A Manchester Eco Projects Directory

 

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

 

With everything that is going on in the world right now, it’s more important than ever to get involved, share knowledge and collaborate with others. Starting a new uni term can be a very daunting experience, but meeting a diverse range of people who share your passions and opinions can really help you find your footing. This directory will provide you with a comprehensive list of all the eco projects that are going on in and around Manchester right now, and how you can get involved with them. 

 

People & Planet 

People & Planet empower students and disadvantaged communities to champion for transdisciplinary equity across multiple platforms, by getting involved in monumental movements. Being the largest student network in the UK advocating for social and environment justice, people & planet aim to achieve systemic change by challenging global problems right at their roots. In particular, the organisation advocates for a transformational shift in the education sector, using Universities and their students as the driving force behind this change. 

How can you get involved?

The organisation welcomes over 2,000 young people every year into their activism community, operating based on an autonomous, democratic and youth-led network. Currently, People & Planet are organising four campaigns:

• Fossil Free, a campaign for Universities to take more social responsibility and divest from Fossil Fuels
• Divest Barclays, a movement encouraging Universities to divest from the biggest funder of fossil fuel infrastructure in Europe, Barclays PLC
• Undoing borders, a student- based movement antagonising the advance of the ‘hostile environment’ onto University campuses 
• Sweatshop Free, a global movement for the workers’ rights for sweatshop labourers
  

Images taken from people & planet website

As well as getting involved in these movements and campaigns, you can also donate to the organisation, helping to power the drive towards social justice.

XR

 

 

Beginning in a small English town, Extinction Rebellion is now an international movement fighting to arrest mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse. Using a campaign of non-violent civil disobedience to compel global governments to act, XR rejects ecocide, oppression and patriarchy in favour of joy, regeneration and beauty. Emphasising the importance of candour and cooperation between all, they drive for the mitigation of power and base themselves on autonomy and decentralisation. 

How can you get involved?

XR invites everyone to join in their vision of change, no matter how much time you have, with the outlook that in unity we are indomitable. There are many ways in which you can get involved in XR:

• Take part in actions, for example the ‘Act For Amazonia’ a year-long boycott for Amazonia and its people
• Get Involved in your community, by joining the Manchester XR community group
• Help organise the movement, by becoming an XR volunteer
• Support in other ways, by signing up for XR News or donating to the XR fund

Incredible Edible

  

 

Incredible Edible uses food to build communities. These communities connect and empower people in a kind and confident way, founding their information and advice network on the intercalation of three core ideas: Business, Community and Learning. The organization unites like- minded individuals by celebrating local food and sharing knowledge of gardening and cooking.

How can you get involved?

Incredible Edible’s groups can be found throughout the UK, with multiple located in Greater Manchester, including one in central Manchester. To get in involved with one of these groups, you can join their Facebook page. Signing up to Incredible Edible’s website will give you access to their wealth of resources, including their multiple different access platforms:

• Talking shop strings all IE social media feeds straight to you, so you can keep up to date with what is going on without having to scroll through the masses of social media
• The Marketplace is a space where stories can be shared between all members of the IE network, connecting people and collaborating to share knowledge
• The Toolshed provides you with resources and ideas that can support individuals and groups alike

Once you are a member of an IE group, there is also the opportunity to partake in the organisation’s Growing Leaders course, which allows you to develop new and invaluable skills. 

Platt Fields Market Garden & MUD

 

Looking a bit more into local eco projects, Platt Fields Market Garden is a community garden located in Platt Fields Park. Similar to Incredible Edible, this organisation welcomes anyone who is curious about growing food and wants to get involved in a community space that is centred around sharing knowledge and collaborating with others. The Garden sells veg boxes and other merchandise, such as T-shirts, through Manchester Urban Diggers, another urban-based community market garden that focuses on celebrating locally-grown food. 

How can you get involved? 

Platt Fields Market Garden has its own Facebook page where announcements about events and updates about the Garden and community are shared, they also have an Instagram page which shares similar information to their Facebook group. To support this community, you can purchase a veg box subscription through the MUD website or alternatively visit their plots in Platt Fields Park. However, due to COVID-19 the park is only open to the public on Saturdays 10am-1pm.

MUD is a non-profit social enterprise committed to solving issues related to local food systems in Manchester. They have a range of projects that you can get involved with:

• Platt Fields Market Garden, as discussed above
• Patch Noma, another city centre garden that also has its own community kitchen, which has volunteering opportunities
• Ridgeway Street, a community garden built to increase the biodiversity of the area, that has volunteering roles involving working with local residents to maintain the garden. Their volunteering sessions run every Friday 11am-1pm

Want Not Waste

 

A student-based community with a zero-waste shop located centrally in the University of Manchester’s main campus, WNW (that's us!) also have a growing online presence, with their Facebook page, Instagram page and blog. The organisation strives to lead university students, and the wider community, to sustainable living in a way that is accessible to all. By sourcing their shop products from student enterprises, small businesses and graduate start-ups, WNW supports the local economy whilst at the same time offering unique and sustainable products to consumers.

How can you get involved?

There are many volunteering roles available in the WnW community that can be tailored to your schedule and time availability!

Want Not Waste also runs student-led workshops and panel events on sustainability, more info about these can be found on their facebook page.

 

UoM Climate Network

The University of Manchester Climate Network is a platform for environmental and sustainability groups affiliated with the University. The network amalgamates multiple different groups and also provides information regarding the groups to a mailing list. Some of the groups associated include:

• People & planet, as listed above
• Environmental sustainability team, a group aiming for campuses to be carbon zero by 2018 and eliminate the use of avoidable single-use plastics by 2022
• Tyndall Centre, a research centre aiming to set forth agenda-setting discernments regarding energy and climate change
• UMBUG, The University of Manchester Bicycle Users’ Group, which hosts monthly events for fellow UoM cyclists (advertise through their Facebook group)
• UMBUG is also affiliated with Biko Bikes, a bike hire scheme run by the SU that hires out abandoned refurbished bikes to students
• Manchester Environmental Research Institute, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to develop solutions to complex environmental challenges

How can you get involved?

The Climate Network holds weekly zoom meetings on Thursdays, further details for these meetings can be found in their newsletter. 

 

The Closet

The Closet is a thrift shop run by students based at the University of Manchester. The thrift shop is a zero- profit organization that donates all proceeds to the Mind Manchester, an independent local mental health charity. The organization aims to celebrate Manchester’s creative scene by providing a seminal space for students and the local community to shop and share.

How can you get involved?

The shop is located in the former RBS bank, next to Academy One on Oxford Road

The organization also has its own blog

 

Thrift Soc

Thrift Soc is a UoM society based around second- hand sustainable fashion. The society hosts trips to local thrift shops around Manchester, clothes swapping events and much more. Perfect for anyone who loves thrift shopping or wants to start.

How can you get involved?

Join the Thrift Soc society! Look out for them at freshers events or check out their Facebook page!

The Carbon Literacy Project

The Carbon Literacy Project aims to increase climate change awareness and educate on the environmental impact of the everyday actions of the human race. Carbon Literacy training can be provided to individuals or organizations, delivering a relevant climate change learning that is accessible to all.

How can you get involved?

• As an individual, Carbon Literacy learning helps you to have a positive mindset regarding the climate crisis, so that you can tailor your activism and influence others, creating a cascade of positive changes. The project will provide you with access to this learning, so that you can become certified as Carbon Literate.
• To become a Carbon Literate, you must partake in a day-long series of workshops and E-Learning activities. After which, you will be awarded with a unique Carbon Literacy Certificate
• The course is quick and easy to complete, the format is engaging, and you get a certificate at the end which looks great on your CV.

 

RNCM Climate Action

RNCM is a student- run society based at The Royal Northern College of Music. The society works around three main aims:

• Elevate RNCM – reach greater sustainability
• Educate – help the community form eco conscious habits
• External – explore impacting the community

How can you get involved?

• The society is currently running a campaign to persuade the RNCM to declare a climate emergency
• Regular meetings and events are held by the society
• The society has an online presence, on their Facebook page

 

Decolonise UoM

Decolonise UoM is a campaign to decolonise and democratise the University of Manchester. Comprised of a network of students and staff, members of this campaign collaborate to promote decolonisation and democratisation, promoting justice and equality.

 

How can you get involved?

• Decolonise UoM has a Facebook page which provides information about events
• There are multiple different roles available within the campaign which can be applied for, these roles include:
• Radical Reading Group Facilitator
• Social Media Officer
• Editorial and writer roles
• Organiser roles

Some of these roles are fairly competitive so it is advised that you sign up for multiple roles. Once you have been assigned a role you will be emailed a link to join their Discord server.

 

This article should provide a comprehensive list of many of the eco projects that are going on in and around Manchester right now, for any additional information please click on the links provided which should direct you to the individual sites or Facebook pages of all the organisations and movements listed. Comment here or get in touch via our Facebook or Instagram if you have any thoughts or comments!

Get involved and have a good time!

Author: Ellie