An Local Skills Improvement (LSIF) funded project, aimed to helping raise awareness about sustainability and green issues, has won a top award!
The Green Changemakers Hub has recently won the Digital Futures category at the Green Gown Awards.
The project started with the Green Changemakers programme at Fircroft College of Adult Education. A series of workshops were held to lay the foundations of changemaking and how colleges could be key in providing green skills and a green mindset to the next generation.
It was commissioned after the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) highlighted more needs to be done to highlight green futures across FE.
Then, earlier this year, the Hub was launched. The state-of-the-art virtual hub was designed to provide people working in Further Education get a better grasp on sustainability and green issues.
The hub takes you on a journey through a wonderful space, comprising of cafes, a cinema and a library. It highlights the work of Green Changemakers who have been pivotal to the success of the scheme and aims to be a cosy bookshop where you can get information, resources and advice, with articles, podcast and films to inspire.
Dr Lou Mycroft who has been leading the project said at the time of launch, “This is a boutique space, co-curated by Green Changemakers to offer something fresh to you, each time you visit.
“We want the Hub to be that wonderful little curated bookshop or record store that we love to visit on holiday or at a weekend, where there’s always something new to discover. An art gallery of a Hub, where we can find the basics – policies, strategies, key thinkpieces – flavoured with special exhibitions, half-forgotten gems, eye-catching images, engaging podcasts, thought-provoking videos.
“Green Changemaking is about supporting every individual to play their part in systems and culture change, working towards that greener future we all care about, and this Hub will play an important role in being a ‘go-to’ place for resources and a place to chat with like-minded people. “
The judges at the Green Gown Awards agreed and wrote, “This project is underpinned by a strong commitment to sustainability, diversity, and future skills, with these priorities embedded from the design stage. The team’s passion and depth of research are evident, resulting in a beautifully executed application that balances personal narrative with robust methodology and metrics. The space itself is visually striking, and the potential for international impact is clear. Collaboration with partners such as Meta suggests valuable knowledge exchange and collective learning. The reflexive and constructive approach to an inherited deliverable is commendable, and the emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and shared action strengthens the project’s relevance and reach across the sector.”
Dr Lou Mycroft is thrilled with the recognition. “We are so delighted to win this Green Gown Award. The Green Changemakers Hub has been a genuinely collective labour of love, which has enabled us to learn about – and practice – digital sustainability and inclusion, ethically and collaboratively. The Hub is freely available to all and we hope you will find it as beautiful and inspirational as we do!”
Link to the Green Changemakers Hub: https://bit.ly/3FhuviG
