Volunteering with the Energy and Sustainability Team

Photo of students holding litter pick bags. Photo by warwickunisust on Instagram

“Volunteering to help clean up the green spaces around campus was more than just doing my part in protecting the environment; it brought along a real sense of connectedness with nature and with people. We are not separated from the nature surrounding us; rather, we are constantly shaped by it, and sometimes we can give something back to it.”

I frequently get asked, when did you become so interested in sustainability? Was it when you started volunteering for Warwick Volunteers in your first year or were you always interested in sustainability? In all honesty, volunteering was the foundation but, it was the Energy and Sustainability Team at Warwick University that introduced me to the many dimensions of what sustainability means and my passion for it.

So, the question you may be asking is, who is the Energy and Sustainability Team? Besides the fact that the whole team is filled with amazing and dedicated individuals, the team works towards:

(1)Raising Awareness

(2)Reducing our carbon emissions and overall environmental impact

(3)Making a positive difference to nature

With a wide range of sessions open to staff and students, as a community, we can come together to work towards making a stronger, sustainable future for generations to come.

On the topic of sessions, I have been involved in a wide range of fun activities held by the Energy and Sustainability Team, from Wombles Litter Picks, to participating in the Donation Drive and Kitchen Kit Market.

I remember one cold, chilly morning where I set out to meet up with the team on the Health Centre Road for the Warwick Wombles Litter Pick. There was a buzzing of chatter and enthusiasm when I collected my litter pick and bag, and we set off to collect as much litter as possible. With a skip in my footsteps, I adventured around campus, finding all sorts of littered treasure. One moment I remember in particular was finding a scythe blade buried in the ground! Pulling this out, I felt a wide range of emotions from surprise to disappointment, especially because someone has left something so harmful, so dangerous, to the lives of the creatures inhabiting that land. I remember the Sustainability Assistant, Dalma Zsalako, taking the photo to spread awareness of the serious impacts this has on both people and wildlife alike:

However, it was not all negative. We continued on our litter pick journey and spotted a wide range of wildlife! We enjoyed looking at fluffy goslings and greylag geese marking their territory on the patches of daises. I felt such a sense of awe and peace when walking around the lake collecting rubbish and making conversations will fellow litter pickers! It made me reflect on how grateful I am to be surrounded by such beautiful woodlands here on campus, but also the community that is filled with likeminded and caring individuals! In the end, all 8 of us collected 12.1kg of discarded rubbish around Tocil Lake and I left feeling tired but proud of the work we accomplished.

So, back to the quote mentioned in the beginning. If you were wondering who said it, it was actually my response to why I found it so important to join volunteering initiatives like the ones the Energy and Sustainability Team offer. Volunteering brought along memories and friendships, but, most importantly, a way for me to give back to the environment and the community around me that has shaped my life for the better.

So, has this convinced you to contribute to the work of the Energy and Sustainability Team? You can join the Green Champion Network where you can get involved in sustainability initiatives, raise awareness, and identify opportunities to create a more sustainable environment. Or experience the sessions yourself and have a look at their webpage to sign up to a wide range of fun activities hosted by the Energy and Sustainability Team.

A photo of a student (Aleesha) holding a scythe blade. Photo by warwickunisust on Instagram.