Sustainability prize on offer for Warwick sports societies

Climate Reality Warwick is offering a “huge prize” to the winners of their annual sustainable sports club competition.

The group is challenging Warwick sports societies to see who can run their club the most sustainably over the course of Term 2. Societies will be awarded points based on their sustainable choices, with the number of points being determined by the effort involved.  

On their Instagram page, Climate Reality Warwick gave examples of actions sports societies could take to increase their sustainability, ranging from running fundraising events and participating in campaigns to raise awareness, to simply avoiding the use of disposable plastic cups at socials.  

Points can be submitted by societies in a google doc linked to Climate Reality’s Instagram, or on the SU website. Five points can be won from travelling to training and matches via public transport. One point is available for every five pounds a society raises for a climate-focused charity, and 10 points can be gained for each climate-related social media post by a society. There are over a dozen ways for societies to score points. A leaderboard that will be updated regularly over the course of the term. 

 Sign-up form for clubs on Climate Reality Warwick’s Student Union page ran from early January to the end of Week 1.  

The competition is in its second year running. Last year’s winners, the University of Warwick Ladies Hockey Club, described participating in the contest as “an extremely rewarding experience”. 

They were most proud of their work with Positive Outlook, a Leamington Spa-based business that sells clothing made from sustainable, plant-based fabrics. As part of the collaboration, UWLHC members modelled sports and leisurewear outfits woven from bamboo fibres. 

In a statement posted to the University of Warwick website’s ‘Sustainability Blog’, the society said: “It was relatively simple to choose greener alternatives wherever possible… having realised this, we will no doubt continue along these lines in the future.” 

Climate Reality Warwick welcomes anyone with questions about the competition to message them via their Instagram.