SpacetoCo’s Post

We're celebrating our 1st birthday! And what a year it has been! Here's a snapshot of our journey these last 12 months. 🌟 Over 300 schools have signed up! We have schools throughout England, Wales and Scotland. We're starting to see those strong localised and regional networks happening, with particularly strong school presences in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Essex. 🌟 Over 2,800 items have been added to the site. The items have ranged in size, type and materials make-up. We've had tables, chairs, musical instruments, catering equipment, textbooks, electronics and even a mini-bus! 🌟 Five Councils have given us their support and have promoted the service to schools in their localities. We're looking forward to doing more in this space with the support of Councils. 🌟 We've been running a monthly giveaway to schools since January 2024. By the end of July, we'll have given £,1400 to seven schools. The money is being spent of a range of fantastic initiatives - from equipping a new science lab to kitting out a new SEN facility. 🌟 We attended our first schools' conference, both in an exhibitor and speaker capacity. A special thanks to the Edinburgh School for the invite to speak and to all of the School Business Managers on the day who got right behind the service! For every item not added to general waste but instead passed on: 💠 there are cost savings (on waste management fees and landfill tax) to be made for a school 💠another school is better equipped  💠CO2 emissions are reduced 💠landfill strain is reduced  💠items lifecycles are extended. Small changes add-up to huge impacts. So apart from growing our school numbers, what lies in store for Year 2? Here's a small teaser... green procurement and data. Thank you to everyone - and especially our schools - who have supported us to date. We love working with you all. And if you want to help: 💠share this post with your network 💠tell a school / people who work in schools about us. 

💥 School Resources Exchange Ltd Exchange has turned 1! This time last year we had just flipped the 'go-live' switch on the service and the process of sending comms to schools was underway. Fast-forward a year and I've just completed my first major grant application to Innovate UK for funding for future innovation work. (Fingers, toes and anything else which is bendy are being crossed...!) Undertaking any new endeavour is nerve-wracking. The unknown is scary and failure - especially financial failure when you're predominantly bootstrapping - is always in your eye line and thoughts. In a 20-year career, I've experienced plenty of highs and lows. But full disclosure - this last year has been unimaginably tough. There were definite points when I questioned the sanity of what I was doing and if there was enough mental reserve in the tanks to keep pushing forward. It's an obvious thing to say that starting a new business is hard but the reality of living it is pretty different. (My brain ignored all requests from HR to switch off and refrain from doing work tasks at 3am!) And yet I wouldn't trade it for anything. It has been the most extraordinary year. A gift really. There are no experiences like it. A unexpected highlight has been finding real community - people in the same space, doing extraordinary things and helping each other along the way. There are too many people to thank individually but I hope you know who you are. So a special thanks instead to the following groups for being visible, sharing your knowledge and passions, and for creating spaces which bring people together. I've greatly benefitted from being part of your wonderful communities and have met incredible founders and sustainability champions along the way. AccelerateHER Barclays Eagle Labs Virgin StartUp Female Founders Rise UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) School Business Managers (UK) So what comes next? There is a whole lot more work to be done with regards to tackling the Department for Education's "Sustainability and Climate Change" strategy goals around waste minimisation and adoption of circular economy initiatives. These, I believe, are key to unlocking widespread, long-lasting sector change.  While we'll be focusing on growing our school numbers in Year 2, there are other irons in the fire which I'm excited to talk about in due course. Thanks for all of the support thus far. Onwards and upwards, and here's to Year 2! And if you want to help: 💠 share this post with your network 💠tell a school / people who work in schools about us. #schools #waste #CircularEconomy #SharingEconomy #FemaleFounder #startup #1stbirthday

It's great to hear that Carbon Literate Educator accreditation is finally launching. As a country we really need to up our game with regards to climate literacy (too many people/organisations still think they're doing enough just by recycling). The Carbon Literacy Project is possibly the most meaningful non-specialist climate accreditation out there and I think it needs to be an established part of our education/training programmes. I was hugely inspired to hear how Loreto Sixth Form College aims for 75% of their 6th form students to be officially Carbon Literate by 2030. (p11 https://lnkd.in/gFCNVaSm) Should this be standard for all school leavers? Wdyt?

did you know that Schools are pivotal in organizing neighborhood clean-up initiatives by integrating them into educational programs and extracurricular activities. They can provide structure, resources, and a safe environment for children to learn about the importance of maintaining a clean community. Programs may include recycling drives, local park clean-ups, or educational workshops on waste management. By making these activities a part of the school curriculum, educators can ensure that students understand the environmental impact of litter and the benefits of a clean neighborhood. Moreover, these programs can help build a sense of community and collaboration among students.

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, launched in 2005, was due to finish this year. However, the programme was stopped in 2010. Is it fair to assume had BSF been completed, then the RAAC challenge we face today – largely a question of ongoing maintenance and repair - would never have arisen? https://lnkd.in/eg3cGAkm Thanks to Rory Olcayto at Pollard Thomas Edwards for writing this article and Andrew Cameron-Smith for publishing on Unlock Net Zero. We frequently forget that co-location of schools and housing has many benefits, including reduction of neighborhood carbon emissions that are not normally quantified in environmental ratings or carbon assessments.

💰With a record to date of +£222K in energy savings, Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust have kicked started there journey towards Net Zero 🌎♻️ More updates 🔜👇 #schools #energysaving #carbonreduction

💰With a record to date of +£222K in energy savings, Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust have kicked started there journey towards Net Zero 🌎♻️ Read more 👇 Stay tuned for me updated 🔜 #schools #energysaving #carbonreduction

We must empower teachers and students to become changemakers that value and honor the interconnectedness of our way of life and life on this planet. Visit our website for information about our courses and workshops on sustainable education https://lnkd.in/gFeV55Ym 🧭 #SustainabilityEducation #SystemsThinking #EducationMatters #SystemChange #SustainableSchools #StudentAgency #YouthAgency #TransformingEducation

Excited to share some valuable insights on enhancing resourcefulness and sustainability when getting your kids ready for the new school year! Here are a few tips to help parents streamline the process: - Opt for eco-friendly school supplies to reduce waste and promote sustainability. - Embrace a minimalist approach by reusing items from the previous school year whenever possible. - Encourage creativity by involving kids in DIY projects to personalize their supplies. - Plan healthy and sustainable lunches by opting for reusable containers and locally sourced ingredients. - Create a designated study area at home using recycled or upcycled furniture to foster a productive learning environment. Help me compile more tips into a comprehensive guide for parents within my kid's school community! 🌱📚 #BackToSchool #Sustainability #ParentingTips

Turning Trash into Treasure at Morit International School, Nigeria. In a true embodiment of the saying 'One man's trash is another man's treasure,' Morit International School has not only made education more accessible but has also played a pivotal role in cleaning up the local community. In the article below, you'll discover how this school has ingeniously addressed two significant challenges: the rising number of out-of-school children and the pervasive issue of plastic bottle litter. At Morit International School, a simple yet effective solution has been implemented – one plastic bottle is valued at one naira. As a result, parents are enthusiastically collecting and bringing plastic bottles to be weighed and sold, thereby covering their children's school fees in this innovative and unconventional manner.