Lead a community

When you sign up you’ll be asked to select from the dropdown list of areas. Communities are generally defined by their local authority boundaries but we know that community identity is important, so you can sign up for more than one and combine areas if you need to. We recommend that you start small and build up, but if you would like to sign up a larger area do get in touch.

There are five steps which you will work towards to achieve the Plastic Free Communities Award. This forms the basis of what we hope will be long term, sustainable plastic reduction in your community. Check out the link below to find out more about the toolkit. If you’re happy to go ahead and lead your community, then register with us!  How you choose to tackle it is up to you, there’s no time frame and you can do things in whichever order you want.

First of all you need to register with us so we know you are working on the campaign. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a resource pack from us with all the information and material you need to be able to take action. You’ll also get access to an online Community Dashboard and our Resource Hub to update us on your actions. We send out monthly email updates, tips and info on SAS plastic pollution campaigns. We also hold regular online workshops & meet ups, and they’ll be chances to join in person meet ups too. You’ll get invited to our online Regional Community Hubs, where you can connect with other community leads. We are always on the phone or email for support.

First of all a community needs to sign up with us – anyone can lead a community.

You then get access to a dashboard which helps you and your community work through the five steps and start the journey towards becoming a Plastic Free Community.

All you need to do is check in with us and update the dashboard with all the steps taken. Your dashboard will show your progress, and there’s lots of support and guidance from the Plastic Free Communities Team along the way. Once all the five steps are complete, you’ve done it!

Yes – universities can sign up just as a regular community would, and work towards SAS Plastic Free Community Award. However, the Community Toolkit is adapted by universities to suit university life and who you are governed by. We will provide guidance on how to work on the toolkit as a university when you sign up, and there’s lots of support from us. As with communities, there is no set time commitment for a University to work towards becoming Approved, it is entirely voluntary and you can also retrofit existing work. Universities can also support their local Plastic Free Community as a ‘Community Ally’.