I became a Sustainability Champion in 2024 after feeling motivated to help combat excess waste.
Our planet doesn’t have infinite resources, and I’m passionate about making the best of what we’ve got.
Since 2014, I’ve been volunteering at my local community atrium, looking after the flowers and vegetable planters. The food we grow there, we give to local food banks and support the local community. It’s really a great, full circle project.
Tackling fly tipping
In November 2024, I wanted to make a change. Where I was living was a reoccurring hotspot for fly tippers, so I went to my local Councillor’s surgery to raise my concerns. I asked for four large bins to be removed, as I felt the problems had grown since they were installed during the pandemic. They were a magnet for rubbish rather than helping.
The mountains of rubbish were cleared more regularly - but the bins stayed. I didn’t give up. I attended the surgery in February, March and April. Finally, it was suggested to install wooden planters alongside the bins where rubbish was usually left to deter fly tippers.
Greener and cleaner
In May this year, six months after I first raised the issue, my local Councillor visited the community with leaflets announcing a Community Action Day to build and fill planters. I was delighted. I attended the garden centre to help pick out the plants and, on the 17 May, alongside neighbours and our ward Councillors, we brought my vision to life.
Since installation, the area remains greener and cleaner. Fly tipping is a thing of the past and the planters stand out as an area of beauty in the community. It goes to show, if you’re passionate about something, you can really help make a change.
If you’re thinking about becoming a Sustainability Champion, my advice is to go for it. I love having input on Southern Housing’s initiatives, designs and communications around a greener future. It not only helps me feel more connected to my community but also like I’m truly making a difference.”
Become a Sustainability Champion
- Encourage your fellow residents to participate in projects
- Spread communications messages and help residents understand our campaigns
- Provide valuable input into our initiatives
- Feedback residents’ views on the design of our projects, communications campaigns policies, and procedures
- Help source stories and quotes for our news bulletins and web pages.
The role of the Sustainability Champion is voluntary and therefore unpaid.
Fill in the form below
Did you know?
Water trickling down the back of the toilet pan can be silent, so it’s common for leaky loos to go unnoticed.
But a leak from a toilet can waste around 200-400 litres of water per day.
This is the same as 2.5 - 5 bathtubs each year and can result in extra charges on your bill.
Conserving the water we use reduces your carbon footprint and saves you money.
Saving water
