Green Issues

The Retreat recognises sustainability as one of its key priorities and is committed to doing all it can to protect and enhance our environment for today and into the future.

To support our commitment the Green Group were formed in December 2007 and an Environmental Policy was written.  Members of the group include two directors, Chief Executive, Manager of Facilities Management, Chair of the Green Champions and Service User Consultant.  The group meets three times a year to set objectives and targets against this policy and to monitor the activities of the Green Champions.

The Green Champions is a group of over 20 volunteers from our units, admin departments, support services and patients.  They have an interest in environmental issues and assist The Retreat in reducing its environmental impact by raising awareness of green issues amongst their colleagues.  They help in planning and running of any environmental campaigns and act as a local source of advice on green issues.

Some recent projects undertaken:

• Learning at Work Day 2008 dedicated to promote green issues to staff, with presentations from City of York Council, the Energy Advice Centre and York Rotters.
• The installation of a 10,000 litre rainwater tank and harvesting system.  This allows rainwater to be filtered and reused to wash laundry and is thought to be the first of its kind within a patient setting.  This project was part funded by the Social Responsibility Fund.
• Sourcing of local produce for our catering department.
• Cycle to work scheme introduced.
• Collection of co-mingled waste allows paper, plastic bottles, cans, cardboard to be collected in one bag and sent for recycling.
• Carbon Trust report on how we can become more energy efficient in a 200 year old listed building.