Health, Sustainability and Wellbeing

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is about enabling people (staff and students) to develop the knowledge, values and skills to participate in decisions about the way we do things individually and collectively, both locally and globally which will improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for the future. Please take time to look at the College ESDGC Policy Statement which is available on the portal.

Education for Global Citizenship (GC) enables people to understand the global forces which shape their lives and to acquire the knowledge, skills and values that will equip them to participate in decision-making, both locally and globally, which promotes a more equitable and sustainable world. ESDGC is of immense importance for students and staff and is an integral and fundamental aspect of the learning and working experience.  This is reflected within the ESTYN framework and within the Future Generations Bill and lies at the heart of the Welsh Government’s agenda for Wales as described above.

ESDGC helps people (staff and students) to cope with, manage and shape social, economic and ecological conditions characterised by change, uncertainty, risk and complexity.  Sustainability literacy therefore, equips individuals with highly desirable skills, knowledge and characteristics demanded in the modern business.  In particular, ESDGC offers an approach to education which allows not only allows delivery of the core course material but adds significant added value in terms of critical and reflective thinking, systemic thinking, collaboration/partnership/soft skills and personal and social skills (citizenship) for example – all important for the emerging low carbon economy.

For college staff, this opens up an exciting world of opportunities: upskilling, re-envisioning, re-invention, collaborative working, systemic/holistic thinking and a whole host of other beneficial elements.  Of course, support/staff development may be needed and this will be provided

The greatest contribution that Bridgend College can make to sustainable development is by enabling individuals to acquire the skills, knowledge, values and behaviour which allow them to make an important difference in a changing world. What they learn and how they are taught is therefore critical. Above all else, ESDGC is education for and not simply about sustainable development and this means that success is about positive behaviour change.

ESDGC is about the big issues which affect us all: things such as climate change, green jobs, energy security, fair trade, human rights, food, biodiversity, conflict and democracy. It is about how they relate to each other and to us on both a local and global scale.

ESDGC is about:

• The links between society, economy and environment
• The links between our own lives and other people across the world
• The needs and rights of both present and future generations
• The relationship between power, resources and human rights
• The actions that we take individually and collectively in response to local and global issues.

 ESDGC is about helping individuals and communities become ‘future-ready’

Further information is available at:

www.esd-wales.org.uk

http://en.unesco.org/themes/education-21st-century

Bridgend College is at the heart of local communities and therefore building and maintaining positive relationships with businesses, partners and individuals is absolutely central to a thriving local economy and sustainable community.

What makes a sustainable community?

The best communities have the best community spirit; the ones that go out of their way to embrace and include the residents. People accept each other – it’s more than tolerance; it’s a sense of pride in the area and its people.

Every community needs people and places around which they can find support, friendship and meaning. This develops a sense of fairness, so that no one feels bias, people can feel safe both within their locality and within their homes and that people care about each other.

A sustainable community must be environmentally friendly too and that means a collective responsibility towards issues such as noise, litter, traffic and biodiversity; it’s the way things used to be which we need to re-learn.

There are many opportunities for individuals to strengthen their role within a community and, further, opportunities for students to get involved through their learning too.

Climate change is at the heart of national, international and global concerns about sustainable development. The scientific consensus on global warming is very strong and growing. Measuring carbon emissions and using this data as a ‘common currency’ is a very valuable tool in tracking resources efficiency gains and is a key performance indicator. Carbon management also makes good sense in terms of applying the precautionary principle.

Bridgend College’s key objectives for the Carbon Management Programme are:

• To understand and quantify the carbon impact of the college
• To use carbon data to establish baselines and monitoring of carbon emissions, from which reduction strategies can be assessed, costs controlled, targets set and action implemented
• To identify, resource and implement projects which will help to reduce carbon emissions
• To ensure that the challenge of carbon management and the reduction of pollution is understood and shared at both strategic and individual levels throughout the college
• To achieve carbon emissions reduction set out in our sustainable development strategy
• To assess land use as a potential for CO2 absorption

Main benefits

• Reduce our vulnerability to volatile and increasing utility costs
• Meet the requirements of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard
• Meet our commitments as a signatory of the Welsh Sustainable Development Charter
• Comply with planning guidance, building regulations and other schemes
• Avoid legal and reputational risk

Please take a look at our annual performance report and sustainable development strategy.

Easy things you can do…

Power down – switch off, save energy

Travel light – buses and pedal power cut carbon – please see our Green Travel Section

Further information is available at:

http://www.theccc.org.uk/

http://www.un.org/climatechange/

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-guide

Towards zero waste is the overarching waste strategy for Wales, set out by the Welsh Government (WG) which applies equally at home. The WG strategy is geared towards materials efficiency and waste management between now and 2050 and aims for Wales to be a high recycling nation by 2025 and a zero waste one planet nation by 2050.

The challenges we are facing

• Sustainability – we want to develop sustainably by enhancing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities
• Ecological footprint – ecological footprinting measures environmental impact. The management of our waste is responsible for around 15% of Wales’ ecological footprint
• Climate change – we need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced from waste. Direct emissions are produced by the decomposition of biodegradable waste in landfill sites. Waste contributes around 4.7% of direct greenhouse gas emissions in Wales
• Security of resources – we need to ensure we have enough resources, at an affordable price, to sustain our economy and way of life. By using resources more efficiently through waste prevention and high reuse and recycling rates, material security is improved and dependence on primary resources from outside the UK is reduced

Our priority is to ensure that waste management and waste minimisation follows the waste hierarchy approach:

Easy things you can do…

Avoid waste – don’t buy stuff if you don’t have to: avoid buying over-packaged goods, choose containers which are recyclable

Re-use – it’s too easy to throw away perfectly useable materials – if you have to, then give to charity first

Take responsibility for your waste – become a super recycler and take your waste materials home with you

Use recycling facilities – take time to separate your waste and use the correct recycling containers

Further information is available at:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/

How we move around has a direct impact not only on our health and wellbeing, but also on how much we contribute to emitting carbon into the atmosphere.  There’s also noise and pollution to consider too. But there are many options to reduce our ecological footprint through walking, cycling or public transport. Bridgend College has developed a Green Travel Plan to help reduce single occupancy travel, encourage us all to embrace a fitter and healthier lifestyle and reduce our carbon footprint too. In fact, we hold the Welsh Green Travel Plan Award!

Cycle-to-work staff scheme

Why not join our successful cycle to work scheme for staff? It’s a great way of keeping in shape and helping the environment, as well as getting a great deal on the cost of your bike. It is easy to join* (see the simple steps below) and the following links to the paperwork used  (application, agreement, voucher). We will do all the administration for you.

The scheme operates on a “salary sacrifice” basis with a set amount of your salary coming out from staff pay each month (payment period 12 months; hire period 60 months). The benefit of the scheme is that tax and NIC breaks mean that you will save roughly one third on the cost of your bike.

We have links with local bike shops to support the local economy, community partnerships as well as sustainability and, between them, we are sure they will have in stock or be able to source your preferred choice of bike. The Cycle to Work Scheme is part of our Green Travel Plan and has contributed to our Green Travel Award.

Staff ‘Pool Cycles’  

The college has a choice of “pool” bikes available to staff (hybrid, folding and electric), ideal for travelling between campuses or to visit local employers or for a quick cycle lunch time which can be hired out.

Cycle proficiency training and bike maintenance days are also arranged, but make sure that you look out for cycling promotion events such as Climate Change Week and Cycle Week. Why not take part in sponsored charity rides?

Further information on all aspects of cycling in and around the Borough including local cycle routes is available from the HSE Department.

Bridgend County Borough Council is currently holding consultations around improving cycle routes in and around Bridgend and Pencoed- so watch this space for developments.

* Process:

Further information on travel options are available at:

http://www1.bridgend.ac.uk/about-us/campuses/

http://sharecymru.carbonheroes.com/WelshLanding.aspx

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

http://www.gettravelwise.com/

http://www.traveline-cymru.info/

Food is something which affects every single one of us. You have probably heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’, well that’s certainly true but it also matter where the food comes from. Wholesome, nutritious and flavoursome food should be produced, processed, bought, sold and eaten in ways that:

• Provide social benefits, such as safe and nutritious products, and improve people’s experiences of good quality food, for instance by growing and cooking it, which helps to enrich our knowledge and skills, and our cultural diversity. Access to food and food poverty are also major issues facing many communities across the world.
• Contribute to thriving local economies which create good jobs and secure livelihoods, both within and outside the UK.
• Enhance the health and variety of both plants and animals, including animal welfare, and protect natural resources such as water and soil, and help to conserve ecosystems, biodiversity and help tackle climate change.

Easy things you can do…

• Aim to go waste-free – reduce food waste also reduces packaging. This saves the energy, water, effort and materials used to produce it. Don’t forget that it saves money too
• Better meal-planning and consuming less meat and dairy – eat more fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses and smaller amounts of animal products produced to high-welfare and environmental standards helps reduce health risks, improves health and wellbeing and reduces and greenhouse gases. It’s’ much better for the natural environment too
• Buy local, seasonal and environmentally friendly food – this benefits wildlife and the countryside, minimises the energy used in food production, transport and storage, and helps protect the local economy.  Don’t forget to enquire about local suppliers – did they procure their food locally too? Don’t be afraid to ask where your food comes from
• Choose Fairtrade-certified products – wherever you can, purchase Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or foods supplied under similar schemes. This ensures that the environment and people from poorer countries get a fair deal
• Select sustainable fish – Some common fish stocks are extremely low (eg cod). We need to choose other types of fish and protect our rivers and seas so that populations have a chance to recover
• The right balance – We need to cut down on sugar, salt and fat, and most of us want to avoid questionable ingredients and processes such as genetic modification (GM) and some additives
• Growing your own – Fresh out of the garden or allotment is simply unbeatable and it’s so easy to do. You can grow in almost any container and you know exactly how the food has been grown and there’s no packaging waste either. You can save a fortune and improve your health and wellbeing in the process.

Further information is available at:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

http://www.healthchallengewales.org/home

Personal wellbeing is made up of a number of evidenced-based, measurable components that, if they were routinely applied in our society, would make a measurable difference to everyone’s lives. You may think that wellness is measured simply by the absence of ill health, but there is so much more to wellness than that. Wellbeing also consists of nurturing one or more of the following 5 elements:

• Positive emotion such as happiness, pleasure and comfort (all in the present)
• Engagement: being absorbed in your task, losing self-consciousness
• Positive relationships – very little which is positive is solitary. People often talk about going out and doing a random act of kindness
• Meaning: belonging to and serving something that you believe is bigger than yourself
• Accomplishment or achievement which can often be pursued for its own sake

There are other aspects which contribute to wellbeing such as:

• A well-balanced diet
• Regular exercise
• Smoking cessation
• Moderate alcohol consumption
• Good mental health
• Effective health and safety
• Lifestyle screening

Corporate Health Standard

Bridgend College has  achieved Platinum level of the Corporate Health Standard – a level which is reserved for exemplar employers demonstrating organisational excellence and take full account of their corporate social responsibility.  This standard is a mark of quality for health and wellbeing in the workplace and is a continuous journey of good practice and improvement.

Easy things you can do…  

Look at the wealth of information on the portal – there is a large amount of supporting information on the portal on a whole range of topics from pregnancy, smoking, nutrition, stress and much more. The information is at your fingertips.

Cycle to work and ‘pool-cycle’ scheme – why not join the highly successful cycle to work scheme or perhaps use one of the pool cycles?

Fitness facilities – don’t forget there is discounted access to facilities such as swimming pools, gyms and fitness classes via the Halo Leisure scheme

On-campus facilities – there are plenty of facilities to use at the Pencoed Campus such as the sports hall, gym, fields and more

Food – there are loads of delicious, nutritious and healthy options in the refectories, or why not book in at Seasons restaurant?

Health and beauty – there’s always a good time to pamper yourself. Why not book a beauty treatment or perhaps a massage in our on-site InTuition salons?

Staff Handbook – don’t forget that the staff handbook has details on these and other services which staff can access including access to a team of occupational therapists, employment advisors and physiotherapists who can help with a variety of health issues or concerns.

Further information is available at:

http://www.healthchallengewales.org/home

http://www.wellbeingthroughwork.org/

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/healthy-eating/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx

http://www.nutrition.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit/

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/

https://love2walk.co.uk/

https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/roads-transport-and-parking/active-travel-routes/

Bridgend College staff can also access Care First where there is 24/7 support and advice a whole range of issues from confidential advice on personal family issues, debt, personalised training, weight management, food and nutrition, stress and more.  All available via the link here.  There is also information on the 5 ways of working for wellbeing here.

We also have a new wellbeing site where you can find more information on a range of wellbeing topics. Just click here.

Integrated thinking: embedding sustainability into decision-making and strategy.

The health and stability of our businesses and economies are dependent on the health and stability of both the natural environment and the people living within it rather than the other way around.

In order to create and maintain value into the future, organisations need to integrate sustainability into their overall strategy and decision-making processes.

Embedding sustainability into an organisation’s strategy and decision-making processes helps to reduce future regulatory, resource and price risks and provides a vision of how business may be impacted by short, medium and long term environmental and social changes. It also provides a more holistic view of the organisation in terms of its operations, risks and opportunities to enable more sustainable management and value creation into the future.

Our objective is to assess sustainability accounting and produce an action plan to incorporate sustainability accounting within the college financial department.

Further information is available at:

http://www.accountingforsustainability.org/

There are a number of important ongoing objectives regarding maintenance of the building stock and the general environment which are controlled by the Estates Manager.

Effective management of the estate is a crucial aspect of maintaining high levels of health, safety, welfare and environmental protection.  Uncontrolled management can have a significant and unacceptable impact on levels of risk for the College.

The estates department plays a central role in managing resources to create a welcoming, attractive, safe and healthy environment in which to work and learn; thereby helping to improve the quality of life of staff and students. Strong links with sustainable development are very clear indeed.

Construction and refurbishment

Bridgend College can reduce its impact on the environment and reduce its running costs by improving the quality of existing and new buildings. Sustainable methods of construction and refurbishment make sense on both environmental and value-for-money grounds.

Buildings which are good for the environment and good for wellbeing are good for the college. Bright, naturally lit, airy buildings are good to work in, enhance learning and reduce energy bills. High performance, well insulated buildings with low energy consumption lighting and good levels of light control all reduce costs. Low flush cisterns, concussive spray-pattern taps and grey water for flushing all reduce water consumption and drive down costs. Flexible buildings reduce the costs of adaptation and natural ventilation avoids the purchase and operation of costly cooling equipment.

Only timber and timber products such as The Forest Stewardship Council or similar, which have been lawfully obtained and have come from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their biodiversity, productivity and vitality, and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people, will be used on the estate. This applies to both in-house work and is specified in contract work.  Materials are re-used wherever possible during refurbishment.

Projects support environmental sustainability through the efficient use of space, reduced environmental impact and the promotion of biodiversity. The link between capital funding and environmental performance is already an important consideration with new buildings and when refurbishing existing ones. A Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) can be used to assess the environmental performance of any type of building.

Using this kind of approach, a building can be rated based on its environmental impacts, including health and wellbeing, energy, waste, water, transport, land use, ecology and pollution. These factors will be considered, so far as is reasonably practicable, in all maintenance and small refurbishment work. Measurements against these plans will be a factor in future capital allocations and maintenance/refurbishment projects.

Savings achieved throughout the life of a building will be considered alongside upfront capital costs. The design and delivery teams will always be briefed and understand the design objectives from the outset. Sustainable development will always be at the heart of any project.

The historic environment

The historic environment has an important part to play in the development of the college. Preservation of heritage reinforces the sense of community pride, creates local identity and can act as a catalyst for further improvement. Conservation and preservation of our historic environment is an intimate part of sustainable development and recognises the importance of those things that we already have. We will conserve and, where possible, enhance the historic interest at Pencoed in a sympathetic and constructive manner, whilst maintaining our commitment to developing a first class learning environment

Pollution impact

The Estates Department will be managed in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring that the buildings, land, plant or activities do not adversely impact on the local environment to an unacceptable level. Where adverse effects are identified, actions will be taken to minimise and mitigate those effects (eg from waste building materials, air emissions, gas migration, wastewater discharges, etc).

Disposal of land

The disposal of land for purposes of financial gain will consider the likely impact upon the environment from future land development, whilst remaining sensitive to operational requirements of the college and gaining maximum value in disposing of such assets. Any such disposal will clearly demonstrate sustainable development within the decision-making framework.

Bridgend College is a signatory to the Welsh Sustainable Development Charter, has signed the United Nation Declaration and is a respected leader in sustainable development thinking. Our approach follows the following principles:

• Principle 1: in order to be transformative, the College must transform itself
• Principle 2: effective partnerships underpin success: recognising the role of FE/HE within the social system (WG, industry, NGO’s, society) and its role as a facilitator in cross-sector discussions to construct a more sustainable future
• Principle 3: sustainable development is itself a learning process
• Principle 4: internal policies systems must be connected (documentation should ‘speak’ to each other)

In order to ensure that sustainability is embedded as a central organising principle, the college will utilise a sustainability-framework for decision-making. Further objectives can be found in the current Sustainable Development Strategy

The procured elements of the college are significant contributors to both direct and indirect environmental impacts but also to social and economic impacts. These impacts go far beyond the College gates and can be summarised below:

Broad elements of Sustainable procurement:

• Outputs and emissions (products and waste)
• Development
• Stability / value for money
• People, diversity
• Culture
• Inputs / resources
• Habitats and biodiversity

Procurement makes a highly significant contribution to our sustainable development vision by ensuring that contractors, suppliers, goods and services achieve optimal environmental, sustainable and ethical performance, thereby minimising risk of ‘downstream’ environmental degradation and exploitation in the supply chain. These are key business risks.

Bridgend College recognises that the procurement of goods and services may have a significant socio-economic and environmental impact at both a local and global scale.

Our overall goals are to minimise any negative impacts on health and wellbeing, air quality, generation and disposal of hazardous waste, eliminate demand for resources where possible (the most sustainable option), minimise demand for resources and respect ethical and human rights.

We are wholly committed to incorporating the principles of sustainable procurement in purchasing decisions. We will:

1. Provide value for money by ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to the costs and benefits of environmental sustainable products and services. That is, making procurement decisions based on a balance between economic, social and environmental factors
2. Assess the environmental performance of major suppliers including, where possible, the impact of downstream suppliers
3. Ensure that sustainability issues are considered at the earliest stage of procurement
4. Comply with all relevant environmental legislation and other procurement requirements
5. Work with consortium members, suppliers and service providers to raise issues of sustainability within the supply chain and encourage implementation of environmental management systems
6. Reduce, where possible, the number of goods and services required whilst repairing and/or reusing existing materials and equipment
7. Use the least environmentally damaging goods and services and ensure that sustainability criteria are considered in the award of contracts
8. Favour the purchase of products with recycled contents or that are biodegradable
9. Procure products using recognised labelling schemes such as FSC or Eco Label
10. Raise staff awareness of procurement impacts, including whole life costs such as manufacture, delivery, installation, energy consumption, maintenance, disposal
11. Encourage purchasing staff to review the consumption of goods within their area of responsibility (are purchases needed at all) and adopt best practice (eliminate, reduce, re-use, recycle, dispose) in their buying decisions
12. Explore the opportunities for reuse and recycling of materials via available schemes as appropriate
13. Identify major areas of spend to reduce environmental impact where possible
14. Encourage SMEs and local suppliers to bid for appropriate work

Further we will:

1. Respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2. Respect the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
3. Continually improve our sustainable procurement performance

The marketing activities of the college have changed significantly with the development of new media technologies into the marketing mix (SMS text messaging and social networking platforms) and a focused and consistent approach to the celebration of student success and the College’s achievements within the media and across wider stakeholders groups.

Through the nature of its’ customer facing activities, the marketing team works with the following internal teams: Student Services, Student Specialist Support, Academic Registry and Heads of Departments/Business Support Managers in addition to regional and national external agencies in delivering robust and profitable relationships across our key stakeholder groups.

The marketing function therefore plays a key role in addressing and communicating sustainability through:

• Communicating the commitment of the College to sustainability
• Identifying and working with a list of preferred suppliers who use recycled paper and environmental friendly inks to produce relevant material
• Development and maintenance of the college website section for sustainability and wellbeing
• Using eco-friendly communication and media
• Distributing publications including newsletters, leaflets, invitations and posters electronically
• Carrying out eco-friendly market research and using RSS feeds of online news sources to gather educational and college relevant news
• Ceasing use of paper copies of regional and national newspapers for online alternatives
• Controlling printing via in-house print management and ensuring that external print agencies will provide proofs as electronic documents as opposed to paper copies
• Promoting bilingualism
• Ensuring that sustainable catering is used to support events (local produce and fair trade), using the college’s internal hospitality department to cater events with seasonal products locally sourced

College events         

• Ensuring effective recycling and waste management at events
• Where events are organised on college sites, we use in house expertise, equipment and support to reduce equipment transportation and CO2 emissions
• Develop procedures in conjunction with the theatre technicians to ensure relevant equipment and support is factored in as part of the booking procedures
• Provide visitors with information on greener forms of travel via the college website

External services     

• Purchase recycled and ethically sourced promotional materials
• Source suppliers who have evidenced their commitment to fair trade and who are able to supply products made of recycled materials

Many people have become disconnected from their surroundings and underestimate the contribution that a healthy environment plays in their everyday lives. We want to make the health and quality of our natural environment a focus for everyone and a key part of our decision making.

There is deep concern about the fast pace of biodiversity loss worldwide, and the increasing impact of climate change on these ecosystems.  The benefits we derive from these ecosystems are under threat.  Despite many successes in conserving plants and animals and in cleaning up our environment, there is evidence of these longer-term negative trends in Wales.

Bridgend College is particularly rich in flora and fauna and has several valuable habitats. We are therefore well placed to make a significant contribution to the biodiversity conservation agenda.

Key plans and schemes:

1. Sustainable Development Strategy – enhancing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities, achieving a better quality of life for our own and future generations
2. WG – One Wales: One Planet – “A Living Wales looks for a new contract between environmental managers and regulators, industry and commerce, and the public. Every sector, every age group, every community needs to make the preservation of our “life support system” our number one priority”
3. WG – A Living Wales – a new framework for our environment, countryside and seas
4. Green Dragon Environmental Standard
5. WG Sustainable Development Charter
6. Corporate Health Standard (Platinum Level)
7. Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)
8. The European Commission’s Communication, Halting The Loss Of Biodiversity By 2010 — And Beyond, Sustaining ecosystem services for human well–being emphasises the connections between biodiversity and our well-being.  This says:

‘Over recent decades, humanity has benefited enormously from development, which has enriched our lives. However, much of this development has been associated with a decline in both the variety and extent of natural systems — of biodiversity. This loss of biodiversity, at the levels of ecosystems, species and genes, is of concern not just because of the important intrinsic value of nature, but also because it results in a decline in ‘ecosystem services’ which natural systems provide… In this context concern for biodiversity is integral to sustainable development and underpins competitivity, growth and employment, and improved livelihoods.’

We have set very strong targets for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity via an ecosystems approach within our Biodiversity Strategy and supporting Habitat Management Plans.

Further information is available at:

http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/

http://www.teebweb.org/

https://www.cbd.int/2011-2020/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3

How to get involved:

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/how-you-can-help/wildlife-gardening