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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

Making a difference: The impact of our winter coat donations

We are delighted to share the incredible impact of our recent winter coat collection for Zero Waste Leeds. Thanks to the generous donations of our University community we collected: 111 adult coats, 35 children’s coats, and 166 winter accessories. This effort has not only provided warmth across the city but also significantly benefitted the environment....

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...

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Blog posts

Promoting a circular economy: Our Sustainable Repair Café

In celebration of International Repair Day on 18th October, Student Sustainability Architect Eleanor Smith reflects on her experience working with the University of Leeds Repair...

Learning from the Fairtrade Towns movement

Fairtrade is a familiar concept, most people recognise the green and blue logo on tea and coffee and other products in our supermarkets and on...

A glimpse into Fairtrade at the University of Leeds

Hi, I’m Emma Haywood, the Sustainability Projects Assistant for 2024/25, a year-long intern for the University of Leeds Sustainability Service. As my internship comes to...

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