Shetland Students' Green Team are HISA Society of the Year

Facebook Facebook Messenger X WhatsApp LinkedIn email

The Shetland Students’ Green Team have been awarded the 2019 HISA Society of the Year Award.

see full size image
Natasha Morgan, HISA Vice President of Further Education presents Shetland Students Green Team members Carly Sinclair and Sarah Hargraves (President, pictured with daughter Edie) their award at graduation. Photograph by Ben Mullay.

The Green Team, which was formed by students at both Shetland College UHI and NAFC Marine Centre UHI, is less than 6 months old but in that time they’ve worked hard to raise awareness of environment and sustainability issues at the campuses.   

The society have gotten students and staff involved in events, taking part in the Shetland Amenity Trust’s Da Voar Redd Up which is a community led litter pick-up.  They have also organised a collection point for used stationery so that items can be sent to the mainland for recycling, as well as looking at the recycling options available at the campuses.

The Shetland Students’ Green Team is the first student society to have been set up at either of the Shetland campuses. It is affiliated to HISA which ensures that the society and its members are supported.

Leanne Gear, Shetland College UHI’s Student Engagement and Communication Assistant, initiated the discussion amongst students and provided support in getting the group established.  Leanne said, “It’s great to see how well the group have come together. I was delighted to see such a fantastic turnout at the beach clean with students and staff from all campuses in attendance. The group are enthusiastic, committed and have some really great ideas.”

At a recent meeting, members mentioned that they had “been delighted to receive the level of support and encouragement so far.”

Students and staff taking part in the Da Voar Redd Up Beach Clean

Photograph taken at Da Voar Redd Up in April at Pund Voe - a beach clean organised by the Shetland Students Green Team

Photograph by Rory Gillies

 

Plans for the coming academic year are already underway with the society hoping to invite inspiring speakers for talks, organise screenings and more events for students and staff to take part in.

“We would like to share the sense of empowerment we get from taking action, like our beach clean, with as many people as possible.”

You can follow the Shetland Students’ Green Team on facebook.