Shipley College

Alana Thornton’s partnership with Shipley College

Alana’s sustainability journey took an exciting turn after she became a STEM Ambassador in 2024. Motivated to broaden her impact, she decided to add more strings to her bow by becoming a Climate Ambassador for Yorkshire and the Humber. With a PhD titled “Where the wild things go: Finding and creating refugia from climate change in Northern Britain, Alana felt she had not only the knowledge and passion for the role but also the flexibility to volunteer her time to the programme.

Shortly after signing up, Alana connected with Natasha Wilkinson, the Sustainability and Facilities Co-ordinator at Shipley College. When exploring the college’s sustainability section online, Alana initially wondered, ‘how am I going to help this college as they are already doing so much in terms of sustainability?’. However, Natasha immediately reassured her that the college would appreciate any support she could provide.

Their collaboration began with a guided tour of the campus, giving Alana a clear understanding of the extensive sustainability initiatives already in place. She was then invited to speak at a staff sustainability meeting, where she delivered a short presentation introducing her role as a Climate Ambassador and outlining what an effective Climate Action Plan should include. While the college was already taking substantial steps towards climate action, Alana recognised the opportunity to bring these activities together into a single, cohesive Climate Action Plan—one that could evolve and be reviewed over time. She was struck by how much had already been achieved and joked that ‘it felt like her job was to beef up the Climate Action Plan’.

Natasha spoke highly of the partnership, explaining that having Alana involved had been incredibly valuable, describing her as a source of ‘expertise and is very responsive as she is always just an email away’. Through ongoing sustainability meetings, Alana saw how Natasha continually inspires and motivates others across the college to engage more deeply in climate action. Both agreed that having a broad range of stakeholders onboard is essential to sustaining momentum.

Alongside the progress, Alana also recognised the challenges, acknowledging how difficult it can be for ‘institutions to get sustainability fully embedded into all areas of college life’. To maintain focus and ensure meaningful progress, Natasha made a strategic decision to concentrate on the four pillars of the Climate Action Plan one at a time.

This year, the primary emphasis is on biodiversity, not at the expense of the other Climate Action Plan pillars, but as a major priority for reducing the college’s environmental impact.

Speaking with Natasha, it was clear that the Climate Action Plan has provided structure, clarity, and shared purpose. She is passionate about communicating the plan widely so the entire college community can work toward a collective vision.

Now that the Climate Action Plan is in place, Alana sees her ongoing role as that of an adviser, ‘a middle-man who can find right resources’ and someone who ‘can look for specific funding pots’ to help the college bring its plans to life.

Together, Alana and Natasha have formed a strong and dynamic partnership, with their collaboration driving forward the college’s sustainability journey. Their teamwork has grown into a powerful example of how shared passion, expertise, and commitment can create meaningful change.