Student initiative to ‘make life more sustainable and affordable’ shortlisted for prestigious Green Gown Award 2026 

The Friendly Living Fund, an initiative set up to help students develop projects which address the cost-of-living crisis, has been shortlisted for a 2026 Green Gown award. The project has been recognised in the Money for Good category, which celebrates post-16 education institutions that use their economic and financial power to drive positive societal, environmental or cultural change. 

The initiative, a collaboration between York St John University Students' Union and the Living Lab, was set up to help students develop practical, impactful projects that address the cost-of-living crisis while building climate resilience. Individuals or groups can apply for up to £400 to fund the costs of a project. Since its launch in 2024, the Friendly Living Fund has supported a range of projects including creative upcycling initiatives, sustainable period products on campus, vertical farming, and community composting.  

The Living Lab is an interdisciplinary network based in the University’s Institute for Social Justice. It brings together students and staff to embed ecological justice across the University. Each theme spans several years, with past projects addressing air pollution and food sustainability. Since 2024, the focus has been on climate resilience, examining how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related events. 

This year's Friendly Living Fund projects include setting up a student food cooperative, partnering with local organization Greening the Groves to grow plants and put up bird boxes, distributing eco binders to trans students and learning sustainable skincare to share recipes with students.  

Jamie Rinkert, MSc Product Design student, launched two of the projects  - free sustainable chest binders and a community fridge.  

They said: 

“The opportunity to receive the grants, and the support that has been offered to me through the Living Lab, has been an incredible experience, allowing me to help others and hopefully shape the future of preventing food insecurity at YSJ going forwards.  

“I think it's so important that students are encouraged and supported to enact change on their campus and local area, and the fund does exactly that. It's been truly wonderful to see the positivity that has come from all the projects that were funded this year and in years prior. I hope that in being shortlisted for a Green Gown award, more people will see the great work that the FLF fosters and that they are encouraged to make the changes they want to see, like many others before them.”  

Students at York St John University’s London campus set up WinterKind as an Enactus YSJ project focused on tackling clothing insecurity in London. They successfully applied to the Friendly Living Fund to support their project to collect, redistribute, and upcycle donated winter clothing.   

Ruke Ejegreh, WinterKind project lead said: 

“The Friendly Living Fund offered the Enactus YSJ Chapter project the opportunity to turn an idea (WinterKind) into something tangible while addressing both a social and environmental need within our student community. 

"It has been really rewarding to see WinterKind become more than just a clothing project. Through collecting and redistributing clothing, the Enactus YSJ team created opportunities for students to support one another while also encouraging more sustainable approaches to fashion and consumption. What has meant the most to me is seeing how a simple idea can bring people together around kindness, climate justice, inclusion and sustainability.” 

Dr Cath Heinemeyer, Senior Research Associate in Ecological Justice, Senior Lecturer in Arts, said: 

“The Friendly Living Fund embodies the principles of the circular economy by encouraging students to develop ideas that make their lives and communities more resilient. Rather than simply providing money to spend, it gives them the opportunity to turn innovative ideas into practical projects that address challenges such as climate change and the cost-of-living. Students are encouraged to think creatively about how to upcycle, reduce waste and reuse materials, helping to create solutions that deliver lasting environmental and social benefits."

Lucy Furneaux, Interim Head of Student Engagement at York St John Student’s Union, said: 

“The Friendly Living Fund is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when the Students' Union and University work in partnership. Our shared expertise and commitment to student leadership enables YSJ students to challenge what's possible and believe in their capacity to make a real difference to their campus community and beyond. We look forward to continuing to work with our Living Lab colleagues to grow the Friendly Living Fund and the opportunities it offers to our students.” 

Students will get another chance to pitch for FLF funding at a special event this autumn run by the Living Lab along with York Together and Singing Resistance York. STEWdent and Song will take place on Friday 9 October at Kings Manor, York as part of York Environment Festival 2026. 

Widely regarded as the sector's leading awards for sustainability, the Green Gown Awards 2026 will be held on Monday 16 November at New Dock Hall, Leeds. 

Find out about the Friendly Living Fund and the Living Lab at York St John University. 

Learn more about the Green Gown Awards and full list of 2026 finalists.