Green Reps are making a difference

National Star received a prestigious Green Award at BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s ‘Make a Difference’ Awards in recognition of student and staff efforts to preserve Ullenwood’s hedgehog population.  

Students Laurie and George were guests of honour at the awards. Both students had worked with their peers to help the college achieve Platinum Hedgehog Friendly Campus status.  

National Star has planted more than 4,500 native saplings to create wildlife corridors, installed wildlife watering stations across campus and worked with The Woodland Trust to install hedgehog houses for hibernating hedgehogs.  

In addition, students and staff have delivered a series of talks to Gloucestershire businesses, Brownie groups and Planet Cheltenham to raise awareness of what everyone can do to support hedgehogs in their local communities.  

‘SEND students want to be seen and heard as part of the solution to climate change,’ said Elaine Hodgin, Head of Sustainability.  

She continued to share: ‘Ensuring national sustainability support programmes better meet the needs of young adults with disabilities is vital if we are going to prepare students for life after college.’  

National Star is one of only sixteen educational institutions nationally who have been accepted onto a two-year pilot study to improve biodiversity in educational settings.  

People with disabilities are already finding themselves disproportionately affected by climate change. The students we work with want to make a difference and are passionate about sharing their views and engaging with national campaigns.