Positive Change Week 2023

Positive Change Week 2023

Monday 4 - Friday 8 December 2023

Positive Change Week was a week-long celebration of sustainability and social responsibility at Lancaster University. It aimed to inspire students, staff and the wider community to take action for a better future. Students and staff joined in with a variety of events and activities that showcase the amazing work being done by our university and its partners to address the global challenges we face.

Find out more details below on the online Sustainability Forum programme, or some of the events that happened on campus during the week.

Sustainability Forum 2023

The Global Sustainability Forum launched a month of sustainability action for Lancaster University students at Bailrigg and our partner campuses around the world. Taking place across three stages, all virtually, students came together initially for a digital global masterclass to learn from and be inspired by change maker Beth Eden, CEO of QS ImpACT who is already taking local and global action to address the SDGs.

Students then attended virtual micro-internships where they developed their work in diverse groups, problem-solving and working with peers to address real challenges brought to them by two organisations: Newform Foods (South Africa) and 4Ps Corporation (Vietnam). The finale of the programme culminates in a pitch event during Positive Change Week which will see students present their ideas to their peers and senior university management, with a chance to also reflect and celebrate.

Students sat at a computer

December volunteering fair

Students joined the careers team in the Learning Zone on Thursday, 7 December. They met many different volunteer organisations who were there to talk to students who wished to undertake some volunteering either on campus or in the wider local community.

Students at a careers fair

Positive Change Week events

ECOShop section of ReStore

Donation Day

Monday, 4 December, saw a Donation Day, where we encouraged staff and students to donate to ReStore Lancaster. We encouraged donations of pre-loved clothing, which will be donated to the St Johns Hospice section within ReStore. These home items will be upcycled and re-sold in the ECOShop within ReStore, and foodbank items will be donated to the Lancaster University Student Union Pantry.

Professor Simon Guy opening up the event

Sustainability Excellence event

Thursday 7 December saw staff and students gather to celebrate sustainability excellence in an event that shone a spotlight on examples of positive change within Lancaster University and the wider community. Hosted by Professor Simon Guy, speakers included Carys Nelkon from Morecambe Bay Curriculum, Alex Hall from Where the Wildings Are; and Dr Allan Discua Cruz, Dr Georgiana Allison and Natalie Bauer from different areas of the university.

Student making a recycled plastic phone stand

Relic Plastic pop-up

We invited local recycled plastic company Relic Plastic to campus to run a pop-up event. Staff and students were invited to learn all about recycled plastic and then create a product of their own using some of the recycled plastic flakes and moulds. We also encouraged attendees to share their ideas and pledges of positive change.

Previous years

Find out more about some of the activities that have taken place in previous years.

  • COP26 Week

    Learn more about our COP26 at Lancaster Festival where we brought together leading voices on climate change issues.

  • COP27 Week

    Learn more about what we did to celebrate COP27 - and the research and insight from our world-leading academic experts.