Sustainability Opportunities

To apply for any projects, students can email opportunities@undebbangor.com to express interest. Our environmental projects include but are not limited to:

Here at Undeb Bangor, we have a large number of sustainability orientated societies and volunteering projects that students can get involved with all year round! What better way to showcase our current sustainability work than to highlight the brilliant contribution our very own students make throughout the year to the local environment and community on the ground. The majority of projects and groups are student led, allowing our students to nurture and practically apply their interest in sustainability, whilst simultaneously developing their skill set, experience and confidence.

Below is a summary of some of the most active or new sustainability related projects and groups to get involved with: 

Environmental Volunteering Opportunities:

We have a range of environmental volunteering projects, available to students either as a one-off or a more regular commitment across the year.

Healing Garden

Healing Garden volunteers work throughout the year to improve a local garden and to create a safe haven for the local wildlife, in addition to a space for the local community to relax and connect in. 
 

STAG

STAG works with a local team at Treborth Gardens to manage and develop the gardens. Any volunteers with a passion for the local environment or wildlife and gardening are encouraged to join.

Elwy Working Woods

Elwy Working Woods aim to bring neglected local woodlands back into active management for the economic, social and ecological benefit of our community and also to increase woodland cover by the planting and care of new woodlands. They also want to foster participation in all crafts that use wood as a raw material.

 

Fairtrade Volunteer
Bangor Fairtrade Group collects information about how we have achieved the targets in our action plan and how we intend to build on these. We have also applied for a grant through the Hub Cymru Africa scheme for a project between Wales and Malawi. The aim is to set up links between groups in Wales with groups in Africa to exchange information and help provide support where needed, and to raise awareness in Wales of the challenges faced by poor communities in Africa.

 

Hedgehog Friendly Campus

Our Hedgehog Friendly projects sets out to promote the importance of one of the UK’s most recognisable residents. As there is currently a huge decline in hedgehog numbers, our team look to create habitats and develop more hedgehog friendly areas for their numbers to thrive.

 

Beach Clean

Volunteers take part in regular beach clean events along the local coastline, either as a one-off or more consistently.

 

Hungry Dragon

Hungry Dragon is a sustainable food project saving surplus food in Bangor, Gwynedd. We convert surplus fruit and veggies from local supermarkets into yummy preserves and meals. The Hungry Dragon project works with and is based out of the kitchens at St. Mary’s. All of our proceeds help the project expand and also help the café and cathedral with their initiatives.

 

Volunteering @ Snowdonia Donkey Sanctuary

Having been set up in 2022, this a relatively new project and has been one of the most popular ones with volunteers to date! Students take regular trips to the Snowdonia Donkey Sanctuary to work on 3 different volunteering projects: The Student Wellbeing Donkey Project, Walking Donkey’s and Conservation and Land Management at the Donkey Sanctuary.

 

Dynamic Dunescapes

Student Volunteering Bangor (SVB) is currently working with the Discover Dynamic Dunescapes Project to link students with a number of environmental opportunities in the local area, largely relating to restoration of sand dunes for the benefit of wildlife, people and communities. Opportunities include helping with wildlife surveys and management work.

 

Snowdonia Society 

Regular tree planting days and volunteers on some of Snowdonia’s most popular paths over the summer months. 

 

Fast Fashion 

A group of students campaigning and spreading awareness about fast fashion. They also organise clothes swaps, pop up chairty shops and encourage more sustainable socials. 

 

Monitoring the Dragons

Set up in 2022, this project is run with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and aims to:

Establish nationwide population and distribution data on Welsh amphibians and reptiles

Train Citizen Scientists (CS) in identification, surveying and monitoring techniques

Create a CS network in North Wales

Establish long term monitoring sites in Wales

Engage and educate with the local population



Social Sustainability- Volunteering Opportunities


 

Sustainability isn’t just about the environment. Many of our volunteering projects directly engage and develop links with the local community, integrating people of different ages and backgrounds and making a conscious effort to help others in a variety of ways.

 

Not only do we have a range of environmental volunteering projects, but we also have a number of projects that focus on social sustainability:

The Big Give
The aim of the project is to divert food away from the waste stream and back into usage. Food donated goes to the Cathedral Food Bank, who distribute emergency 3-day food parcel to those in need. Volunteers help to distribute food bins around all University halls, collect the donated food and date and package it ready for collection.

 

Walk and Talk

Walk and Talk volunteers organise weekly walks around Bangor which allows students to meet new people, and to get outside for a walk. 

 

Well-being Buddies

Volunteers are paired with students who may be lacking confidence or feeling lonely. They assist the student by being there to support them as a friend and the social aspects of University. For example: meeting up to go to a café. The library or going with them to a club, society, or volunteering project as they may not have the confidence to go alone.  

 

Connect @Bangor

Volunteers facilitate a discussion around all aspects of wellbeing and the Universuty Mental Health Advisors then host a drop-in session. 

 

Tea Party & Out and About

Both projects work to provide elderly members of the community with new opportunities and the means to connect with each other, combatting loneliness.

Two Tea Party events are organised over the year (generally Christmas and Easter) where the service users get to enjoy food, tea, games, entertainment and meet new people. This project has been running every year since 1952.

Out and About provides service users with an opportunity to explore the local area and our project leaders plan regular trips in the local community and organise transport to and from locations for the elderly. Some great examples include our latest trip to Beaumaris and a tearoom in March!

 

Kids Projects

We currently operate 3 volunteering projects for Primary School children: 

Sblodge (5-7yrs)

Spectrwm (7-11yrs) 

Sblat (5-7yrs)

Volunteers organise weekly play sessions for local children, from crafts, sports and trips the kids love the sessions (as do the volunteers!) These sessions are a wonderful opportunity for children to have fun and engage with new people. 

 

Spectrwm is specifically for autistic children and their siblings and take place in our brand-new sensory room.  

 

All volunteers undergo an enhanced DBS, safeguarding training and autism awareness training. 

 

We also have a group for teenagers, working with counsellors and children’s services. Our SIBS programme was founded to allow siblings of children who had life limited disabilities to meet other children going through similar experiences. 

 

Ffrind Cymraeg

Ffrind Cymraeg sessions provide an opportunity for Welsh learners and Welsh speakers to connect, enjoy and develop leaners Welsh speaking abilities. Students socialise in groups or individually and many sessions are organised throughout the year.

Gig Buddies

Gig Buddies is a befriending scheme that tackles loneliness and isolation by matching people with a learning disability and/or autism with a volunteer who shares the same interests. Gig Buddies usually go to gigs and events together.  

Llwybrau Llesiant / Wellbeing Pathways - Activity groups for adults with disabilities: 

 

Gaming Club 

Art 

Walking 

Bingo 

Yoga 

Gardening  

Quiz 

Football 

Dance 



 

Environmental Volunteering Opportunities


 

Not only do we have wealth of volunteering opportunities, but a number of our societies are sustainability orientated:  

 

Entomology Society 


 

For anybody interested in the study of invertebrates, regardless of prior knowledge or experience. Meetings consist of talks given by members and guest speakers, animal display / handling events, photography competitions, quiz, and film nights. They also organise practical experience in the form of identification training events and to get members outdoors with invert walks and moth trapping nights. As a society they strive to provide a fun and educational experience and welcome all those interested in entomology, to any extent. 

 

Birdwatching Society


 

The society organise weekly birdwatching tips around North Wales - you may see them wandering around the pier or harbour with telescopes and binoculars, feel free to come and say hello! No experience or equipment needed! 

 

Conservation Society


 

Increase experience and awareness of both local and global conservation issues by hosting weekly talks with experts and practical work parties 

 

Dolphin Rescue Society


 

Dolphins play a vital role in the maintenance of a healthy, diverse, and prosperous eco-system. The society spread awareness, fundraise and organise practical conservation opportunities.  

 

Endeavour


 

Organise weekly talks, events and trips covering all aspects of ocean science from biology and geology through to engineering, chemistry and conservation, which is a great way to spark an interest or broaden your knowledge in these areas. Endeavour is a great way to meet likeminded people, make friends and network to gain contacts in the scientific community for your future career!  

 

Forestry Society


 

BFSA is the society for anyone wishing to develop their forestry knowledge, skills and network links.  BFSA is held in high regard by many within the forestry industry: members can build connections with students, staff and future employers. Throughout the year they hold academic talks from forestry and environmental professionals, which provide a valuable insight into the working world, along with providing opportunities to develop your practical woodland management skills through volunteer days nearby to Bangor. 

 

Geog Soc


 

For anyone with a passion for the natural sciences or an interest current global and societal issue. From Academic talks, networking opportunities, practical field work experience and campaigns, there are lots of opportunities with the society. 

 

Herpetological Society


 

Open to anyone who is interested in herpetology (the study of reptiles & amphibians). They host talks throughout the year from a variety of guest speakers covering topics ranging from Taxonomy and genetics to Conservation and Husbandry. Other activities include handling events where members are encouraged to share and show off their own animals and collaborations with other societies such as LGBT and Photo soc. They also work closely with the North West Wales Amphibian & Reptile Group (NWWARG) giving members the opportunity to participate in hands on conservation work and learn about native species.  

 

Zoological Society


 

A society for all animal lovers - from the smallest insect to the largest whale! They host a variety of talks, from anatomy to grass root conservation efforts all around the world, from Bangor University lecturers too world-leading experts. They also organise practical experience from handling sessions for reptiles and invertebrates, dolphin land watches on Anglesey, trips to Chester Zoo and volunteering in Tenerife.