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Dialogue

College Knowledge

Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson launch event for zero waste

As part of Environment Week back in November, Bill Bryson kicked off the launch of our Green Move Out as a model for other North Eastern institutions to achieve Zero Waste.

Along with the Chancellor, delegates from Sunderland, Newcastle, Northumbria and Bradford Universities gathered to hear about the Green Move Out and how the scheme could work elsewhere.

The scheme is managed by Michelle Crawford (Environmental Bursar for Colleges) with help from the Sustainable Living Action Group. The scheme diverts unwanted student items away from landfill by giving them to new students or to charities including the British Red Cross, Great North East Air Ambulance and Centrepoint.

Jonathan Collinson, the Sustainable Living Action Group Co-ordinator said; "The Green Move Out has been getting bigger and better in Durham over the past couple of years. It's great to be able to share the ideas and lessons learnt with other universities so that less stuff gets thrown away and more and more gets reused."

For more information, please contact Jonathan Collinson: jonathan.collinson@durham.ac.uk or Michelle Crawford: t.m.crawford@durham.ac.uk.

Green Tourism Business Scheme - Going for gold

All of our sixteen colleges, along with the Botanic Garden, Old Fulling Mill, Museum of Archaeology, Oriental Museum and YUM Cafés have been accepted on the British Green Tourism Business Scheme. Grading visits will score up to 60 measures and the results will establish the level of award.

The GTBS is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK. Originally developed in partnership with VisitScotland, it is now the only certification scheme validated by Visit Britain, through the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT).

Michelle Crawford and Tara Duncan will work with the college and visitor centre representatives to ensure they pass the grading visits.

For further information, go to the Green Business website: www.green-business.co.uk.

Staff

Celebrating college staff success

In the recent staff celebration event, (detailed in HR News on page 6), a number of staff from the colleges division were recognised for their new skills that will assist them in both the workplace and in their own development.

Over 50 staff completed the ILM level 2 Award Certificate for Team Leading. Among those receiving their certificate from the Vice-Chancellor was Margaret O'Hare, Cleaning Supervisor at St Aidan's College, who commented, "I worried about doing the course because of my age but found that I had worried for nothing as I really enjoyed the course and learnt a lot while I was there. I wouldn't hesitate to do any future course and would encourage other older members of staff to attend courses as you are never too old to learn."

Colleen Ferry, Food Service Supervisor at Grey College stated, "I would just like to say that I had a really nice time and everyone I spoke to afterwards said the same thing. I look forward to doing the next course."

Staff also completed the European Computer Driving Licence, helping them gain the confidence, basic skills and knowledge to use computers and a wide range of IT software packages.