How It Works
The Sound Impact Awards comprises of a list of criteria, each relating to a different action that will help the Union to reduce its negative impact on the environment. To gain the base level accreditation, each Union entering the scheme will need to mark all of the twenty one essential criteria to say whether or not the Union is meeting it. The highest scoring Unions will receive Gold Awards, followed by Silver Awards, any Union that can meet the twenty one essential criteria achieves a Bronze Standard.
Sound Impact Awards 2007/08
Sound Impact Awards - Sharing Best Practice (PDF 2.5MB)
Entries to the 2007/08 Sound Impact Awards surpassed expectation; we could not have anticipated the dedication to improvement amongst both returning participants and newcomers to the scheme. The average score of participants rose from 187 points in 2006/07 to 233 points this year and sixty seven Unions took part!
In addition to the Gold and Silver Sound Impact Awards and Bronze Standard, this year our media partner The Ecologist supported a Community Challenge Award. See our Media Partner page for more details. Our main sponsors also supported special Awards to recognise continuous improvement and exceptional achievements; the Co-operative Bank Most Improved Union Award and the Office Depot Innovation Award.
The 2007/2008 Awards were presented by Richard Kilgarriff and Julian Knight of Coolaworld.com
Sound Impact Awards 2007/2008 Rankings
Gold Award
- Loughborough Students’ Union (Overall Winner)
- Edinburgh University Students' Association
- Leeds University Union
Silver Award
- University of Central Lancashire Students' Union
- Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students
- Northumbria Students' Union
- University of Sheffield Union of Students
- Kent Union
- York St John Students' Union
Co-operative Bank Most Improved Union Award
- Cardiff University Students' Union
Office Depot Innovation Award
- The University of Manchester Students' Union
The Ecologist Community Challenge Award
- University of Bradford Students' Union.
Bronze Standard
- Anglia Ruskin Students' Union
- Bucks Students' Union
- Cardiff University Students' Union
- Durham Students' Union
- Goldsmiths Students' Union
- Keele University Students’ Union
- Kingston University Students' Union
- Liverpool Guild of Students
- London School of Economics & Political Science Students’ Union
- National Union of Students
- Newcastle University Union Society
- Nottingham Trent Students Union
- Oxford Brookes Students’ Union
- Queen Mary Students' Union, University of London
- Reading University Students' Union
- The University of Manchester Students' Union
- Union of UEA Students
- Universities at Medway Students' Association
- University of Bath Students’ Union
- University of Birmingham Guild of Students
- University of Bradford Students' Union
- University of Leicester Students' Union
- University of London Union
- University of Sussex Students' Union
- University of Wales, Aberystwyth Guild of Students
- University of Westminster Students’ Union
- University of York Students' Union
- Winchester Students' Union
Working Towards Accreditation
- City College Norwich Students' Union
- De Montfort University Students' Union
- Derby College Students’ Union
- Heriot-Watt University Students’ Association
- Hull University Union
- Lancaster University Students' Union
- Leeds Metropolitan University Students' Union
- Liverpool Students' Union (LJMU)
- Manchester Metropolitan Students' Union
- School of Oriental and African Studies Students' Union (SOAS)
- Students' Union Royal Holloway, University of London
- Trinity College Students' Union, Carmarthen
- University College London Students' Union
- University of Abertay Dundee Students Association
- University of Bristol Union
- University of Derby Students' Union
- University of Essex Students' Union
- University of Exeter Students’ Guild
- University of Gloucestershire Students' Union
- University of Hertfordshire Students' Union
- University of Nottingham Students' Union
- University of Plymouth Students' Union
- University of Portsmouth Students’ Union
- University of Salford Students’ Union
- University of Teesside Students’ Union
- University of the Arts London
- University of Wales, Lampeter Students’ Union
- University of Wales, Newport Students' Union
- University of Wales, Swansea Students' Union
- University of West of England Students' Union
Sound Impact Awards 2006/07
Sound Impact Awards - Sharing Best Practice (PDF 2.5MB)
Sound Impact Awards 2006/2007 was a tremendous success! Fifty Unions participated and revealed some fantastic environmental initiatives. We have encapsulated the best bits in the Sound Impact Awards Best Practice Booklet.
In addition to the work book and Sound Impact Awards, this year our media partner The Ecologist is sponsoring a Community Challenge Award. See our Media Partner page for more details.
Testimonials
"We have learnt a huge amount about environmental best practice that will inform our building redevelopment plans 2008-2010. The first step is taking place this summer, when we will finally have motion sensors, dual- flushing toilets and waterless urinals installed."
Simon Fairbanks, VP Democracy and Resources, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
"Buck’s has made great strides this year, rising to the Sound Impact challenge. We certainly would not have got anywhere as near as far without the help of this framework"
Mal Edgson, General Mangaer, Bucks Students’ Union
"The scheme has prompted our Union to take action on several areas highlighted in the workbook. I believe the workbook is an excellent tool to use in helping to create initiatives for environmental improvements. New relationships have developed with the institution and internal societies that provide a coordinated and effective response."
Frank Birkett, ACting General Manager, Manchester Metropolitan Students' Union
"I'd just like to say how impressed I was with the thoroughness of the workbook - it has raised many issues, a number of which we have already been able to take action on, some of which we were already in the process of introducing, and the rest of which are now on our agenda for next semester. So thank you for putting this thing together - I think it's going to have a really positive impact for all the unions involved"
Nick Bryer, Ethical & Environmental Officer, Birmingham University Guild of Students
"I believe that the workbook will provide a superb road map to the union in our ongoing drive towards greening all our activities"
Alastair McGregor, General Manager, University of Manchester Students' Union
"It has made Durham Students' Union sabbaticals and staff consider the overall environmental consequences of their decisions, rather than just on a piecemeal basis. Sound Impact has been really inspiring!"
Toby Walton, Environment Officer, Durham Students' Union
"As a result of the scheme we've set up recycling bins for office paper and for cardboard. People are now starting to switch off their monitors overnight. We've also lobbied the University about encouraging staff to car share which should help both the car parking crisis on campus and the environment"
Nicky Goldthorpe, General Manager, York St John Students' Union