Living Lab: Friendly Living Fund Launch 2025

Join us for the launch of the Friendly Living Fund, a micro-grant scheme supporting student-led projects that make sustainability affordable.

After an inspiring first year, which saw innovative student projects, such as sustainable period products on campus, creative upcycling initiatives, vertical farming, and community composting, the Friendly Living Fund is back for 2025-2026 and we’re looking for your ideas!

What is the Friendly Living Fund?

The Friendly Living Fund helps students develop practical, impactful projects that address the cost-of-living crisis while building climate resilience within our university and local community. Whether you have an idea for reducing waste, saving energy, sharing resources, or growing food. This is your chance to bring it to life.

The Launch event

Come along to the launch event to kick off the new funding round and get inspired by real stories and change:

• Inspiring talks from local organisations leading community sustainability projects: York Community Energy, Planet Food York, and St Nicks

• Student success stories from last year’s Friendly Living Fund recipients, learn how their ideas became reality

• Guidance on applying - find out how to apply, deadlines, key dates, and how decisions are made by the Friendly Living Fund committee

• Opportunities to get involved - discover how you can contribute to a project or be part of the committee

• Free pizza and cake - meet like-minded students, staff and community partners

• Who can attend: Open to all students and staff interested in sustainability, community and innovation.

Get Involved

Have you got an idea for making life more sustainable and affordable?

Come along, get inspired, and find out how to apply for the 2025-2026 Friendly Living Fund. Together, we can make our campus and community a friendlier, more sustainable place to live!

Events Access & Inclusivity

At York St John University we are committed to making our events as welcoming and inclusive for as many people as possible.

If you are planning to attend one of our events and have specific access requirements, including wheelchair access, then please contact us by e: [email protected] or t: 01904 876318 and we will make every effort to accommodate you.

If you need a suitable seat reserved for you (and your companions), please let us know, preferably at least one week before the event. Sign language interpreters and real-time captioning may be requested in advance. Please contact us as soon as possible (ideally at least 3 weeks before the date of the event) if you require either BSL interpretation or captioning. We will try our best but cannot guarantee provision.

Parking

There is no parking for any vehicles on site and ANPR cameras are in operation 24/7.

We have a small number of Blue Badge spaces available, these spaces can only be used if guests have pre registered their number plates by emailing [email protected].

Registering your details does not guarantee a space, as they operate on a first come, first served basis. Please ensure your blude badge is displayed clearly in the vehicle.

Privacy Policy

York St John University will use the data you submit in Eventbrite for the purposes of administering this event. York St John University utilises third party software for data storage, tracking and analysis activity but your details will not be used by any of these third parties in order to contact you Any data you share with us will be used to help us improve your event experience and for event tracking and analysis activity within the University.

We will only send you important information and reminders related to the event you have booked unless you tell us otherwise. During the booking process, if you opt-in to receive emails about the latest events hosted and supported by York St John University, you consent to York St John University contacting you with relevant information.

If you no longer wish to hear from us you can opt-out at any time by changing your contact preferences via the link in emails you receive from us or by emailing [email protected].

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech within the law and academic freedom are core principles of our University and underpin our mission to foster intellectual curiosity, rigorous debate, and the pursuit of knowledge. Our staff / students / SU colleagues are entitled to express their ideas and views, providing they do not violate the law. The law rightly prohibits speech that incites violence, terrorism and hate, but does not prohibit speech that others may find upsetting or offensive.

As a University that embodies social justice, we expect people to treat each other with dignity and respect, but it is not our role to censor ways of thinking or stifle debate between those who hold opposing views.

We understand that it can be frustrating to face views and perspectives that do not reflect our inclusive ethos at York St John University. However, we will not take disciplinary action against staff or students for lawful expression of their views, regardless of petitions, media campaigns or other external pressures.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher York St John University