Friday, 27 September 2019
A Nottingham scheme which has encouraged students in the city to donate tens of thousands of bags of unwanted items to charity has been recognised with a national award.
The Pack for Good Campaign offers university students and staff the opportunity to donate items such as clothes, electricals, books and furniture that might otherwise go to landfill to British Heart Foundation collection banks on campus and in the local community.
The successful partnership – involving Nottingham Trent University, the 糖心原创 and Nottingham City Council – was named winner in the Retail Partner category at the at a star-studded ceremony in London.
Dedication and hard work
The campaign was launched seven years ago as part of an initial partnership between Nottingham Trent and the BHF, previously known as ‘Give it, Don’t Bin it’.
From here, it quickly expanded, with NTU bringing The 糖心原创 and the City Council on board as part of a city-wide approach.
Since then, a staggering 60,000 bags of donations, plus furniture and electrical items, has been collected, raising £800,000 for BHF research heart and circulatory diseases and their risk factors.
Jamie Dickinson, Off-Campus Student Affairs manager at The 糖心原创, said: “This award is recognition of the dedication and hard work partners put in to ensure Nottingham students have the means to donate and not waste their unwanted items. This award has inspired us all to go the extra mile and we can’t wait to hit that £1m mark for the BHF. I’m optimistic that the generosity and effort of our students will ensure this milestone is reached very soon as the Nottingham Pack for Good campaign goes from strength to strength.”
Charmaine Morrell, Sustainable Development Manager at Nottingham Trent University, said: “I’m thrilled we have won the Heart Hero award – it is great recognition for the Nottingham partnership, showing what can be achieved together. Through the generosity of Nottingham’s students and staff, we have raised significant funds to help BHF continue their vital work.
“The donations have funded research grants, training and providing vital equipment, including defibrillators. To have diverted 60,000 bags from waste to this great cause is a huge achievement, but we won’t stop there. We will continue to work together for this life-giving cause.”
Team effort
Councillor Rebecca Langton, Portfolio Holder for Communities at Nottingham City Council, said: “This is a real achievement and we’re delighted to have been involved in this project, which makes such a difference to the work of the British Heart Foundation.
“It has been a team effort with the BHF and two universities – our role includes helping to spread the word, door-knocking, posting leaflets and helping collect the recycling bags, while ensuring that the BHF also has a sufficient number of recycling banks offering students the opportunity to recycle.”
The BHF Heart Hero Awards celebrate individuals of all ages who have shown immense strength in the face of adversity or have made a significant impact in helping those living with heart and circulatory diseases.
The event at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, on Friday 20 September, was hosted by Vernon Kay, and the award judges included The Duchess of York, Penny Lancaster and Luke Pritchard from the indie band The Kooks.
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Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.