A funding application on a desk next to a laptop and pen

Sustainability Fund

The Sustainable Projects Fund is an annual £20,000 fund managed by the Sustainable Futures Society. It is supported by a tax on all single use plastic bottles sold on campus.

What is the criteria?

The sustainable projects fund aims to advance sustainability at the LSE and increase the engagement of LSE students and staff in making the campus more sustainable. Any project broadly defined as achieving these goals is eligible for funding.

The Sustainable Futures Society place emphasis on:

  • Carbon management
  • Biodiversity
  • Waste reduction
  • Sustainable
  • Water/Energy use
  • Education and awareness
  • Wellbeing

For example, the fund has played an integral role in the introduction of Smart Mugs on campus, the Plaza Cafe Green Roof, the creation of beekeeping society and the beehives LSE maintains, ensuring all printers are set to print double-sided sheets by default, collaborating with a private enterprise to monitor pollution levels on the construction site for the Marshall building, funding the ongoing awareness campaign ‘LS-Sea’, and retrofitting Passfield halls with sensor toilets to conserve water.

Where does the money come from?

The Sustainable Projects Fund is funded with revenue from the Water Bottle Tax. This tax was introduced on campus in 2008.

Budgeting

There is no maximum limit to the amount of funding a project can receive. However, projects under £5,000 are most feasible.

There is flexibility in how projects can be funded. For example, to make the 2018/2019 multi-stakeholder pollution monitoring scheme feasible, funding has been in collaboration with the Estates Department and the construction company MACE. We recommend applicants reach out and speak to the Sustainable Futures Committee who work to ensure the projects have the best chance of succeeding.

Composition of the Funding Panel

Shortlisted projects will be presented by applicants to a panel in March 2020. The panel is comprised of:

  • Sustainable Futures executive committee
  • Head of Estates
  • Head of Facilities
  • Pro-Director of Education
  • Head of Sustainability
  • Sustainability Team
  • Representatives from the Sustainable Futures Society

The process

How do I apply?

You can find the full application process on the LSESU Sustainable Futures Society website. Applications for 2020-21 will open in October 2020.

Sustainable Futures Society(Opens in new tab)

How are winners selected? 

Applications are judged by a panel, chaired by the Head of Estates, in March 2020. The panel consider the scope, impact and cost of the project when looking at applications.

Workshops 

The society run 'mentoring' sessions throughout the year to help you develop your application ideas. More information will be provided in the upcoming weeks on these sessions. Please visit their Facebook page to stay updated for all the latest information.

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