Bourne Education Trust gears up for its inaugural Green Week

Bourne Education Trust (BET) is gearing up for an exciting milestone – its inaugural BET Green Week, taking place from 10th - 14th June 2024. This Trust-wide initiative aims to inspire students, staff, and communities across all 26 schools to embrace sustainability, conservation and eco-conscious living, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment.

During the week, students and staff will participate in a range of carefully designed activities centred around five daily themes: Meat Free Monday, Technology Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesday, Thrifty Thursday and Feel-Good Friday. These themes will explore plant-based diets, energy-saving practices, wildlife appreciation, recycling and reusing and celebrating collective achievements.

Adding to the excitement, a poster competition will be held across the Trust, with entrants selected to attend BET's first Student Sustainability Conference in collaboration with the Built Environment Trust at their central London headquarters. This unique opportunity will empower BET's young voices and cultivate the next generation of eco-champions.

Alongside the daily themed activities, BET will launch its new Trust-wide waste standards initiative, targeting all schools to achieve the bronze level standard by the end of the upcoming academic year. Furthermore, the Trust will announce the details of its estate-wide Solar PV Scheme, with a c. £1/2million investment in year 1.  This will reduce energy bills across the schools involved by up to £80,000 and significantly reduce BET's carbon footprint by as much as 14.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per year – the equivalent to driving a car around the circumference of the earth over three times!

Schools will also implement '5 Top Tips to Save Energy', promoting easy behaviour changes that can have a huge impact on energy usage.

"The BET Green Week is a fantastic opportunity for our Trust to come together and take meaningful steps towards a more sustainable future," said Kate Sanders, COO and Sustainability Lead. "By educating and engaging with our students and staff, we can foster a culture of environmental consciousness that will have a lasting impact on our communities and the planet."

Stay tuned for more updates and get involved in the BET Green Week! Together, we can make a difference and create a greener, more sustainable future for all.