Volunteer Hub
Eco Champions
Organisation Details
University of Manchester -School of Biological Sciences- Eco-Champions
Activity type: Campaigning and Lobbying, Environment and Gardening, Health and Wellbeing, Practical Work and DIY, Research, Science and Technology
Sub theme: Education
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Make a Difference'
Organisation Description: The Eco-Champions is a volunteering group in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS), led by Dr. Maggy Fostier. We plan sustainability or biodiversity campaigns throughout the academic year. Although we based in SBS, we welcome students from other schools.
Description of role: You will carry out eco-actions and run campaigns, increasing student engagement with sustainable activities at the University of Manchester and beyond, which will span, sustainable living (travel, food, social events, well-being in green spaces), reducing consumption and plastic use with the 6R guide, increasing sustainability knowledge, and engaging with nature on campus.
Our actions and campaigns may be public facing (F2F) or involve social media. Even if you are shy, you can still engage in the campaign by helping us prepare materials, creating contents for promotion in social media, and organising event venue etc.
What Eco Champions may do in the 2025-2026 academic year:
Semester 1:
Campaign 1: Week 2-3 will focus on promoting Active Travel Challenges, well-being in the Stopford quad with games & and creating a Pub Quiz to test and increase sustainability knowledge, in collaboration with “Off the Record” student initiative.
Campaign 2: Week 2-4 Green Halloween and greening Black Friday through reuse and sustainable eco-crafting
1. Focusing on reusing textiles and clothes to create new Halloween costumes, collaborating with Sewing Society and Knitting Society
2. Creating a platform for swapping old costumes
3. Organising eco-crafting sessions to help students learn sewing skills to amend costumes and create decorations
4. Party decoration workshops using unwanted items
5. Creating and sharing guidelines for choosing more sustainable party cups
6. Promoting the best sustainable Sweets
7. Sharing recipes for pumpkin-based food from different cultures
Campaign 3: Week 7-8 F2F Sustainability campaign to increase knowledge
1. Promoting sustainable and affordable eating on campus and actions to reduce food waste, including learning how to best and safely preserve food.
2. Promoting knowledge on sustainability (Carbon footprint, plastics and microplastics, recycling, money saving swaps and recycling schemes), including creating posters and social media.
Campaign 4: Week 6-12: Social media. Review and update the 6R guide to reduce plastics use using a social media campaign approach – needs creative graphic skills.
Campaign 5: Week 10-12: Preparing for healthy living during revision and exam period: Eating well on a budget, taking time out for well-being and exercise, book swaps.
Semester 2 campaigns will be updated soon.
How to apply
Please press “Apply Now” at the bottom of this webpage to sign up and collect volunteer hours for Stellify
In the section: “Why do you want to apply for the role”, we only want you to specify what you want to do: the campaign(s) you want to join this semester (1 to 5), type of activities (F2F stalls, workshops, quiz preparation, social media, organisation of events), and your favourite themes (travel, plastics, general knowledge, textiles, food, consumption, recycling, green spaces)
Click or copy the link to join our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/B8qdidjr3WSJkBzkcS4tgl?mode=ems_copy_c
Our actions and campaigns may be public facing (F2F) or involve social media. Even if you are shy, you can still engage in the campaign by helping us prepare materials, creating contents for promotion in social media, and organising event venue etc.
What Eco Champions may do in the 2025-2026 academic year:
Semester 1:
Campaign 1: Week 2-3 will focus on promoting Active Travel Challenges, well-being in the Stopford quad with games & and creating a Pub Quiz to test and increase sustainability knowledge, in collaboration with “Off the Record” student initiative.
Campaign 2: Week 2-4 Green Halloween and greening Black Friday through reuse and sustainable eco-crafting
1. Focusing on reusing textiles and clothes to create new Halloween costumes, collaborating with Sewing Society and Knitting Society
2. Creating a platform for swapping old costumes
3. Organising eco-crafting sessions to help students learn sewing skills to amend costumes and create decorations
4. Party decoration workshops using unwanted items
5. Creating and sharing guidelines for choosing more sustainable party cups
6. Promoting the best sustainable Sweets
7. Sharing recipes for pumpkin-based food from different cultures
Campaign 3: Week 7-8 F2F Sustainability campaign to increase knowledge
1. Promoting sustainable and affordable eating on campus and actions to reduce food waste, including learning how to best and safely preserve food.
2. Promoting knowledge on sustainability (Carbon footprint, plastics and microplastics, recycling, money saving swaps and recycling schemes), including creating posters and social media.
Campaign 4: Week 6-12: Social media. Review and update the 6R guide to reduce plastics use using a social media campaign approach – needs creative graphic skills.
Campaign 5: Week 10-12: Preparing for healthy living during revision and exam period: Eating well on a budget, taking time out for well-being and exercise, book swaps.
Semester 2 campaigns will be updated soon.
How to apply
Please press “Apply Now” at the bottom of this webpage to sign up and collect volunteer hours for Stellify
In the section: “Why do you want to apply for the role”, we only want you to specify what you want to do: the campaign(s) you want to join this semester (1 to 5), type of activities (F2F stalls, workshops, quiz preparation, social media, organisation of events), and your favourite themes (travel, plastics, general knowledge, textiles, food, consumption, recycling, green spaces)
Click or copy the link to join our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/B8qdidjr3WSJkBzkcS4tgl?mode=ems_copy_c
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Creative Skills, Event Planning, Leadership, Marketing and PR, Oral Communication Skills, Practical Skills, Project Management, Research, Team Working, Written Communication Skills
Are volunteer expenses available?: No
Duration of role: Ongoing / Long term
Start date:
End date:
Opportunity times: Monday AM, Monday PM, Monday Evening, Tuesday AM, Tuesday PM, Tuesday Evening, Wednesday AM, Wednesday PM, Wednesday Evening, Thursday AM, Thursday PM, Thursday Evening, Friday AM, Friday PM, Friday Evening, Saturday AM, Saturday PM, Saturday Evening, Sunday AM, Sunday PM, Sunday Evening
DBS required: Off
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Is this organisation part of the Sports Volunteering Scheme (SVS)?: No
Minimum hours commitment: 2-12 hours during term or over summer (self organised)
Location: