Regeneration for the Future is a collaborative initiative drawing together students, academic staff, the community and industry professionals community in both formal and social learning for sustainability, with the aim of building knowledge and practice of sustainability in design, production and manufacturing. The concept stems from innovative teaching staff from 4 design courses (Product Design, Fashion Design, Landscape Design, Commercial Interior Design), spanning 2 academic schools (Art and Design/ Computing and Technology) joining forces with the aim to transform learning and engagement for sustainability within the University of Gloucestershire and with RCE Severn partners in the county.

It has brought transformative change to undergraduate design courses, with students engaged in EfS learning and working across professional teams at a transdisciplinary level towards shared goals. The project involves industry partnerships with local businesses offering ‘live’ site-based projects for the design group students, requiring students to apply their design skills whilst responding collaboratively to real-world sustainability challenges. Organisations taking part so far include:

• Hardwick Gallery: University of Gloucestershire’s art gallery
• Ross and Ross Food: Gloucestershire-based fine food company
• Cheltenham Minster: Church community
• Superdry: Gloucestershire-based fashion clothing company

Wider community engagement has been achieved as the result of a collaborative sub-project which launched the new Cheltenham Repair Café in May 2016, named “Regeneration Cheltenham”. The project provides a response to the currently unsustainable linear economy, it aims to reduce waste production and connect people from different backgrounds.

Regeneration Cheltenham is led by the Product Design course leader, co-funded and supported by RCE Severn and the local council, and co-managed by RCE Severn partner and local sustainability charity, Vision 21. The project is embedded in the undergraduate Product Design programme and the café is open to the public on a monthly basis to engage students, staff and wider community in repairing. The local council provide financial and practical support with the aim of averting waste from landfill in the county and helping to respond to local and regional waste targets. Vision 21 are key to the engagement of the wider community and provision of committed volunteers as part of their role in leading and supporting initiatives which enable transformative change for sustainability across the region in line with Agenda 21.