences, and Lyddon Hall. Residential Services has also worked in collaboration with the Student Biodiversity Ambassadors to identify hedgehog activity on residential sites off campus, which resulted in a Hedgehog-Friendly Campus Bronze Award for 2020/21.

Health and wellbeing

The Residence Life Team organised a number of online and in-person events and activities during the year to help residents with their health and wellbeing.

In addition, enabling work also commenced on the Well Wood Project, located to the rear of North Hill Court, with Unite Students as co-funder, and Groundworks Yorkshire as the project delivery partner. The project involves the transformation of two disused overgrown tennis courts into a communal green space for use by students, staff, school parties and local residents, and is due to be completed in 2022.

Well Wood Project site pre-transformation

Re-use

Bishops Beds continue to replace old beds and mattresses with new in a planned replacement programme, changing 652 mattresses and 84 bed bases (c 17.2 tonnes) during summer 2021.

In addition, Over2hills also provided a reactive recovery service for old mattresses, and furniture, to offer to third sector charities for either re-use, restoration, or recycling of component materials.

Repair

Bin Masters provide an annual repair service for any damaged external waste & recycling bins used on residential sites. This work is carried out in the weeks before Intake Weekend, so that facilities are ready for use, once students arrive in September. The repair work extends the life cycle of the existing bins, and reduces the need to purchase new bins as replacements.

Leasing equipment

Forbes Professional continue to supply a number of leased washing machines at Storm Jameson Court and St Marks Residences, but also installed new machines in the Shared Housing properties (April 2021). Leasing equipment maintains continuity of service, whilst repairs or replacement can be arranged more efficiently.

Single-use plastics pledge

Both Churchill and Crystal Cleaning Services introduced ‘Zero Waste’ cleaning products to nine of our eleven residences (85% bed-spaces) in 2019/20, where plastic containers have been replaced by starch-wrapped pellets in compostable cardboard boxes. Both service suppliers have produced their first annual report, and the outcome has witnessed a reduction in plastic containers used by between 57 – 88%.

Clean air pledge

Residential Services has a total of five vehicles with two electric (40%). Emphasis is placed on using the electrical vehicles where and whenever possible, and this resulted in the electric vehicles responsible for covering 59% of the mileage during 2020/21. In addition, Outco landscape maintenance team introduced another electric vehicle, plus battery-powered equipment, when their contract commenced in 2021.

University of Leeds. The Big Conversation

7th July 2021/by Abbie McGurk

On Monday 12 July, all staff, students and postgraduate researchers will be invited to help create our new University values through a series of discussions called The Big Leeds Conversation.

New and clear values will help us to:

create a supportive place to study and work;
give our students the best experience we can; and
decide who we work with outside the University, and how we deliver world-class research.

In this short video Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, explains why it’s important for us all to take part in The Big Leeds Conversation:

How it works

The University is working with Clever Together, an independent organisation, who will provide us with an anonymous, secure online space to help us discuss and create our new values.

The Big Leeds Conversation is like a virtual room or discussion forum that can be joined from any internet-connected device, at any time, 24 hours a day.

Staff, students and postgraduate researchers will each have separate, anonymous online spaces to share ideas. You’ll be able to share your views, make comments and ‘up vote’ and ‘down vote’ ideas from others that you agree or disagree with.

In our first conversation, we want to think about the behaviours we should expect of each other, and those we should not accept. We’ll also discuss what we enjoy about working at the University, and our ideas for how our values can lead and guide our work.

In the autumn, we’ll bring together everyone’s thoughts and ideas to build new values and behaviours for the University – and we’ll invite everyone to share what they think about this in our second Big Leeds Conversation.

A safe space to share and challenge ideas

The Big Leeds Conversation is an anonymous online conversation. This is so we can hear your honest views.

Names will not be shared with Clever Together (or the University) and we will not know who has taken part, or how anyone has contributed. No ideas, comments or votes that you share in an online conversation will be shown with your username or personal details.

Joining the Big Leeds Conversation

When The Big Leeds Conversation begins on Monday 12 July, Clever Together will email everyone in our University community their unique username and password.

For members of our community who are not able to access the online conversation, we’ll provide alternative ways to take part. Individuals who have opted into SMS text communications will receive instructions to log in and join the online conversation from FD UniLeeds.

Anonymous, paper-based surveys will also be provided for those who either do not have access to a University email address or access to the internet.

Find out more about why it’s important that we all have our say, in Vice-Chancellor Professor Simone Buitendijk’s Inside Track: Your part in The Big Leeds Conversation.

Residential Services Annual Sustainability Report (2019-20)

17th December 2020/by Abbie McGurk

Residential Services manages the residential accommodation portfolio for The University of Leeds, with circa 9,100 bed-spaces in both University and private partner sites. Residential Services also operates according to the University’s Sustainability Strategy, with the following key themes:

Embedding sustainability through collaboration
Building knowledge and capacity
Being a positive partner in society; and
Making the most of resources

Residential Services started to work on its Blueprint Action Plan in 2018/19, and this annual sustainability report (Blueprint Action) covers the progress made during the second year, September 2019 – August 2020.

Embedding sustainability through collaboration

Blueprint

Residential Services implemented its Blueprint Action Plan during 2018/19 and was awarded a Blueprint Explorer Award in June 2019. Due to the work completed in 2019/20, Residential Services has now been awarded a Blueprint Change Maker Award (July 2020). During this period, Residential Services has worked successfully in collaboration with:

Both Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on the Leeds Flood Alleviation Project in the Upper Aire Valley – iCASP won the University’s Outreach Award, and Residential Services was Highly Commended for the work of its student and staff volunteers for the Internationalisation Award, at the University Sustainability Awards 2020.
The Campus Pollinator Project around the campus – Winner of the University’s Collaboration Award at the University Sustainability Awards 2020.
A PhD student looking at minimising food waste at Devonshire Hall – Highly Commended in the Communication Award at the University Sustainability Awards 2020.
Two Student Sustainability Architects, one working on biodiversity action plans, and the other on circular resource use initiatives.Further collaborative work has also taken place with student residents, staff, Estates Services (Grounds & Gardens), FD Marketing & Communications, Sustainability Services, plus a number of supply chain partners and third sector charities. Residential Services has delivered on 13 Blueprint action out of 15 (87%), and 15 Blueprint Plus actions out of 21 (71%).

Staff Sustainability Student Architect

Mike Leonard is the Staff Sustainability Architect for Residential Services (Blueprint Action), and is responsible for all sustainability aspects across the service, including actions required within the Blueprint Action Plan.

Student Sustainability Architects

Residential Services appointed two Student Sustainability Architects (Blueprint Action) during 2019/20:

Ailish Byrne set up a food donation scheme for Holbeck Elderly Aid across Residences; organised a student sustainability survey to gather feedback on circular resource use; planned the collection of several plastic items that would benefit the Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity; and organised a number of communication events on social media, including during the first Covid emergency period.
Karolina Zarzyczny completed surveys of six residential sites and generated biodiversity action plans and site maps for Central Village, Montague Burton Residences, North Hill Court, North Hill Road properties, St Marks Residences, and Sentinel Towers. Karolina was also a member of the Campus Pollinator Group, working in areas around residences on campus.

Green Tourism

Residential Services has a total of eight conference-facing residential sites that are accredited under the hospitality industry’s Green Tourism accreditation scheme for sustainability. Devonshire Hall, Ellerslie Global and Lyddon Hall successfully retained their Green Tourism Gold Award in December 2019. Dobree House, Henry Price Residences, Storm Jameson Court, and Whetton House retained their Green Tourism Gold in August 2020. (Central Village is to be re-assessed next year in May 2021). Andrea Nicholas, Chief Executive of Green Tourism also confirmed that they consider The University of Leeds to be a leading Green Tourism ambassador, in sharing good practice and leading the way in sustainability management.

Building knowledge and capacity

The Living it Green Guide

The Living it Green Guide is an in-house guide on how to live more sustainably in University accommodation. In previous years, 10,500 copies have been printed for students, staff, contractors, and conference delegates. In 2019/20, the Living it Green Guide was accessed via the Accommodation Services web-site, and only 400 copies were printed for display in site office/reception areas.

Communications with students

In addition to normal communications throughout the year from the Residences Life Team, Ailish Byrne organised the following:

A student sustainability survey which focussed on circular resource use, and particularly single-use plastics; fast fashion; recycling; and future events. Feedback highlighted the students’ priorities for addressing single-use plastics; improved recycling; and recycling food waste in that order. 48% of the respondents confirmed that they did not know about the University’s single-use plastics pledge. They felt that more information and facilities were required on recycling, particularly in private partner sites. The preferred methods of receiving information was by posters; e-mail; Residences Life Facebook in that order; with other forms of social media thereafter.
A number of communication events were also disseminated, covering various topics, e.g. a Sustainable Christmas Checklist; Five single-use plastic swaps; Making the most of your left-over food waste.

Being a positive partner in society

World Mental Health Day

Sixteen student and staff volunteers worked with staff from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, at Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve on 10th October 2019, World Mental Health Day. The day’s activities sought to improve individuals’ morale and mental health through team building activities; develop communication skills; give something back to the local community; work with like-minded businesses, and enhance the local environment and wildlife in the area. The group worked on clearing some of the hay meadows on the reserve so that the local wildflower species can thrive in the absence of competition from invasive grass and scrub.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Four further events or Wild Work Days (Blueprint Action) were undertaken by student and staff volunteers during the year, generating a total of 96 volunteer days of work for YWT (576 hours). The work took place on sites in the River Aire catchment, at Airton, Great Preston, Ledston Luck (National Student Volunteering Week, Feb 2020), and near Keighley. Students took part from twenty-one different countries, including Colombia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Pakistan, Palestine, and the Philippines. The participation and impact of the work was highlighted with a Highly Commended Award in the Internationalisation category, at The Sustainability Awards in July 2020. In addition, Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) also won the Outreach category, at the same awards, for their partnership work across the region that included the work on the River Aire.

British Heart Foundation

British Heart Foundation collection banks are located all year round at all University-owned residential sites, and students are asked to donate any unwanted items for subsequent reuse (Blueprint Plus Action). During the period Oct 2019 – Sep 2020, 3,116 bags of items were collected, amounting to 24.9 tonnes. The items went on sale in local BHF retail outlets in Leeds, and raised an estimated income of £ 43,624 for coronary heart research, making a total of £ 244,132 raised in the last four year.

Horsforth Food Hub

Surplus non-perishable food items were collected from a number of University-owned residential sites during the first Covid-19 lockdown and donated to the Horsforth Food Hub for redistribution to local families in need (Blueprint Action). Over 565 kilogrammes of food was subsequently collected and then delivered by Rik Jones, Head Chef at Devonshire Hall.

Academic Venue Awards

MEETinLEEDS won the 2019 Best Accessibility Award for the third year in a row, at the Academic Venues Conference held in London. The award recognised the outstanding efforts in ensuring that its conference, catering, residential and academic venues are inclusive and accessible to all.

Making the most of resources

Carbon Management Plan

A new common room was built at Montague Burton in 2019/20, originally based on Passivhaus standards for insulation, ventilation, and air-tightness. Despite limitations due to budget constraints, the residents at Montague Burton now have a light and airy communal space, in which to study, exercise and relax in a sustainable environment. An energy performance certificate has been produced which rates the building at the high end of Band B, with recommendations for where improvements can be made. In addition to the work at Montague Burton, several new boilers have been installed at Lyddon Hall and 3 Kingston Terrace. A Net Zero Carbon Plan is due out this next year and will identify works required across the campus, including all residential sites to meet the University’s net-zero carbon target by 2030.

Biodiversity

A new native species hedge was planted on Mount Preston Street near Charles Morris Hall, comprising blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel and holly plants. In addition, more shrubs and spring-flowering bulbs have been added to the long linear bed of the Sensory Garden on the site. Work has been progressed on our off-campus sites, where Karolina Zarzyczny delivered six biodiversity action plans and site maps, for use in planning future improvements to biodiversity on University-owned residential sites (Blueprint Action). Residential Services has also worked in collaboration with the Campus Pollinator Group, which identified pollinator hotspots on campus, which included St George’s Field (Henry Price Residences), and the Charles Morris Hall/Lyddon Hall area. This project won the award in the Collaboration category, at The Sustainability Awards in July 2020.

Re-use

Bishops Beds continued to replace old beds and mattresses with new, changing 429 mattresses and beds at Christmas 2019. In addition, Over2hills provide a reactive recovery service for old mattresses, and furniture (Blueprint Plus Action), to offer to third sector charities for either Re-use, Restoration, or Recycling of component materials. 394 individual items of furniture have been delivered to Over2hills during 2019/20, including mattresses, bed bases, sofas, tables, chairs, wardrobes, and bedside cabinets. In addition, Residential Services have refurbished a number of sofas and chairs, and these items have now been reintroduced for use in several residences.

Leasing Equipment

Forbes Professional continue to supply a number of leased washing machines (Blueprint Plus Action) at Storm Jameson Court and St Marks Residences.

Single-Use Plastics Pledge

In addition to the work undertaken at Devonshire Hall last year (Blueprint Action), both Churchill and Crystal Cleaning Services have subsequently introduced ‘Zero Waste’ cleaning products in nine of our eleven residences (85% of bed-spaces), thereby helping to reduce the use of plastic containers on sites. The cleaning chemicals come in starch-wrapped pellets, in compostable cardboard boxes of up to 150 pellets. The pellets dissolve on contact with water, producing the same volume of cleaning fluid previously provided by three x 5-litre plastic containers. In addition to removing these plastic containers from the waste stream, the boxes are lighter and save on storage space, and also have a lower carbon emissions content for transportation.

Clean Air Pledge

Residential Services has a total of 5 vehicles, with 2 electric (40%). Emphasis is placed on using the electrical vehicles where and whenever possible (Blueprint Action), and this resulted in the electric vehicles responsible for covering 58% of the mileage during 2019/20.

Food Waste

Nicholas Davison, a PhD student from Chemical and Process Engineering, worked with catering staff at Devonshire Hall, to optimise food waste management on-site (Blueprint Plus Action), thereby reducing food waste generated through communication and education of the residents. Various measures were instigated, and surveys conducted pre & post-intervention. Feedback on awareness highlighted a 30% improvement, primarily through the use of table cards. Further data also indicated a reduction in food waste generated by 10 – 15%. Comparisons made with another case study carried out in Mumbai University also highlighted the benefit of portion control undertaken at Devonshire Hall, which was absent in India. The work of both Nick and the staff at Devonshire Hall was highlighted with a Highly Commended in the Communication Award, for outstanding contribution to sustainability 2020.

N.B. Details of the Blueprint Action Plan for Residential Services can be found in the Living it Green Guide: https://accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/livingitgreen