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Community Projects

Our community and volunteering projects work to improve community cohesion and build positive relationships in the wider community around the University.

The Sustainability Service co-develop and co-deliver community-beneficial projects that improve the quality of life for all residents, whilst helping to create mutual understanding and respect between both the University and local communities.

Check out our current volunteering opportunities or register with MyCareer to find details of upcoming opportunities. By volunteering with us you will meet and work with other students, staff and local residents committed to making positive changes to our local communities for the benefit of all.

Our community projects

Community clear-ups

We hold regular litter picks across the local area, particularly at key times in the year when litter can be an issue.

Community art

Have you noticed the Colour Hyde Park murals which brighten up the Hyde Park area? Our community art projects aim to use art to address the problem of graffiti and make the local area a more pleasant place to explore.

Gardening and planting

Community greenspaces are vital to both physical and mental wellbeing. Our gardening and planting projects are designed to increase the amount of green space in the local area and improve those that already exist.

Circular economy

Encouraging reuse behaviour is a key aim of the Sustainability Service and we run a range of circular economy initiatives including Repair Cafes and swap shops.

Community Projects Group

Our Community Projects Group brings together a wide group of community representatives who are interested in delivering new projects to improve the quality of life for all residents.

Chaired by Student Exec officers from Leeds Beckett and Leeds University students unions, the group meets monthly to discuss ideas for projects that could be co-developed and co-delivered by members of the community, students, University of Leeds and LUU. Each of the four project categories listed above has a corresponding working group which also meet regularly.   

To join the Community Projects Group or one of the individual working groups, please contact Chris Bowie.

News

Apply for our new Sustainability Community Arts Project

Looking for a way to develop your artistic practice and your professional skills? The Sustainability Service is providing an opportunity for a team of student volunteers to co-create and deliver a collaborative arts project with a local community partner, Cardigan Community Centre (CCC). The project will consist of designing and delivering a series of six...

Apply for the Community Mural Project 2024/25

The Sustainability Service is offering a professional development opportunity for four volunteer student artists! The team will design and paint a large indoor mural in collaboration with a community-led youth organisation in Harehills, Leeds. Volunteer artists will benefit from training and guidance from a professional Mentor Artist and will gain experience engaging with young people...

Celebrating a year of sustainability achievements

On Monday 24th June, the Sustainability Service hosted a celebration to acknowledge staff, partners, and community members who go above and beyond to embed sustainability in everything they do.  The Sustainability Service is a team dedicated to helping deliver a more socially and environmentally responsible University, and its partnerships with teams and individuals from across...

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Blog posts

Reinventing urban spaces through co-production

This month, we’re shining the light on an innovative research project that highlights the power of partnerships between civic, public, and the higher education sectors....

Creating green spaces: community gardening at the University of Leeds

Student Sustainability Architect, Coline Lightfoot, reflects upon this year's community gardening projects... As the Student Sustainability Architect for community gardening projects, this year’s projects have...

Barter it, Bank it, Bin it: Reflecting on our 2024 Moving Out Campaign 

This year’s Moving Out campaign set out to help students navigate the one of the most stressful periods of the year – tenancy changeovers!  The...

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