At Roehampton, we are passionate about engaging our community in sustainability, and supporting initiatives from our students and staff. We have been hard at work, running regular events and activities throughout the year to involve students and staff in meaningful sustainability initiatives.
Recent Events (2025–26)
- During the 2025 autumn term, the Sustainability Team launched the Sustainability Café series – relaxed, drop-in events designed to spark informal conversations about sustainability with staff and students. Held in high-footfall campus spaces, the cafés combine simple activities, free refreshments, and opportunities to connect everyday campus life with Roehampton’s wider sustainability goals.
- Below is a snapshot of our first two cafés.
- Our first Sustainability Café took place outside Digby on a sunny autumn morning on the 9th October 2025, creating a welcoming and informal setting. With coffee and pastries drawing in passers-by, we welcomed approximately 15 students and 7 staff members.
- Participants took part in two low-pressure, hands-on activities:
- ‘Leaf a Thought’, where students shared ideas and hopes for sustainability at Roehampton on paper leaves, providing valuable insight into community priorities.
- Calendula de-seeding, led by Bridget Steenkamp using campus-grown plants, encouraging relaxed conversation while learning about practical uses of calendula.
- Our second café took place in The Reef in collaboration with Southlands College’s weekly Fun & Games event on 18th November 2025. This partnership created a lively lunchtime atmosphere and strong visibility, with around 20 students, 3 College Community Leaders, and 3 staff members attending.
- The session focused on a nature-inspired creative activity, with students painting guided and campus-inspired designs. Sustainability fact sheets were also available for those wanting to learn more while taking a break, helping to blend creativity and learning.
Past Events (2024–25)
As the academic year came to a close and students moved out of halls, we invited the Roehampton community to donate unwanted items at Monte Hall (Froebel College, next to the Union Bar). The aim was to reduce waste and support fellow students and the wider community by giving pre-loved clothes, kitchenware, books, and household supplies a second life.
This collaborative initiative between the Students’ Union and the Sustainability Team saw generous contributions sorted and redistributed through several meaningful channels:
- The SU Community Pantry, which provides free essential items to students facing cost-of-living pressures
- The Dress for Success scheme via the Student Futures team, offering interview-appropriate clothing to support graduate employability
- British Heart Foundation collection points, helping raise funds through reuse
- Remaining items were listed on the Freegle app, where they were made available to local community members
Thank you to everyone who donated – your contributions helped reduce waste and supported others!
As a partner in this event, the University of Roehampton helped bring together students from across London to showcase research and projects focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). Read more about Roehampton's involvement here.
This event was run in collaboration with Apleona, our campus facilities partner, and brought together staff and students to take action for a cleaner environment. Together, volunteers collected over 50kg of waste from across campus and the surrounding area.
To help engage and incentivise participation, we offer free hot drinks to all volunteers as a small thank you for their time and effort. We aim to run at least one of these collaborative litter picks each year to encourage shared responsibility and community pride in our environment.
Founded in memory of a Roehampton law professor, these student-led, interdisciplinary workshops use craft-based learning to explore sustainability themes like fast fashion, single-use materials, and microplastics. They promote reflection, leadership, and action through creative, hands-on sessions linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The workshops have been running throughout the 2024/25 academic year, continuing to engage students across disciplines in meaningful, skills-based sustainability learning.
Read about the workshops in more detail on our Education for Sustainability section.
A flagship week of sustainability-focused events attended by hundreds across the university and led by the Student's Union.
Green Week Highlights
Green Week was a huge success, bringing together students and staff for hands-on activities and reflective moments that centered sustainability and well-being.
- Wild Walk – 4 students participated in a guided nature walk, appreciating the beauty of our local environment.
- Mindfulness Session – A well-attended session with 10 students, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being and nature connection.
- Green Fair – A resounding success with 200 attendees, engaging with eco-friendly organisations and sustainable businesses.
- Litter Picking – A dedicated group of 8 individuals contributed to a cleaner campus.
- Slow Ink Workshop – 55 students explored eco-friendly art practices, showcasing creativity and sustainability.
- Green Week Finale – A fantastic close to the week, with 50 students coming together to celebrate our collective efforts.
Green Week Finale Event at London Wetlands Centre
Ongoing Engagement Opportunities
There are plenty of ways to stay involved in sustainability across campus:
- Student Union Events
Many events, campaigns, and volunteer opportunities are listed on the SU What’s on page. - University Portal
Look out for announcements and booking links for upcoming sustainability events.
Student Involvement in Sustainability Governance
Student voices play a vital role in shaping sustainability at Roehampton. In the 2024–25 academic year:
- Mohammad Imran Shafiqi, Students' Union President, represented the student body on the Sustainability Committee (SC), contributing to strategic discussions and decisions around the university’s sustainability priorities.
- Adam Fewster, Students' Union Vice President of Welfare, represented the student voice on the Circular Economy Working Group, ensuring student perspectives were considered in how the university manages its spaces, operations, and purchasing practices.
This ongoing involvement ensures that student perspectives remain central to our sustainability planning and action.
Growhampton
Growhampton is a food sustainability project that grows fruits, vegetables, and herbs across campus, from the allotment bed to the forest garden. It also includes a flock of chickens, many of whom are rescued and rehomed hens. The project invites students to roll up their sleeves and experience the wonder of growing their own food. It’s not just about planting seeds, but about understanding the connections between healthy soil, vital pollinators, and the people working alongside you, building deeper connections with nature and each other.
Here are some highlights from Growhampton during the 2024–25 academic year:
- Chicken volunteering: 255 hours contributed by a mix of staff and student volunteers
- Eggs laid: 314 eggs
- Gardening volunteering: 217 hours
- Vegetables harvested: 220 kg, including tomatoes, onions, potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, chard, kale, salad leaves, berries (raspberries and foraged blackberries), and herbs
Find out more about Growhampton on the SU website
Get Involved
Got an idea for an event or initiative?
Contact us with your suggestions SustainabilityTeam@roehampton.ac.uk – we'd love to hear from you.