Award win helps to grow National Star’s reputation for sustainability

National Star’s efforts to increase campus biodiversity and make progress towards international sustainability goals has resulted in the charity being crowned Sustainability Award winner at the C2S Consultancy Awards 2026.  

People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change and National Star is committed to limit the effects of global warming. 

Sustainability is one of the organisation’s core values which is reinforced throughout the charity from staff induction training through to regular internal communication, and staff and student briefings.  

Judges were impressed by National Star’s efforts to play its part in achieving the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Sustainability education is embedded in the curriculum with opportunities for students to learn about the part they can play in protecting the environment. Colleagues undertaking apprenticeships are also taught how to consider the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as part of their roles.  

The charity has invested heavily in introducing clean energy features into the estate. Several buildings now feature solar panels, with plans to roll out further solar PV in 2026.  

In Hereford 25 per cent of the electricity used by the day college and long-term living accommodation in Herefordshire is generated by solar PV. Eighty per cent of our gas and electricity is carbon neutral or renewable and our biomass boiler is a low-carbon, renewable alternative to using gas as our primary heating source at Ullenwood. 

New developments, like the most recent student accommodation Bradbury and Scott House, have been designed with sustainability in mind and include rainwater harvesting, low energy LED lighting and living roofs.  

Our students are vocal on climate action and have recently created a visually stunning exhibition using their creativity to illustrate how their lives are affected by climate change.  

The charity is a responsible guardian of the eighty acres of outstanding natural beauty that forms part of our Ullenwood campus and proud to be part of a national biodiversity pilot project being run by SOS-UK that encourages educational institutions to protect and restore biodiversity on their estates.  

Hedgehog populations are thriving in our care. A recent 24-hour biological survey of our campus revealed we have sixty species of moth, three bat species and numerous varieties of insects and wildflowers. 

We have planted 10,000 saplings across our estate in 2025, offsetting between 100 to 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide over one hundred years, and created a new wildflower meadow with the help of the National Trust. 

Chief Executive Lynette Barrett said: ‘This award reflects the dedication of colleagues, students and volunteers who work together to make a positive difference every day. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in this achievement.’