Staff and students at the University of Sussex are set to take part in beach and river cleans as the university teams up with charity Surfers Against Sewage.

As part of the university’s plans to become more sustainable, the environmental charity will benefit from a number of fundraising and eco-friendly projects over the next year, with the university community taking an active role in them.

The partnership with the charity is part of a drive to increase student and staff volunteering, as well as improve the university’s carbon footprint - with an aim of net zero emissions for all operations within 15 years.

READ MORE: University of Sussex targets net zero emissions by 2035 in new sustainability strategy

A spokeswoman at Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) said: “Sussex is a great partner for SAS, as they are not only helping to spread the SAS message, they will also start to make huge waves with their environmental strategies and, in turn, become an inspiration for other universities to follow suit.

“They’re daring to be different and we’re very excited to partner with them this year.”

Students and staff will soon be consulted on other charities and good causes focused on sustainability that they would like to see the university support over the coming year.

Professor Adam Tickell, outgoing Vice-Chancellor at the university, said: “I was really keen for us to work with SAS because I think their values are very close to what we stand for.

“They are integrally involved in the campaigning and working to protect our seas and we are a coastal university so it’s a great match.”

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