LONDON STUDENTS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
November 2008

News from the Team

	Welcome! Hello and welcome to the fifth LSTS projects e-bulletin. 2008 has been a great year for the LSTS project and in this issue we will recap some of the year's highlights, while also suggesting heaps of ideas of how to find internships and jobs.


News Whilst we say a fond farewell to Shalini Jayashinge we are delighted to announce that Kirsty Balmer has stepped into the position of LSTS Project Coordinator. Alatsdair Tatam is our Project Assistant and Suzie Coats our Projects Intern. Read on for the latest news on the scheme as well as details of what you can do next to further your sustainable career or reduce your business's carbon footprint.


	Events The 7^th November saw two more LSTS events being held; one aimed at students: "Planning for a better London", and the other employers: "London's Future - the skills and employment strategy for 2008 to 2013". These were held in conjunction with an UrbanBuzz showcase. Both were a great success with expert speakers and a dynamic, interactive session that produced a formal response to the consultation on "Planning for a Better London" - a discussion document introducing proposed revisions to the London Plan - which was then sent to the Mayor. To download the presentations or view the response to the consultation - click here. Important date for your diary! The Urban Buzz conference on "The reality of creating sustainable communities", will be taking place on the 2^nd December. It marks the culmination of the University College London's two-year programme that has funded 28 knowledge exchange projects - one of which was LSTS. Influential keynote speakers and practitioners will address the conference theme and contribute to plenary sessions on: better informed developments; urban planning; community engagement and the sustainable skills agenda. To find out more or book your place please click here.


The LSTS story so far . . . . The LSTS project was initiated to encourage students, particularly those from non-environmental academic backgrounds, to embark on sustainable internships, enabling companies to improve their carbon footprint while giving students valuable opportunity to gain experience. This scheme has been enhanced by networking and knowledge-sharing events as well as an E-bulletin and online resource. The LSTS Network has grown rapidly from the 100 students joining the network upon instigation in summer 2007 to over 700 this year. The project has been successful in recruiting students from a wide range of subject backgrounds across many London universities including UCL, UEL, LSBU, and City University. The LSTS matchmaking internship scheme has also been incredibly popular reaching its placement targets for both years. In 2007 from 43 applications, 14 placements were secured, with 11 reaching completion. In 2008 40 organisations offered internships with a total of 320 applications - a considerable response. 20 placements have been completed so far.


	What next for students and employers? The LSTS two-year project has been a great success with interest increasing substantially over the life of the programme. We offer the following advice and services for students and employers alike to continue towards a more sustainable future: LSX and Graduate Resource - what a partnership! New Professionals for a Sustainable Future Graduate Resource (GR) provides a specialist graduate recruitment, training and support service for sustainable development projects in the public, private and voluntary sector. GR places over 80 graduates a year within a variety of organisations nationwide, from our database of over 4000 registered graduates. Our graduates offer real enthusiasm and drive, and posses the knowledge and skills needed to drive forward your sustainable development projects. Past GR clients include BAA Stansted, Clancy Docwra, Tribal Consultancy, Royal Bank of Scotland and numerous Local Authorities. For an informal discussion contact Gemma Astin, Graduate Resource Manager, on 01572 725832. Graduate Resource is a service operated by StudentForce for Sustainability in partnership with London Sustainability Exchange. Reducing Barriers to Opportunities for People Socially Excluded (REBPOSE) REBPOSE is running a social networking project in conjunction with the Green Maniac Network to create a green employment network. It aims to successfully engage workless individuals with small, local businesses and voluntary programmes through both the online network and the offline volunteering opportunities. Network members are actively engaged in environmental activities such as helping out at green events. If you would like to discover more about opportunities in your area or know of a project or business that would benefit from such networking please click here to register. Other useful links and networks: www.environmentjob.co.uk is an online jobs database that is free to use for both employers advertising voluntary placements, and graduates or students looking for work in the sector. University careers services should also be a first point of call for students and employers alike, as they will provide an online employments board where paid and voluntary vacancies can both be advertised. Please click here to find out more information about the services available among the London universities. The Young Foundation is a centre for social innovation with a 50-year successful track record in creating new organisations. It offers internships working in areas from health, education, and sustainable development. Based in East London the Foundation also works elsewhere in the UK and internationally. To find out more and look for current opportunities visit their website. The Yahoo groups, CSR-Chicks and CSR-Blokes, offer the opportunity to exchange environmental information, advertise jobs, ask questions, hold debates, as well as advertise events. More here. The SPONGE network is for young like-minded individuals interested in sustainable development and the built environment. They offer internship opportunities as well as organising useful networking events. To find out more and register visit their website. The Pepys Community Forum in Deptford currently requires an individual to carryout an air quality survey of the local area. The aim is to maintain the momentum of the noise pollution study that was carried out by London 21 and LSx, and establish the aspects of the air content that could pose a health risk to local people in an area that has a higher than average incidences of cardio-vascular and respiratory related diseases. This would provide a valuable opportunity for a graduate or postgraduate research study. For more information or to apply email Lewis Herlitz at lewis@pepyscommunityforum.org.uk. Graduated and working? And finally . . . . those LSTS student who have now graduated and are striving to make London a more sustainable place through their own work and behaviour, as well as motivating others, are welcome to sign up to the Energise London Learning Network which has a particular emphasis on energy and water efficiency, but also provides more general sustainability related info.

The team at LSx that helps you run the network consists of Gayle Burgess, Behaviour Change Programme Director, Kirsty Balmer LSTS Project Coordinator, Alasdair Tatam, Project Assistant and, Suzie Coats Projects Intern. Please drop us an email if you have any queries.

Gayle Burgess, Behaviour Change Programme Director - g.burgess@lsx.org.uk
Kirsty Balmer, LSTS Project Coordinator - k.balmer@lsx.org.uk
Alasdair Tatam, Project Assistant - a.tatm@lsx.org.uk
Suzie Coats, Projects Intern - projectsintern@lsx.org.uk

London Sustainability Exchange
84 Long Lane, London SE1 4AU
T: 020 7234 4900 | F: 020 7234 9419 | E: info@lsx.org.uk
www.lsx.org.uk
Our funders include: the Bridge House Trust, Defra, the London Development Agency (LDA) and London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government).

This project is supported by the UCL-led UrbanBuzz
Programme, within which UEL is a prime partner. UrbanBuzz is a practical, evidence-based programme designed to address barriers in the delivery of sustainable communities particularly in London and the Greater South East.
For more information please see http://www.urbanbuzz.org/

London Sustainability Exchange is a registered charity, number 1122130, and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, company number 5154010
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