Nationwide launches Sustainable Living Programme in schools

Nationwide Building Society this month launches its Sustainable Living programme for schools as part of Nationwide Education, the free online resource for pupils, teachers and parents. Linked to the National Curriculum, programmes on Nationwide Education are designed to engage children through interactive activities and games, while communicating important messages. The new ‘Sustainable Houses' programmes, aimed at 4-7 and 7-11 year olds, explore energy saving and issues around sustainability, with a focus on houses and house building. Further Sustainable Living programmes aimed at 12-16 year olds are planned to launch in January and September 2010.

This latest programme builds on Nationwide Education's Road Safety and Financial Capability programmes (launched in October 2007 and September 2008 respectively). Since the launch of Nationwide Education, over 800,000 people across the country have accessed and used the education programmes.

Nationwide has worked with the Government, teaching & education organisations and schools to deliver a programme that helps to meet the needs of children, parents and teachers. The Sustainable Living programme complements the Financial Capability modules by providing information to assist children and their families to live both sustainably and economically. For example, parents can work through various fact sheets, worksheets and games with their children to find hints and tips on how to save energy and money around the house.

Barry Sheerman, MP and chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, said: "I welcome the launch of Nationwide's new Sustainable Living programme and I'm delighted with how many children have already benefited from Nationwide Education. The programme is a helpful resource in ensuring that children learn vital life skills from an early age, skills that will benefit them right through to adulthood. In the current economic situation, households need as much guidance as possible to make their homes both sustainable and economical. Nationwide Education enables children to help their parents go some way to achieving this."

Maxine Taylor, divisional director of corporate affairs at Nationwide, said: "I'm delighted to launch this latest development to an already comprehensive programme. As one of the largest providers of funding for social housing in the UK, sustainability and affordability is naturally very close to our hearts. We feel it's important that children learn from a young age how to look after the environment in which they live and how to make their money go further."

The Sustainable Living programme is in keeping with Nationwide's commitment to manage its environmental impacts, sensibly use resources and responsibly manage its business operations. This commitment includes working with partner organisations to make sure surplus furniture and obsolete corporate clothing are donated to charity, rather than being sent to landfill.

Nationwide also works closely with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the Nationwide Sustainable Housing Awards, the inaugural winners of which were presented with their awards on 2 February 2009 by Wayne Hemingway of Hemingway Design.