CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2022
55%
£
3,000
SCHOOL PUPILS engaged across 61 BNU events despite COVID-19 challenges.
£1.54m
UNIVERSITY FUNDING FOR BUCKS STUDENTS’ UNION IN 2020/21
£18.677
RAISED BY STUDENTS FOR “RAISE AND GIVE” CHARITIES AND OTHER CHARITABLE CAUSES (2020/21)
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT for 2020 has reduced by at least 55% since 2011. 150 BIN BAGS UPCYCLED REUSED AND RECYCLED FROM STUDENT DONATIONS (2020/21)
OUR SOLAR PANELS can save 70 tonnes of carbon per year.
150
ELECTRICAL VEHICLES comprise 66% of our fleet.
66%
7,020
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH on conservation and sustainability.
VOLUNTEERING HOURS by students to help make a difference (2020/21)
10,000+
CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME AND GREEN TRAVEL POLICIES.
24/7
24/7 ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT for staff and students.
10.000+ MILES COMPLETED AND NEARLY £2,500 RAISED for BRIT 2021 Challenge
MAKING AN IMPACT Throughout its 130-year history, Buckinghamshire New University’s (BNU) mission has always been to transform lives through inspiring and career-focused education, enabling people to impact society and their futures positively. Our CSR commitment has been – and continues to be – pivotal to this, and we have seen the wide-ranging impact on how important our efforts are to our students, staff, local communities and stakeholders. BNU’s Impact 2022 strategy expresses the importance of corporate social responsibility and reaffirms our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment; increase sustainability in our operations and education; and address challenges through building effective and strategic partnerships. We have also declared our commitment internationally. In 2020, BNU signed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord. We have committed to publicly sharing our submissions to the UN to provide transparency around our progress against the 17 SDGs which span climate change, reducing inequalities, promoting economic growth, providing quality education and tackling poverty. Although we are at an early stage of explicitly aligning the SDGs to our strategic work, which will undoubtedly influence our next organisational strategy, we are very proud of all that our University community has already done to make a positive impact locally, nationally and globally. In 2020 we also announced our pledge to go carbon net zero by 2030 – 20 years ahead of the Government’s target. We are moving towards embedding sustainability into our curriculum for all disciplines and course programmes. BNU is now one of 1050 universities and
colleges from 68 countries that have signed up to the global Race to Zero pledge to halve their emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero as soon as possible, impacting over 10 million students worldwide. As an educational institution that wants to contribute its expertise on a global scale, various environmental research through European and international projects relating to conservation and sustainability have been completed or are ongoing, including the socio-economic valuation of climate impact chains and decarbonisation pathways in European islands. Our application outlines our positive contribution across four key areas that we hope can help other organisations to learn from us, as we do the same ahead of setting a new organisational CSR strategy in 2022. Environment – reducing use of energy, natural resources, and waste, supported by ‘green’ travel policies; Workplace – wellbeing and recognition initiatives; promoting equality, diversity and inclusion; and developing our people’s skills; Community – fundraising; COVID-19 response; and outreach work with local schools. Philanthropy – financial support of the Bucks Students’ Union; volunteering; and tackling local hygiene poverty.
Professor Nick Braisby Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer
Variable speed pumps reduce energy requirements under different loads and we use highly efficient air source heat pumps
ENVIRONMENT Key to reducing our carbon footprint by at least 55% since 2011 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 are the various carbon reduction and wider energy saving projects and measures which we have undertaken and are described below. This is in addition to undertaking a full audit and review of all plant, machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment across our estate, using financial cost/benefit analysis, to identify where capital investment is required to reduce our carbon emissions.
This is partly driven by the fact that we have opted to use a nuclear carbon neutral tariff which attracts a price premium. A review of electricity consumption is planned for 2022 to identify areas of focus to improve both our tariff and consumption. Ongoing measures to reduce energy usage include: •
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Enhancing our campuses Last year, we developed plans to enhance our campuses to improve the experience of our students and staff. The suppliers with whom we work share our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are purpose driven in their work. We are committed to meeting the Social Value Act by procuring goods and services from social enterprises. •
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We have developed a partnership with a local social enterprise and charity which salvages materials for reuse and supports disadvantaged people into employment. The micro-SMEs with whom we have worked are committed to sustainable landscape and planting practices. All plants have been chosen for their variation and support in enhancing biodiversity and urban greening. They will support wildlife with small fruits and flowering in the spring. Many are drought-resistant and chosen in consideration of climate resilience. Timber to create planters has been salvaged from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff where it was a previously a board walk. It is selfmaintaining without the need for reapplied paint finishes, and the planters will serve as homes for bees to support biodiversity. The timber is treated with a product that is based upon purified and refined natural resources. A wildflower garden at our High Wycombe Campus supports biodiversity, and we have created green roof spaces at our Hughenden Student Village halls of residence.
Energy saving Energy costs consist of two key elements: electricity and gas. Our Estate Management Report indicates the University’s gas costs in terms of both price and % consumption are in line with the lower quartile of the higher education sector. For electricity, however, both price and % consumption are in the upper quartile.
Electric vehicles comprise 66% of our fleet, and we have an electric car club scheme for staff, along with charging points for our employees’ electric vehicles. We are working to reduce our carbon emissions further still by migrating from gas to electric boilers and improving insulation by replacing windows with energy efficient secondary glazing units.
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We continue to replace old lighting with LED units, and install presence and absence detectors to turn off lights when rooms are not in use.
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We have installed low flow shower heads in our student accommodation and fitted flow controls to urinals.
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We specify that our IT equipment must be energy efficient.
Natural resources •
Investment in a modern building management system has enabled greater control of utility spend. Our building management system controls heating, cooling and hot water, and increases the amount of time when the plant can be turned off. During the COVID-19 outbreak, this enabled building services systems to be monitored and managed successfully off campus.
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We have installed solar panels capable of producing up to 138,000 kWh of energy per year. This equates to an annual saving of 70 tonnes of carbon.
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In 2021, the University invested £255k for photovoltaic cells places on three buildings at our High Wycombe Campus. Since installation, these cells have generated 920,581 KWHs of power and generated a cost saving of £125k plus a further energy offset saving of £80k. Our mechanically ventilated buildings recover heat before air is expelled, which is used to preheat air entering the building to save on energy consumption and keep our campuses COVIDsecure. We achieve up to 80% heat/cooling recovery from our ventilation systems.
Travel •
To discourage short car journeys, car parking permits are only available to staff who live outside a two-mile radius of our High Wycombe campus.
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There is a free shuttle bus between our High Wycombe and Uxbridge campuses.
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Electric vehicles comprise 66% of our fleet. We also have an electric car club scheme for staff, along with charging points for our employees’ electric vehicles.
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Our people use video-conferencing to reduce travel to meetings.
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We have introduced dynamic working which enables colleagues to work from home on certain days thereby reducing the number of car, train and bus journeys made which combines to reduce our colleagues’ environmental impact.
Waste We manage and dispose of our waste responsibly. •
Recycling facilities are available for paper, card, plastics, metal, electrical equipment, batteries and mattresses.
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We are working on food recycling at our campuses and halls of residence, and coffee cup recycling for our cafes. Customers using a reusable cup already receive discounts on hot drink purchases to discourage the use of paper cups.
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Office furniture is reused and repaired until it is no longer economical to do so.
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We have upcycled furniture from other organisations, saving items from landfill, and will continue to repurpose them across our learning and social spaces.
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We work in partnership with a local charity wood merchant to recycle products as outdoor furniture across our estate.
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Waste that cannot be recycled is sent to a waste-to-energy plant where possible, and to landfill as a last resort.
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All hazardous waste is stored in suitable containers and disposed of by specialist contractors.
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We have removed more than 5,000 plastic straws from our bars and cafes.
Environmental supply chain management We are passionate about improving people’s knowledge on current green and sustainability issues whilst tackling our most negative impacts. Each year, Bucks Students’ Union completes Green Impact, which is an accreditation from the National Union of Students (NUS) for tackling sustainability issues and improving awareness on campus. In 2020-21, for the third consecutive year, the Students Union received a ‘Excellent’ status. Each academic year, Bucks Students’ Union team completes a sustainability and social responsibility programme run by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) to ensure that the union is always pushing to be as sustainable as possible in its operations and services. This submission is then independently audited with an accreditation awarded at the end of the process, with BNU being awarded the very highest award! Since 2009, Buckinghamshire New University has been accredited Fairtrade University Status by the Fairtrade Foundation. A Fairtrade University is one that has made commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade produce. It ensures that Fairtrade products are available in as many places as possible across campuses, and raises awareness of Fairtrade and the benefits that it brings to the producers in developing countries. Each year we monitor the services that we offer and continue to better our self as an organisation to move forward in being as Fairtrade-minded as possible.
Bucks New Usage upcycling scheme This scheme, which holds a gold level Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice, redistributes used and unwanted items from student accommodation, such as bedding, crockery, small electricals and kitchen equipment. We also offer items to other new students when they arrive at BNU. This is both sustainable and helps our students to save money they would have had to spend to prepare for university life. Last year around 150 black bags of unwanted items were redistributed, all of which would otherwise have gone to landfill. Clothing and excess items are donated to the YMCA or Wycombe Food Hub. All donations are delivered using the University’s electric car, our post van or are collected in person to minimise our environmental impact. Together the University’s staff and students donated more than 400 unwanted personal hygiene products like shampoo, soap, deodorant, and period products to One Can Trust, through our support of the Beauty Bank charity’s mission to tackle hygiene poverty. BNU is the first University in London and the South East to set up a public donation point so that members of our local community can play their part in helping others in need and prevent items going to landfill.
WORKPLACE Now in its final year, the Bucks People 2022 strategy – developed with people across the University – has improved our workplace, outlined our people aims, outcomes, and priorities during the last four years and beyond. Benefits Family friendly policies and childcare vouchers; pension schemes into which the University contributes a minimum of 14.5% of salary; and staff discounts. We have a cycle to work scheme, and discounted fares have been negotiated for local buses. There is a free shuttle bus for staff and students between our High Wycombe and Uxbridge campuses.
Wellbeing A raft of initiatives include free sports and recreation sessions; financial planning sessions; staff counselling; access to 24/7 online mental health support; and e-learning modules on topics including meditation and relaxation. We have championed wellbeing both in our staff development festival and in our new Lunch & Learn series of interventions for colleagues, including both physical & mental health.
Continuous professional development At BNU we are as ambitious for our employees as we are for our students. We take proactive steps to address the gender pay gap in our sector, and support the development of female leaders through the Aurora scheme. Apprenticeships, coaching, work shadowing, no-fee University courses, and a broad portfolio of eLearning modules combine together to support our people’s professional and personal development. We have introduced reimbursement of expenses towards subscription for membership of professional, statutory and regulatory body subscriptions (PSRBs) for employees to support their continuous professional development (CPD). Colleagues can also apply for funding to attend CPD events, with additional support for our Enterprise & Research department. We are implementing a strengths-based psychometric tool and more than 80 staff have now participated. Our focus for 2022 is a new management development programme, to support both new and established managers.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion We recognise that a diverse workplace is key to our success, and all staff must complete mandatory Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training. The introduction of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network in 2020 has created a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and give them the environment to influence change within the university. We also joined the Race Equality Charter in 2020 and are in the process of applying for a Race Equality Charter (REC) award, demonstrating our commitment to improving the representation, progression and success of BAME staff and students within our institution. Since 2019, other EDI interventions we have also undertaken to make our institution more inclusive include: •
Introduced a mentoring scheme for all staff with 25% of places reserved for BAME Staff Network;
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Launched a Dignity at Work training course to promote equality of opportunity and emphasise a zero-tolerance policy to discrimination or harassment.
Reward and recognition schemes to recognise and celebrate staff successes Staff are encouraged to nominate colleagues whom go over and above in their roles. Vouchers are given to winners each month, and at an annual BNU Stars awards ceremony led by the Vice-Chancellor which brings all colleagues together to celebrate their achievements.
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Introduced procedures to monitor and evaluate the return to work rate for all employees on maternity leave, which is currently 80% which is significantly above the 24% benchmark by recruitment firm Robert Walters.
We know there is more to do, however, with our priorities now including: •
Work closely with our BAME Staff Network Pay Gap workstream to listen to concerns, barriers and act on ideas.
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Build on our Dignity and Work training for all employees and new starters to develop better consciousness of structural inequality and inspire behaviours to help drive change within our University community.
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Review our recruitment practices and the use of gendered language across adverts and job descriptions.
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Refresh our strategic approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through engagement and consultation.
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Launch our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to shape change and scrutinise our progress.
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Reflect on institutional and cultural barriers using the Race Equality Charter Framework and develop solutions for action.
COMMUNITY We pride ourselves on being a responsible corporate citizen that delivers against our mission as a civic university, by engaging with local communities in Buckinghamshire and elsewhere and contributing to economic growth within the region. The following themes showcase our commitment to the local communities our campuses in High Wycombe, Uxbridge and Aylesbury serve.
COVID-19 The impact of the pandemic on our university community and local communities has been profound. We have therefore done everything possible to support our local residents and our staff and students, many of who live locally. A snapshot of the main actions we have taken are below: •
Local schools We continued our work with local schools and colleges as part of our commitment to widening participation (WP) amongst those groups typically under-represented in higher education. Despite the challenges raised by COVID-19, we were delighted that more than 3000 school pupils engaged across 61 BNU events. Around half (48%) of the young people we worked with during the year would be first-generation University students; about one in three (35%) were members of the BAME community; and 6% identified as disabled. Three in every five students lived in areas with low participation to university (POLAR4 Q1 and Q2) and 35% lived in high deprivation areas. In addition, we welcomed students from the Probation Service, Young Carers, military families and 55 care-experienced students.
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BNU hosted Buckinghamshire’s first large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site at its Aylesbury campus. The University joined forces with the NHS and Buckinghamshire Council to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, with the site being operated by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. During 2020-21, 21,820 vaccine doses were administered. Some of BNU’s nursing staff helped to train almost 40 COVID-19 vaccinators to tackle a skills shortage and ensure the county’s first mass vaccination site could launch as planned.
OUR COVID RESPONSE £100k
£74k
£323k
13,500 PPE items were donated to the NHS during the height of the pandemic in Spring 2020.
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Gave 266 free parking spaces to help frontline workers get to work during the first half of 2020.
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Hosted a COVID-19 test centre and two vaccination buses on our High Wycombe campus in partnership with local NHS Trusts.
£88k
University staff’s donations created 113 presents for students staying in halls over the festive period. The University provided these students with hampers containing 1200+ festive treats.
More than 800 students received grants totalling £100k through the Bucks Emergency Allowance.
£74k was shared between 211 students living in private accommodation impacted by COVID-19 through the Everyday Living Allowance.
£323k of hardship funding was given to BNU’s eligible education partners in support of students experiencing financial hardship. £88k was shared between 223 students who encountered a financial emergency and required support for technology and software through the Learning Technology Grant.
DISCOUNTS & REBATES
Discounts worth £850k
to students on our 2020-21 accommodation rates for our halls of residence
Rent rebates totalling £800k
were given to all students with halls contracts when Government restrictions forced us to close campuses
Fee waivers of £800k+
for students in University accommodation when on-campus teaching ceased due to Government restrictions. 3276 students completed their studies and graduated from BNU Student Wellbeing and Engagement Team and Multifaith Chaplaincy responded to 30,273 student emails 335 digital learning training sessions supported our staff to deliver high quality online teaching. 3000 pupils engaged in 61 BNU events to widen participation in HE with groups typically underrepresented.
57 COVID-related updates ensured staff were kept informed during the pandemic.
1284 Nursing and Operating Department Practitioner students supported frontline NHS workers by staying on placement during the November 2020 and Spring 2021 lockdowns.
21,820 vaccine doses administered at NHS clinic hosted on Aylesbury campus.
PHILANTHROPIC The University engages in a variety of philanthropic efforts each year which staff and students are encouraged to participate in. Below is a snapshot of our recent activity: Bucks Students’ Union Buckinghamshire New University is the principal funding partner of Bucks Students’ Union, an independent educational charity with a mission to make life better for students at BNU. We invest in the Students’ Union because we believe it is important to support their work, not only in supporting and developing our students, but in building links between their members and the local community; charity fundraising; volunteering; citizenship; and endeavours to promote fair trade, sustainability, social inclusion and environmental and ecological good practice.
Tackling food poverty
Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater
In October 2021, BNU hosted a public debate with panelists from Bucks Council, local foodbanks, charities and community interest groups to discuss the causes, actions being taken and possible solutions to eradicating food poverty in Wycombe. This debate nurtured new relationships between the university and local charities and organisations, including Bucks Council, on how we can work together on tackling a range of social issues – this work is already underway. Bucks Students’ Union volunteers visit the Wycombe-based foodbank One Can Trust fortnightly and help with packing food parcels for residents. Our university also runs its own foodbank for students in need.
In January 2021, Buckinghamshire New University launched the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge, to encourage other universities, colleges and other educational institutions to publicly commit to undertaking certain steps to support GTRSB students into and within higher education. The Pledge’s core requirements are: improved data gathering on GTRSB students and staff at universities; changing institutional cultures; wider outreach to GTRSB students within widening participation activities; and greater celebration and commemoration of GTRSB communities. For 2020-21, BNU also introduced a GTRSB bursary to further encourage and support members of these communities to access higher education. This is in addition to the support we already offer with accommodation, assistance with university applications, and providing mentorship throughout a student’s time at BNU. There have been three recipients of the bursary in 2020-21. So far, nine member HEIs/colleges have signed up to the Pledge, a further six are actively working towards it, and a Students’ Union (University of Worcestershire) has adopted it in principle with a view to adopting it fully.
In 2020/21 (the University’s financial year runs from August to July), Bucks Students’ Union received a funding grant of £1.54m from the University. This enabled the Students’ Union’s to run the unique Big Deal initiative so that all students, irrespective of their income, can access recreation, sports and skills development opportunities for free. This removes any financial barriers to participating fully in all aspects of university life at BNU.
Charitable giving Each year, Bucks Students’ Union engages in Raise and Give (RAG) fundraising activities to support local charities. Overall, the RAG total for the 2020/21 academic year was £18,677. Of this final total, £4,723 was split between its two RAG charities, The Julius Little Foundation and The Florence Nightingale Hospice.
The remainder of the money went to various other local charities, including Wycombe Homeless Connection, and five other charities following a fundraising campaign that initially provided free hot meals for school-aged children in support of Marcus Rashford’s campaign to tackle poverty during October half-term 2020. The Union received more than £8,000 in donations and used some of this money during the 2020 Christmas holidays, to donate 458 festive bags of food, entertainment and treats to pupils at three High Wycombe schools. COVID-19 restrictions prevented an annual lunch for older people for Christmas 2020 and instead the Union delivered 70 hampers, with items donated by students and staff, to the Cherry Garth residential home. Chocolate selection boxes were also donated to Wycombe Homeless Connection to spread some festive cheer, in addition to student fundraising for the charity and Hillingdon Food Bank.
Volunteering The University’s volunteering policy gives all staff two days’ paid leave each year to support charities. Charities which continue to benefit from this initiative include the Samaritans, Hounds for Heroes, Blood Bikes, and local hospices. Bucks Students’ Union promotes volunteering to students with awards given to students who contribute more than 25 hours, and ‘Volunteer of the Year’ and ‘Fundraiser of the Year’ at an annual awards ceremony. A total of 7,020 volunteering hours were logged in 2020/21, including during Raise and Give (RAG) week, where the RAG Society ran a Halloween pumpkin carving competition alongside BNU Dance Club. Community organisations which have benefited include Wycombe Homeless Connection, Hillingdon Samaritans, One Can Trust, Guide Dogs, Child Bereavement, Rye View Manor, the Epilepsy Society, the British Legion, Thames Valley Police and High Wycombe Church of England School.
Give to Refresh BNU’s Give to Refresh initiative saw staff and students joining forces with the national Beauty Banks (BB) charity to help local people living in hygiene poverty. The initiative brought together residents, retailers, businesses and politicians in a campaign spearheaded by a local media partnership. We became the first university community in London and the South to set up a public BB donation point and collected more than 1,000 items before COVID-19 lockdowns closed our campuses. We worked with organisations including food banks, homeless centres and schools to encourage them to register with BB and avoid missing out. It’s just one of the ways we’ve been transforming lives for 130 years. Our donations to a local food bank supported 890 local families living in poverty. We continue to build partnerships with local retailers to siphon off damaged but usable stock from landfill to Give to Refresh and help those in need. And the impact of Give to Refresh has already extended beyond our walls with local school pupils inspired by the University to create donation points in their school community. And Bucks Students’ Union received an Excellent rating in the Green Impact Award with special mention by the auditor about the impressive reach of the Give to Refresh initiative.
Our university community is proud that Jo Jones, cofounder of Beauty Banks, has recognised BNU’s ‘keen and active’ support to help those living in hygiene poverty. A local food bank, One Can Trust, also spoke of our positive impact and the ‘huge help’ BNU’s donations had made to ‘people who need it most in the local community.’
BRIT 2021 Challenge In May 2021, BNU staff took part in the British Inspiration Trust’s (BRIT) 2021 Challenge, to raise awareness and funds for five young adult mental health charities: the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and four young adult mental health charities: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide; Student Minds; The Nightline Association; and the Charlie Waller Trust. Supported by our alumna, BRIT ambassador and Paralympic rowing gold medalist, Naomi Riches, MBE, our staff completed 10,054 miles through a range of activities and raised nearly £2,500 for the charities.
High Wycombe Campus Queen Alexandra Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2JZ Aylesbury Campus 59 Walton Street Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7QG Uxbridge Campus 106 Oxford Road Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 1NA
BF1372
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