Groundwork Leeds

Green Check

Photo: Launch of Green Check project at Westgate Primary School The Green Check programme uses a highly participative approach to educate and empower children and school staff to choose more sustainable behaviours. The result is that schools are continually working towards improving their environmental performance, for example reducing the amount of waste they produce or reducing their energy consumption. Groundwork Yorkshire and the Humber are developing this project across the region following the success of the EMAS in Schools project in Leicester (see www.emasinschools.org.uk). The model used in Leicester has resulted in 49 schools receiving EMAS accreditation – these are the first schools in England to do so.

Benefits for Schools

· Financial savings through a reduction in resource use and waste production.

· Curriculum enrichment. the activities undertaken by children as part of EMAS will be tied into most areas of the National Curriculum. .

· Enhancement of the school’s profile, through verification of a European environmental award which is expected to attract media attention.

· EMAS also promotes excellent links and helps support other schemes such as the Healthy Schools Award, Free Fruit and Vegetables for Schools and School Travel Planning.

Key elements for Success

While Groundwork can provide excellent support to schools in setting up their Environmental Management System the Local Authority could be of great assistance: by providing details of their EMS, by conducting internal audits on schools before the schools go for EMAS accreditation and by providing facilities to make it easier for schools e.g. recycling facilities.

Guide to EMAS for Green Check schools

For more information contact: Dion Auriac (Senior Education Officer) or Sarah Adamson (Green Check Education Officer) on 0113 238 0601

Groundwork Leeds
Environment and Business Centre
Merlyn-Rees Avenue
Leeds LS27 9SL

T : 0113 238 0601
F : 0113 252 5057