By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
DenyAccept
SOS-UK is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability. We know environmental sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation, so our work spans across issues of justice and wellbeing as well.
We believe in lifelong learning and work on sustainability across all forms of education from early years to workplace learning. We act as a support crew - facilitating, encouraging and mentoring people wherever they are on their sustainability journey in sustainability.
We see the power and potential in students and young people to be at the forefront of change. We work alongside them as equal partners in their sustainability leadership journeys.
More students leading on, and learning for, sustainability.
When students lead on sustainability they develop the knowledge, values, skills, and competencies required to make them great sustainability leaders. We don’t just want organisations to do sustainability for students, it should be done by, with, and through students.
An education system repurposed around the climate emergency and ecological crisis.
Sustainability should be woven through every subject like a golden thread. Every student should be a sustainability student. The education system should serve as a force for good in response to the challenges society faces.
Sustainability that is more inclusive, so it is for everyone.
Research has shown that the sustainability sector in the UK is unrepresentative when it comes to racial and other social and political identities. The negative impacts of sustainability inaction disproportionately affect these underrepresented groups, both globally and here in the UK. The sector must represent these voices.
Our 2019/20 Impact Report
Our 2017/18 Impact Report
Our 2016/17 Impact Report
Alex (he/him) joined SOS-UK in October 2021 as a Green Mentor Project Manager and works part-time to deliver the Green Influencer Scheme, inspiring young people to be positive agents of change in their community.
Based in Norwich, Alex also works as a Youth Engagement Officer for Norfolk Museums Service (Eastern Area) delivering National Saturday Club, an artist-led creative learning programme that empowers underserved Young People in East Norfolk with arts and heritage. Alex runs a community workshop studio, called Jelly Works, which advocates for a decarbonised practice using found and foraged materials.
He is a CELTA-trained English teacher, studied English at University of Exeter and has an Art Foundation Diploma from University of the Arts London.
Whenever possible, Alex enjoys wild swimming, mixing records and peering into medieval churches.
Aqeel joined SOS-UK in October 2019. He is primarily involved in furthering ethical procurement within the NUS Trading Team, working with suppliers as well as students and staff on campus to verify and improve the sustainability of the products available.
He also supports the Fairtrade Universities & Colleges Award, as well as the charity’s ethical finance work through Banking with Who and Candidates for Change.
Aqeel started his career as a tax adviser in the corporate world. He then moved into the not-for-profit sector, initially working for a children's charity as part of a befriending project, followed by community development work for a local authority.
Name Pronunciation: Beth-ah-ny Pronouns: she/her
Bethany became a member of the SOS-UK team in March 2022 as a Project Officer supporting with the delivery of Hedgehog Friendly Campus. The project is a BHPS-funded national biodiversity program for the educational sector, which offers free support to staff and students to make impactful changes for wild hedgehogs. She is also a regular volunteer that fosters underweight hedgehogs for local rescues.
Bethany graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2021 with a BA(Hons) in Architecture. Her projects focused on integrating conservation and biodiversity plans to develop a positive relationship between the built environment and nature, ultimately diminishing barriers for wildlife in urban areas. She vows to one day help create richer habitats and protect threatened ecosystems through the use of design to create a balanced environment for both humans and wildlife.
Outside of work, Bethany loves exploring nature trails and fuelling her graphic design flair. She also enjoys reading, gardening, photography and buying more plants than she has room for but that probably won’t stop her from buying them.
Celine joined SOS-UK in November 2020. In her role as a Project Manager, she works primarily on delivering SOS-UK’s sustainability engagement programmes such as Green Impact and Student Switch Off. She also works on the Students For Trees programme, which supports students across the UK to learn about, and to take action for, woods and trees, to help fight the climate and nature crises.
Celine graduated with a BSc in Zoology from the University of Bristol, where she specialized in evolution, ecology and conservation. While in Bristol, she regularly volunteered with the RSPB as part of their schools outreach programme, as well as with the Avon Gorge and Downs Project. Through these roles, she discovered how much she enjoyed communicating sustainability and conservation to young minds, and encouraging the public to take action through education.
Prior to joining SOS-UK, Celine worked at the University of Warwick Students’ Union, where she supported students and sabbatical officers in their campaigns and worked with the SU’s Environment Committee to improve sustainability at the Union.
Outside of work, she has a keen interest in photography, languages and travel, and enjoys exploring the great outdoors on long nature walks.
(Pronunciation: Eh-mah)
Emma joined SOS-UK as a project manager for the South West in November 2020. Emma engages staff and students in a variety of sustainability projects, including Green Impact and Student Switch Off. She also leads on social media.
Emma studied Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she became passionate about climate justice, and subsequently started volunteering for the UK Youth Climate Coalition. She worked for a local authority promoting recycling and community development initiatives and later worked for the Holocaust Educational Trust coordinating their Ambassador Programme. After participating in an Environmental Leadership Programme, Emma studied for a Masters in Migration and Mobility Studies at the University of Bristol and specialised in climate-induced displacement.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys reading, yoga, and being outside in nature.
Erica joined the SOS-UK team in September2021 as a Climate Change Project Administrator. She will be working as part of the fundraising and sponsorship team where she will help to review programs, campaigns, and fundraising opportunities. In addition to this, she will also be leading the task of implementing Green 2.0 in the UK with the support of her team.
Erica received her master’s in Public Policy in 2021 and looks forward to applying her passion for social justice, diversity, and inclusion to influence policy which she hopes will make a change in her wider community.
When Erica isn’t working, she enjoys long walks, podcasts and finding new places to eat at.
Franceska joined the SOS-UK team as a Climate Change Project Administrator in September 2021. She will primarily work in the marketing and communications team. This work entails creating communications and marketing materials/content, organising logistical elements of our events, and establishing and developing communications databases in order to increase the effect and reach of our work and organisational goals. She will also work with the wider team to execute Green 2.0 in the UK.
Franceska holds a BSc in Civil Engineering, but her primary interest has always been in the sustainability sector, with a special emphasis on intersectionality in the environmental sector, as well as social and economic adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Her thesis focused on flood risk management and it consequences to Nottingham. As to review whether change is needed in a new hydraulic model or critical stakeholders making space for water.
Franceska enjoys her personal time reading novels, particularly by Black authors, swimming, photography, and travelling.
Grace joined SOS-UK as a project manager in September 2019. Grace delivers SOS-UK's Green Impact and Student Switch Off programmes across the UK.
Grace studied International Relations and Politics at the University of Lincoln, where she became passionate about the climate crisis. After graduating she ran for the position of Vice President Welfare & Community in the 2018 Lincoln Students' Union elections, becoming the first candidate to win an SU election on an environmentally focused manifesto at Lincoln. During her year in the role, she embedded environmental campaigning within the union and successfully lobbied the university to become one of the first in the UK to declare a climate emergency.
Outside of her work with SOS-UK, Grace volunteers with Student Minds as a member of their Student Advisory Committee, with Friends of the Earth as a member of their Climate Action Welcome Team, and as a trustee of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the University of Lincoln Students' Union.
Grace loves travelling to new places with friends, and cooks a mean veggie katsu curry.
Name pronunciation: Hol-ly; pronouns: she/her
Holly joined SOS-UK as a project manager in May 2021,working part-time to deliver the Green Influencer scheme. As a Green Mentor on this scheme, Holly assists young people to create deep, lasting and meaningful connections with the natural environment.
Alongside work, Holly is completing her doctoral research at the University of Southampton, focusing on the consequences of Arctic Ocean climate change as part of the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council’s Changing Arctic Ocean programme. Holly is the former president and current vice-president of the UK Polar Network, a voluntary organisation working to make research more inclusive, helping those early in their scientific careers, and educating the public about polar research. She holds a Master’s degree in Marine Biology.
Other than this, Holly stays busy with environmental campaigning and teaching swimming to young people. She enjoys all forms of exercise, trying new things, and trying to cram as many plants into her home office as possible.
Jade joined the team in 2012 and is a senior project manager, currently in the role of interim director of education.
Based in the London office Jade spends much of her time engaging with students across the country helping support sustainable behaviors.
Jade has a BSc and MSc in Environmental Management and previously worked at the University of the West of Scotland Student Association as part of their Climate Challenge Fund sustainability projects as well as working on improving environmental practices within the business sector for a number of years.
Outside of work Jade spends time with her family, going for long walks and getting out and about in London.
Jamie is the Executive Director of Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), the new charity created by NUS so it can go further and faster in response to the climate emergency and ecological crisis. Prior to joining SOS-UK, Jamie was Head of Sustainability at NUS for 15 years, during which time he built NUS' work on sustainability from a single role to the largest department in NUS.
Jamie is a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
(Pronunciation: Jas-mine)
Jasmine joined SOS-UK as a Wellbeing Project Administrator in March 2022.
Jasmine graduated in 2020 with a BSc Psychology (BPS accredited) from the University of Plymouth. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing. Jasmine conducted her undergraduate independent research project at a secondary school to investigate the mental health literacy of both students and teachers. Since graduating, she has completed a suicide awareness course with Zero Suicide Alliance, obtained a Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems, and she has recently completed her training to become a crisis intervention volunteer with Shout.
Outside of her work with SOS-UK, Jasmine is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her dog on scenic walks in her home county, Cornwall. Jasmine also enjoys to create art, primarily acrylic paintings, often inspired by the Cornish coastline.
Jo joined SOS-UK in April 2022. She is based in Sheffield and manages the Hedgehog Friendly Campus programme working with universities, colleges and schools across the UK.
Jo graduated from the University of Sheffield with an MEnvSci in Environmental Science, completing a masters research project in agricultural soil carbon sequestration. Since graduating in 2017, Jo has delivered and developed various sustainable behaviour change and accreditation programmes within the education sector including Green Impact, Modeshift STARS and Hedgehog Friendly Campus.
She has a passion for wildlife and experience in the ecological sector, working in roles with the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Outside of work, you’ll find her hunting for hedgehog prints in her garden, out on walks in the Peak District with her husband and rescue dog Lily or watching the Great British Bake Off.
Joanna is London based and has been part of the team since October 2010. In her role as director of engagement, Joanna is part of SOS-UK's leadership team together with the executive director and other directors, and has oversight of SOS-UK's main engagement programmes, including Green Impact, Student Switch Off and the Learning Academy empowering individuals and teams to learn, act and lead for sustainability. Joanna also has oversight of SOS-UK's programmes that focus on student energy poverty and is involved in the Erasmus + funded Green Erasmus that aims to make the experience of an Erasmus student more sustainable working with a team across Europe.
Joanna has experience of working in different sectors in a sustainability role, including work at the London School of Economics, University of Westminster, Greater London Authority, Forum for the Future, AECOM and other sustainability consultancies.
Joanna has a BA in Human Sciences from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Environment, Science and Society from UCL. Joanna is a full member (MIEnvSc) of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, and is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). In her spare time, Joanna enjoys hiking and camping, discovering new places, eating tasty meals, listening to podcasts, and doing yoga.
Kedijah joined SOS-UK as a Project Manager for the East Midlands in October 2021. Kedijah engages students in projects such as Green Impact and Student Switch Off.
Kedijah studied BSc Environmental Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, which is where she found her love for environmental education through the Carbon Literacy Project. She became Carbon Literate and then trained to become a certified Carbon Literacy Trainer. Kedijah also studied MSc Environmental Leadership and Management at the University of Nottingham, specialising in climate change. Her dissertation centered around environmental education and how increasing student knowledge/inciting behaviour change can help University of Nottingham socially adapt to climate change.
Kedijah is also a Youth Trustee of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. In this position, she regularly advocates for young people’s voices to be heard and endeavours to increase rates of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Kedijah enjoys long walks in nature (Attenborough Nature Reserve and anywhere in the Peak District are favourites!), reading fiction as a form of escapism and cooking delicious vegan meals with a range of different ingredients.
Pronunciation: Mar-ta No-vitz-ka (she/her)
Marta joined SOS-UK as a Project Manager in October 2021. She is based in Sheffield and works on our engagement and education programmes with institutions across the country.
Marta graduated with an MBiolSci in Biology from the University of Sheffield, having done her masters project on sustainable soil management in agriculture. While at Sheffield, she held a variety of sustainability-related roles, campaigning and representing the student voice on sustainability matters within the Students' Union and across the wider University. Among others, her work has led to Sheffield University switching to a truly renewable electricity supplier (through the Clean Energy Switch campaign), the Students' Union boycotting fast fashion companies, and introducing a Welfare & Sustainability sabbatical officer position. Upon graduating, she joined a university department as an Education for Sustainable Development intern, producing subject-specific staff guidance for embedding ESD across all modules and teaching activities.
She has a Carbon Literacy certification, and was part of a pilot Climate Conversations course at Sheffield University. Additionally, Marta is active in city-wide groups such as Sheffield Sustainability Network, and regularly gets involved with regional campaigning for a better future.
Outside of work, Marta enjoys spending her time actively, be it nature walks (always with a podcast in her ears), swimming, or Ceilidh dancing. She's also the first to try exciting vegan-friendly eateries, a keen dog spotter, and an avid reader.
As interim director of education Meg oversees SOS-UKs education work, programmes and campaigns. This involves working across the student movement and with partner organisations to reform the education sector by enhancing the embedding of learning for sustainability for all students, at all levels of study, in the UK and internationally. Meg is also currently seconded to University and College Union (UCU) for 1 day/week to progress UCU's work supporting members on the Green New Deal for Universities and Colleges.
Previously, Meg worked at the University of Gloucestershire and their students' union leading on student, staff and community engagement for sustainability, this also involved the coordination of a Regional Centre of Expertise for Sustainability Education. She found her passion for education transformation through her background in outdoor education and learning outside the classroom, working with young people out of mainstream education.
Mel joined the SOS-UK team in March 2020. She is working our Invest for Change campaign, calling for university money to be invested in the interests of students, not against them; centring environmental and social justice solutions. She also leads on our Carbon Targets campaign.
Mel studied Geography at The University of Sheffield and was elected as their Students' Union Development Officer, leading on sustainability, as well as commercial and financial activity, across the university and students' union. At Sheffield, Mel successfully campaigned to embed Education For Sustainable Development into the curriculum and worked with university leaders to ensure the commitment to divesting from fossil fuels was fulfilled. Before joining SOS-UK, Mel worked at the University of Bristol on staff and student engagement campaigns in the Sustainability Team.
Outside of work, Mel enjoys running, cooking and getting out on her bike.
(Pronunciation: Mi-chelle)
Since joining the team in 2013, Michelle has held many roles across the team but now leads on development and networks projects and campaigns.
Michelle works on our climate education campaign Teach the Future, our ethical finance campaign Invest for Change, and works alongside colleagues at Friends of the Earth to run a community organising programme in FE colleges, My World My Home.
Alongside this Michelle leads on delivering the SOS-UK Learning Academy, our new learning and development consultancy and training hub.
Michelle manages a team of campaigners, project managers and student staff, supporting them to deliver great work, develop their skills and get the most out of their time at SOS-UK.
Outside of work Michelle enjoys making things, running (slowly) and visiting London's parks with her dog Bones.
Odette is home-based in Wales and co-manages the Student Eats programme with Tilly. Our aim is to work with students to create a more equitable food system by putting healthy and sustainable food at the heart of the campuses across the UK. This includes supporting students to set up social enterprises selling sustainable food as well as supporting food growing initiatives on campus. Odette also works with the NUS Wales team on sustainability issues.
Odette has a masters in 'Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture' and has previously worked in a science lab looking at a fungus to help farming. While at university, she ran many campaigns often focusing on sustainable fishing and local food as well as volunteering on a community growing space. Odette achieved Practitioner Membership in Environmental Management and Assessment (PIEMA), in 2018 accredited by IEMA.
While not at work, Odette can be found working on her no-dig growing space, avidly listening to podcasts about our food system and adventuring in the Welsh hills. Odette also coordinates a food buying group to give local residents access to healthy & sustainable food at a more affordable price.
Quinn is the director of education at SOS-UK and is a homeworker based in Sheffield. Quinn's role includes managing the Responsible Futures programme; supporting universities, colleges, and students’ unions to embed education for sustainable development throughout the formal and informal curricula; and working across the student movement and with partner organisations to improve the inclusion of sustainability knowledge, skills, and attributes in education across the UK and internationally. Quinn also supports the team of 40+ young people to lead the Teach the Future campaign.
Previously, she managed the Students' Green Fund project at the University of Bristol Students’ Union and delivered student sustainability engagement and education programmes at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Alongside work, Quinn is pursuing a Doctorate in Education at the UCL Institute of Education and holds a BA in Geography and Political Science with a concentration in Sustainability from the University of British Columbia. Quinn achieved Practitioner Membership in Environmental Management and Assessment (PIEMA), in 2018 accredited by IEMA.
In her spare time, Quinn enjoys podcasts, board games, yoga, and eating veggie food.
Quinn is currently on maternity leave. Please contact Meg Baker in her absence.
Rachel has worked in sustainability-focused research roles since 2007, joining NUS' Sustainability team, prior to the creation of SOS-UK, in 2011. She leads the management, design, implementation and delivery associated with research and evaluation projects in order to enhance SOS-UK's ability to be effective in its sustainability-focused work with students' unions and in its projects, programmes and campaigns across the education sector through use of insight.
Rachel has previously worked for research and strategy consultancy Brook Lyndhurst and Green Alliance. Here she worked on projects for a range of public sector clients across a range of different issues, utilising quantitative and qualitative skills to investigate community action on climate change, evaluating behaviour change and developing pilots to promote energy efficiency.
Rachel studied Geography at Durham and has a Masters in Environment, Science and Society from UCL. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys experimenting in the kitchen (which mostly works out!), complemented by keeping active by running, swimming outdoors or cycling.
Pronunciation: Ra-chel So-per
She/her
Rachel joined the team in 2014 and is currently based in Leeds as a home-worker. Rachel works as senior project manager for engagement, leading our staff sustainability awards and engagement programme, Green Impact. She also worked on our Horizon 2020 funded programme, SAVES 2, collaborating with universities across Europe on the issues of energy use, fuel poverty and sustainability.
Rachel is a graduate from the University of York with a BSc in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management and now works on delivering projects that she volunteered with as a student. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with the family rescue dogs - Stella and Ada.
Rajneet graduated in 2020 with a BSc(Hons) in Geography, Urban Environments & Climate Change from the University of Wolverhampton. She completed an online training course provided by the UNEP and PEDRR that was about Nature-Based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience. Rajneet joined SOS-UK as a Kickstarter in September 2021.
In her spare time, Rajneet volunteers at her local RSPB Nature Reserve and manages herown environmental Instagram account which aims to raise awareness of the consequences and solutions to tackling climate change.
(She/ Her)
Sasha has joined SOS-UK as a Project manager in February2022 previously working at Friends of the Earth. She now works on various projects from SOS-UK’s Green Impact, Green Erasmus, SDG mapping and Sustainability mentoring.
She graduated from Kent University in 2018 with a Philosophy BA where she continued to become passionate and curious about social justice, intersectionality and mobilising the youth towards progressive resistance. After graduating she was elected as to be a Full-Time Officer. She was re-elected becoming the first black woman to be elected as Students' Union President 2019/2020. She pushed for environmental sustainability by developing the Kent Union Environmental Strategy 2020-2025, joining the UN Sustainable Development Goals programme, declaring a Climate Emergency, starting ‘StuFF’ - Kent Union’s Student Freecycle scheme, developing ‘Deco2lonise the Climate movement’ campaign, and lastly working with University academics to embed sustainability into the curriculum.
Outside of work Sasha is a member of RS components grass roots education ‘Fresh Advisory Board’ where she is working with a team of young people, across the world to change the future of engineering. She is delightfully dyslexic and loves learning new things like playing the piano, roller skating and speaking Spanish.
Sonya (she/her) joined SOS-UK in November 2020. She is based at the NUS-Scotland office in Edinburgh and supports SOS-UK's programmes and campaigns in Scotland, including Teach the Future Scotland, Green Impact, Responsible Futures, For Good and various education work.
She has a BA in International Development from McGill University and an MSc in Environment and Development from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining SOS-UK, she worked with EAUC to support universities and colleges in responding to the climate emergency. She also worked with Networking Key Services, an Edinburgh-based South Asian women's centre on sustainability programmes and led student research teams in developing a sustainable food standard for universities and colleges with Canadian charity, Meal Exchange.
She believes decolonising work and climate justice is imperative to real climate action and is learning how to advance justice in her personal and professional life.
In her spare time, she enjoys video-calling her three-year old niece as well as reading, cooking and writing (often attempting to combine all three).
Tilly joined the team in 2016 and manages the Student Eats programme with Odette. Our aim is to work with students to create a more equitable food system by putting healthy and sustainable food at the heart of UK campuses. This includes supporting students to set up social enterprises selling sustainable food, supporting food growing initiatives on campuses and developing work around university owned farmland and edible campuses.
In addition to working for SOS-UK Tilly is a co-founder and Director of Six Legs Farm, a family business breeding crickets, a trustee for Worcester Roots Foundation, and a Director of Stockwood Community Benefit Society, a community-owned organic and biodynamic farm and business park in Worcestershire.
Tilly is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and full member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), has an MA in Sustainable Development Advocacy and a degree in Law. Previously, Tilly coordinated the Food Co-op project at Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, and spent over ten years working on local and international youth sustainability initiatives. Spare time passions include family travels without flying, music festivals and crickets (the chirping kind rather than the sport).
Tori joined the team in 2022 as a part-time Project Manager and is currently based in Worcestershire as a home-worker. Tori currently works on both our student engagement projects and our research and evaluation projects.
Tori graduated from UWE with a Geography and Environmental Management degree and then completed a MA in Sustainable Development Advocacy with the University of Worcester, specialising in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Following this Tori has worked within Student's Unions engaging students with sustainability campaigns and projects. Tori also has experience specialising in environmental engagement & behaviour change across both the third and public sector.
In her spare time, Tori enjoys exploring the countryside with friends and family or on rainy day can be found inside playing lots of board games! Tori also loves being creative, spending time learning new creative skills and is part of her local crafting network.
(Pronunciation: Tra-cy)
Tracy joined SOS-UK in October 2019. She delivers Alcohol Impact and Drug and Alcohol Impact supporting universities and students' unions to deliver programmes to embed social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, develop drug harm reduction policies and interventions to reduce the negative outcomes of student drug use, and build healthier, safer, more productive student communities.
Before working for SOS, Tracy worked for 6 years in community drug and alcohol services coordinating the care for adults affected by drugs or alcohol and providing training to health care professionals, support workers and students into the facts and risks associated with alcohol. Tracy has a degree in Medical Science from the University of Birmingham.
In her spare time, Tracy enjoys visiting new places, going to the theatre and trying to get out of an escape room!
Valerie became a member of the SOS team in February 2022. Despite living in the United Kingdom, she was born in Damascus, Syria. Valerie has joined as a Kickstarter because she is eager to learn new things and work as part of a team. She will be supporting SOS-International with communications and outreach. Valerie is a new member of the sustainability team who is extremely pleased to be here!
She is currently on a gap year from university in Bristol, where she is studying Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies. Her desire is to become a pilot! She has so many different hobbies which are swimming, reading and going long walks in nature.
Name Pronunciation: Zo-e Pronouns: she/her
Zoe started as a project manager in October 2017 and works on some of our engagement programmes and the campaign Mock COP26.
Zoe studied Anthropology and International Development at the University of Sussex, where her research had a particular focus on issues of social justice and she spent a term working for a water and sanitation charity. After graduating, Zoe joined the students' union at Sussex as an Environmental Assistant, helping to integrate environmental good practice and reporting on the impact.
Zoe achieved Practioner Membership in Environmental Management and Assessment (PIEMA), in 2019 accredited by IEMA.
Izzy is a volunteer coordinator for Teach the Future. They're 20 years old and based on the East Yorkshire coast. Izzy joined Teach the Future at the start of their campaigning journey in February 2021, after seeing the campaign online, and has since taken on opportunities such as running the UK Local Conference of Youth 2021 through Teach the Future's network. Izzy has dedicated their gap year to tutoring GCSE Science, working with Teach the Future and improving their mental health to prepare for university.
Katie (she/her) became the Teach the Future Northern Ireland volunteer coordinator in April 2022. She is 23 years old and based in Derry, Northern Ireland. Katie has just completed her Master’s in Violence Terrorism and Security from Queen’s University, Belfast. Prior to this, she got her Politics BA from Durham University. Katie is a keen activist who is involved in her local Fridays for Future group and Zero Waste NorthWest.In her spare time, Katie enjoys baking, walking, reading and yoga.
Stella is our Wales volunteer coordinator with Teach the Future. Stella is French & Welsh, based in Neath Port Talbot and currently studying for her GCSE’s. Stella joined Teach the Future in November 2020 after being introduced to the campaign through her other work as a youth climate activist. Outside of Teach the Future, she is a volunteer for UKSCN Wales, Trees of Music and her local strike group: YS4C Swansea, campaigning for climate justice in Wales.
Outside of her activist work, Stella plays the cello & trumpet, enjoys painting, and plays rugby for her local women’s team!
Tess is a volunteer coordinator for Teach the Future. She is based in Perth and is 17 years old. Tess joined Teach the Future when the Scottish branch of the campaign was started in April 2020, and has been working on the Scottish branch of the campaign since. She got involved through Scottish Youth Climate Strike, which she had been volunteering for since May 2019 when she was inspired to join after attending strikes.
Tess’s hobbies are climbing and walking.
Ellen Fearon is the current president of NUS-USI
Ellen was elected by representatives of Northern Ireland’s students’ unions on a promise to “build a grassroots, mass movement of students, learners and apprentices across NI.”
Ellen is a former Law & Politics student from Queen’s University Belfast. She was elected as QUBSU’s Student Activities Officer and is passionate about student engagement, climate activism, workers’ rights, reproductive justice and free education. During her time at Queens she formed the award-winning QUBSU Climate Action Group which created and passed via referendum a ‘QUB Green New Deal’, demanding a carbon neutral University by 2030, fossil fuel divestment and embedding sustainability into curricula.
Larissa Kennedy was elected NUS UK National President, for a two-year term, taking up her position on 1 July 2020. Larissa also serves as president of SOS-UK alongside her role at NUS.
As president, Larissa chairs the NUS board, leading NUS from transition into reform and completion of a three-year turnaround programme.
Larissa has been active in the student movement since they were 16 years old and has organised against sexual violence, marched against student fees and is a member of the Black student’s campaign. Larissa wants to build a movement that stretches across the whole of the UK, across students’ and trade unions across the world.
A leading headteacher known for his work on Harmony Education, Richard is helping us extend our work into pre-16 education and advises us on Teach the Future.
Zamzam was the President of the National Union of Students (NUS) from 2019–2020 where she was elected to represent the views of learners across the UK. Zamzam was SOS-UK's inaugural President alongside her role at NUS.
Zamzam is currently Vice President of European Students' Union and Vice Chair Muslim Leadership Foundation alongside her role as trustee at SOS-UK.
She’s finance graduate from the University of Salford, Manchester. She’s been a student representative for almost a decade leading work on a fully funded and just education system to tackle societal injustices, leading campaigns from; climate justice to tackling racial injustice.
If you're interested in joining our team, please see our Job Vacancies.
We are:
SOS-UK is an education charity created by the student movement in 2019 in response to the climate emergency and ecological crisis.
We're proud to be members of SOS-International, joining student-led and student-focused organisations around the world to form a coordinated effort aiming to amplify the voices of students and influence global systemic change for sustainability.
We have separate governance and are financially independent from the National Union of Students (UK) although remain part of the broader NUS family, alongside Endsleigh Insurance and OneVoiceDigital.
SOS-UK is the charity partner of the TOTUM student discount scheme, using the donations made by students who sign up as members of TOTUM to deliver our transformational projects and campaigns.
Any wider partnerships will be considered under our partnerships policy.
SOS-UK only provides services to other organisations and does not subcontract any work to third parties at a scale significant enough to warrant an official tender process.
Any procurement we do is small-scale and typically only involves buying-in goods or services that count as overheads e.g. stationery or digital design services. In these cases, we assess all prospective suppliers against the criteria outlined in the Ethical Code of Conduct of our partner organisation NUS, as well as against SOS-UK’s partnerships policy, to ensure our suppliers share our values.
We also obtain quotes from multiple suppliers to ensure we are getting value for money whilst paying due regard to their sustainability credentials.
SOS-UK also employs a staff member to support NUS with its ethical supply chain work through the NUS purchasing consortium for students’ unions. This work better informs SOS-UK’s approach to this area e.g. when it conducts ethical screenings for potential funders or suppliers.