IKEA is helping make schools across the UK more sustainable by bringing four winning ideas from its Let’s Go Zero competition to life, with Lewisham based CTK Emmanuel the first to be built by IKEA co-workers.

The competition challenged children across the UK to develop ideas to help tackle climate change. From growing vegetables to composting and building bike sheds, the ozone was the limit!

After receiving over 100 entries from across the UK, a team of experts from IKEA and Let’s Go Zero carefully selected the four winning ideas. With Let’s Go Zero working to unite schools to be carbon zero by 2030, entries were judged based on those that would have the most positive impact on the local area.
Students at CTK Emmanuel designed the “enviro-hub” for the school’s Eco Committee. The space will offer an exciting new indoor and outdoor educational area for students to enjoy learning about sustainability and the environment.

Engaging younger students, the new fresh and vibrant space will allow the sixth form to welcome primary school children from the surrounding area to use the facilities, as they help build a more eco-conscious community. While a ‘kitchen garden’ in the space provides the opportunity for students to grow herbs and produce that will then be given away to people in the local area.
The first topics on the school’s agenda to delve into include Healthy Living, Global Citizenship and Biodiversity – taking the learning experience to another level, whilst also involving the wider community for learners of all ages and backgrounds.

The competition came as research conducted by IKEA revealed 8 in 10 (83%) children aged 5-16 want to make changes at school to help combat climate change. Whilst a further 65% said that they feel their school has already implemented some initiatives, but not enough. It launched in support of the nationwide campaign Let’s Go Zero, delivered by climate solutions charity Ashden, whose mission is to make all 32,000 UK schools zero carbon by 2030.

The three remaining winning schools, Beith Primary School in Glasgow, Oakwell Rise Primary Academy in Sheffield and Charles Williams Primary School in Cardiff will have their projects completed by IKEA co-workers over the coming months. IKEA is providing products, solutions, and funds to the value of £2,000 to build each of the winning sustainable initiatives.

Beith Primary School in Glasgow – School Uniform Exchange Shop
With a large number of wearable school uniforms being thrown away each year in the UK, Beith Primary school were inspired to create a school culture where everyone is comfortable and confident reusing and wearing second-hand school clothes. It also comes following the new statutory guidance from the Department of Education, that schools should ensure arrangements are in place so that second-hand school uniforms are available.
Together with IKEA designers, Beith Primary will build a new, dedicated space for parents, children and families to choose their school clothes and accessories in a bright and well-organised environment that ensures dignity and respect for all. The swap shop will also help to reduce car journeys with minimal school uniform shops being close to the school.
Oakwell Rise Primary Academy in Sheffield – Food Bank Stall & Veggie Growing Area
Together with IKEA, students will design and build a new market stall structure to provide surplus food from Fareshare, a food poverty charity, and Neighbourly, a platform which helps businesses deliver meaningful and sustainable investment into their local communities. This will help the school reduce its overall carbon footprint by preventing food waste, while also supporting healthy eating choices and reducing food inequality within their school community.
Charles Williams Primary School in Cardiff – Planting and Vegetable Growing Space
Year 4 students at Charles Williams Primary in Cardiff came up with the idea to extend their outdoor planting and vegetable growing area. The new growing space will enable all pupils to get involved and engage with nature. From preparing the soil to planting the seeds, taking care of the plants and vegetables, and enjoying the delicious, healthy results of their hard work, this new growing space is a great way for the students to learn more about sustainability.

Marsha Smith, Country Deputy Retail Manager at IKEA UK & IE, says: “We have been blown away by the number of amazing initiatives submitted by schools across the UK, and it was a challenge to pick just four winners! It’s been inspiring to see how passionate young people are about making a positive difference to our planet.”

“At IKEA, we believe in introducing more sustainable initiatives to create a better future, and hope this competition encourages children of all ages to make small changes that collectively have a big impact. We’re looking forward to working with our other winners to bring their fantastic ideas to life using our products and expertise.”

Simon Spearman, Head of Centre at CTK Emmanuel, says: “We are so proud of our students for putting sustainability first and coming up with an idea that will benefit pupils for years to come. Involving the wider community in our environmental work is greatly important, and the new “enviro-hub” that IKEA is building for us will enable us to continue to do so.”

“The new sustainability-focused area will create a wonderful working space for not just CTK Emmanuel students but also the local community and surrounding schools. With this dedicated space we’re delighted that families will be able to build their skills and knowledge around sustainability through workshops and other activities that we’ll be hosting.”

Over the next few months IKEA co-workers will work closely with the other winning schools, using products and expertise in sustainable living to bring the initiatives to life, whilst also supporting teachers and pupils to do more to tackle climate change.