Students Organising for Sustainability: Putting students at the heart of our green energy future
Educational charity Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) has received £1.25 million from the Climate Action Fund to help students and young people across the UK become a major force for change.
The charity works alongside schools and universities to give students the chance to develop their skills, knowledge and experience in energy consumption, empowering them to make positive choices and become the next generation of environmental champions.
SOS-UK has partnered with National Energy Action, the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity, to upskill students and staff to drive their own awareness campaigns. The funding will target the critical gap in support for students moving into higher education, as well as increasing awareness among landlords around current legislation and the energy efficiency solutions available to them.
A previous SOS-UK project included a peer-to-peer home energy audit of over 1,700 students. 94% said that they knew more about domestic energy use after taking part, 91% reported they had made changes to their own energy use, and 88% felt more confident about encouraging others to act on sustainability.
Joanna Romanowicz, Director of Engagement at SOS-UK, believes instilling a strong sense of environmental urgency and positive behaviour among our student population could prove to be a key lever in shaping long term attitudes towards energy sustainability.
She said: “Students and education settings are key if we want to improve our sense of environmental and energy literacy. Our vision is that we want students to leave education with the solutions to climate crisis, and not the problem! Therefore improving their sense of environmental and energy literacy is critical in this.”
“Engaging students about energy efficiency during major moments of change in their lives, such as moving away from their childhood home and living independently for the first time, can have a critical impact on their future habits.”
One of the students involved in the programme said: ‘Being a volunteer with SOS-UK has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I have found it to be a fulfilling opportunity to contribute to sustainable practices and make a positive impact on the environment.
“It has allowed me to actively engage with like-minded individuals, learn about sustainable living, and promote eco-friendly habits within the community. The hands-on experience of implementing recycling programs, organising energy-saving initiatives, and raising awareness about sustainable practices has been both educational and inspiring. I am grateful for the chance to be part of such a meaningful endeavour and to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future.”
Joanna said: “We are very thankful to have received funding through the National Lottery and are excited about what transformational changes the project will bring.”