Get involved

As a global top 100 university we are all aware that knowledge is power, so the best way you can take action today is by completing the interactive and engaging one-hour Sustainability in Action training course that all University of Birmingham staff and students are expected to take part in.

To find out more on this and any of the opportunities and initiatives summarised below, staff should visit our Sustainability SharePoint pages and students should sign up to the Student Sustainability Hub on Canvas.

If you’re on our Dubai campus, you can discover ways to get involved with sustainability initiatives by contacting the Dubai Sustainability Team.

If you’re ready to put your learning into practice, take on the Green Impact challenge!

Rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in is the most satisfying way to make a real difference. Most of our nature-based volunteering opportunities are open to both students and University staff (who receive an additional day of paid leave every year to volunteer locally). So if protecting the planet is your passion, now is the time to get the endorphins firing, meet like-minded people and witness real-time impact on your surrounding environment.

Staff and students can register an interest in nature-based volunteering by registering as a BIFoR volunteer and be the first to hear about opportunities to enhance biodiversity on our campus or in our local area. Students can also join a sustainability-related society, Conservation Volunteers and support our campus food growing initiative, Grow with Joe. Please visit the Guild for more information about student groups.

Winterbourne House and Garden is a historic gem on our Edgbaston campus that relies on volunteers to keep things running. Museum Engagement and Conservation volunteers can help offer a warm welcome to visitors and ensure that they get the most out of their visit; garden volunteers assist the team of horticulturalists in keeping the colourful borders looking their best, and people behind the scenes can support in administrative or maintenance work.

Sustainable action needs to be much more widespread than in our own backyards and there is a wealth of projects within our wider community. Plant orchards and other edible landscapes at Fruit & Nut Village; gain new skills from qualified professionals whilst learning about our native wildlife with the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, or commit some spare hours to helping your local charity shop breathe new life into pre-loved items.

We hold a Green Week every Spring in partnership with the Guild to give students and staff the opportunity to learn about sustainability, our approach and progress at the University of Birmingham. All staff and students are invited to get involved with a wealth of different sustainability-related activities. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make connections and network, learn about sustainable practices or showcase your own work. Look out for more information from the Guild and University communications.

We work closely with local charities to reduce waste as students move out at the end of the academic year via dedicated Pack-and-Pass Days at the heart of our biggest accommodation site, Vale Village. Join in to help organise the giant end-of-term collection of donated goods from students and you’ll be working with our waste partners Veolia and the homelessness and housing charity Shelter to cut waste and make a difference.

Another way to reduce waste and raise money for charity is by getting involved in the Junkbusters scheme. Every year, our student Community Wardens host collection stalls in and around Selly Oak for unwanted clothes, books and household items that still have life in them. All you need to do is dig out the things you no longer need, put them into a bin bag and drop them off.  All the items donated help to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and over £181,000 has been raised since 2011, contributing to better wellbeing in our local community and across the UK.