The Wellbeing Ambassador scheme at the Business School

Some of the Sussex Uni Food team by the hydroponic farm

The University of Sussex is in the running for two Green Gown Awards, which honour sustainability excellence in the education sector.

The University of Sussex Business School is shortlisted for the 20th Green Gown Awards 2024 UK & Ireland in the Student Engagement category. This recognition celebrates the School’s innovative and impactful ‘Empowering Student Wellbeing: The Sussex Peer Support Project’.

The awards acknowledge the Business School’s commitment to fostering student mental health and wellbeing. The Wellbeing Ambassador scheme, a student-led initiative, has been pivotal in transforming the mental health landscape within the School.

Trained student volunteers provide peer-to-peer support, addressing issues ranging from academic stress to financial concerns, and promoting a culture of care and open dialogue.

Read more about the School’s Wellbeing Ambassadors' hard work and dedication whose efforts have improved student well-being and created a more supportive and inclusive community within the School.

Debbie Keeling, Dean of the Business School said: “This recognition is a fantastic achievement. It showcases our commitment to sustainability and student wellbeing, and we hope it inspires others to adopt similar initiatives.”

In addition, the University of Sussex and our catering partners Sussex Uni Food are among the finalists in the Campus Health, Food & Drink category for our entry, 'Greens & Grains: Food Journey to low-carbon meals'.

Matt Montgomery, Head of Sustainability, welcomed the news, saying: "Our award entry with Sussex Uni Food highlighted three key findings: that non-vegans would reduce meat consumption if offered fresh, tasty vegan options; that investing in waste reduction technology greatly reduces environmental impact and costs; and that training staff from our catering partners on reducing food waste and redistributing food surplus was critical to the success of the initiatives.”

Read more about the work undertaken by our catering partners including increasing the range of meat-free options and introducing carbon labelling to allow our campus community to make more informed choices.

Now in its 20th year, the 2024 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards, in association with UKRI, are delivered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC).

The 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, 13 November, in Edinburgh.