Live Smart was created in partnership with students as a new programme of informal learning and applied action in sustainability. As part of the University’s sustainability strategy its aim was to reach past the minority of students already interested in the environment, to make sustainability relevant and accessible to the mainstream student population. A small team of paid students create and deliver a series of communications, events and community challenges to boost their wellbeing, save them money and build belonging by working with their community whilst protecting the planet.

For RCE partners, the Community Challenge enables them to learn about sustainability in practice with students, collaborate across generations and gain insights into the UN SDGs. Gloucester Cathedral is lead partner in the Community Challenge, as another cultural anchor institution in the region with a deep commitment to sustainability. The Cathedral helps to develop the challenges and hosts the annual community festival celebration of the results, to meet its community engagement objectives. The underpinning shared aim in this RCE partnership is to build a more equal, prosperous and environmentally-friendly future for the RCE region and the wider planet, with strong focus on cultural diversity, empowering minority voices and crossing social boundaries.