Anderida Adolescent Care in Eastbourne, Hailsham, Pevensey and Hastings provides residential care to troubled young people, and is taking on the task of teaching these young people about the environment.
Implementing a green policy at the ¬organisation’s offices and units has been the responsibility of project worker Stephanie Lewis, who also stood as a candidate for the Green Party in May’s local elections..
“When I arrived two years ago there weren’t any specific green policies in place,” she commented. “There’s always been a recycling scheme at the company but none of the young people seemed to notice it.”
Lewis began by conducting a “green risk assessment” of Anderida’s residential and commercial premises see what resources the organisation was using. “Once I had looked at issues such as where we were sourcing goods from and who our energy supplier was, I wrote up a green policy for everyone to follow,” she explained.
The major changes presented by Lewis to the organisation include recycling and compost bins for each unit, energy-saving light bulbs throughout Anderida’s premises, and water-saving Hippo Bags in all toilet cisterns. Cleaning products went green, and staff were urged to buy Fairtrade products.
Lewis also involved the young people of the program, and asked them to get involved. “That was my main objective really,” Lewis says. “As a Green Party candidate, I would speak to a lot of older people who didn’t seem keen on change. But I tell the young people that they can make a difference.”
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