Nursing students recycling their uniforms to help hospice
Student nurses at a university in Hampshire are taking part in a uniform recycling scheme to help both future cohorts and a local hospice.
The University of Winchester has a ‘swap shop’ for students on its nursing degree course to recycle their old and non-fitting garments, and for graduates to return uniforms.
“We are immensely proud of our nursing students”
Elizabeth Davies-Ward
In addition, worn out items can be recycled in a clothes bank on the West Downs Campus, which is run by a local trust and is helping raise funds for the nearby Winchester Hospice.
In future, all uniforms that are no longer fit for purpose will be placed in this bin. The bright pink bin is also open to any other clothing donations from students and the public.
Miranda Chubb, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s sustainability officer, said: “We are very grateful to the university nursing students for choosing to either re-use or recycle their old uniforms via their swap shop or our clothing bank.
“Not only is this in line with the trust’s Green Plan to improve sustainability, reduce carbon emissions and support the circular economy, the funds raised will be used to support Winchester Hospice.
“The hospice provides invaluable support for those who need specialist palliative and end-of- life care, helping individuals to live as full a life as possible either as an inpatient or while being cared for at home, making a real difference to those in the community and their families.”
Dean of the faculty of health and wellbeing at the university, Elizabeth Davies-Ward, said: “We are immensely proud of our nursing students.
“Their commitment to caring extends way beyond the person as demonstrated by this initiative,” she said.
In recognition of the importance of tackling the climate crisis, we launched a new category at this year’s Student Nursing Times Awards to highlight the efforts of students on green issues.
The inaugural winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability category, announced last week, were Victoria Edleston, Akira Madams and Kendall Robbins from King’s College London.
In addition, our charity partner for the event was Students Organising for Sustainability or SOS UK, which works to promote action on tackling the climate crisis in the education sector.
Meanwhile, we have launched a similar new category for the 2024 Nursing Times Awards. Entries are currently still open for the Sustainability in Nursing and Midwifery category.
Sustainability was also one of the topics that we recently asked nurses for their views on for our Manifesto By Nurses, which we will be presenting to political parties ahead of the next general election.
