With these factors in mind , and with a limited timeframe , I decided to ask my university cohort via WhatsApp if they would be prepared to give their student uniforms to the incoming first year learners before their placement .
Like me , these students would undoubtedly require extra sets , to reduce laundry or replace damaged tunics . There appeared to exist a window of opportunity between our first and third year placements and I received some positive feedback about my idea .
My programme leader and other lecturers supported my initiative and connected me to several first year and some second-year students who run the Derby OT Society and once that initial communication was established , we were able to set things up very quickly .
We scheduled a suitable time to organise a ‘ drop off ’ for the third-year students to make their donations , which was then given straight to the first-year students for distribution . Whatever remained was to be donated the Derby OT Society as spares for the second-year students who were still on placement .
At the time , I didn ’ t know if much would come in , but I was really pleased with the result . The third-year students provided multiple sets of high-quality uniforms , including 11 branded polo shirts , 27 branded tunics and 25 pairs of trousers . I was delighted with the result , as in total this represented a cost saving of around £ 1,175 on the retail price .
What began as an environmental initiative also offered up an additional benefit , in that it also provided some financial support for students . Starting out on placement often requires additional initial expense , including travel costs as well as buying appropriate footwear and clothing , and of course one or two tape measures .
One of my lecturers recently stated that ‘ lasting change often starts small ’. My wish was that , if we were successful , this initiative would be repeated annually .
Volunteers from the Derby OT Society and the first-year students initially approached have agreed to continue the project and have already developed upon it – to give the no-longer needed uniforms to first-year students in exchange for a nominal fee , which will go towards a universityapproved charity .
We all want to see this continue and I believe and hope , this will be the beginning of a longerterm , permanent cultural transformation by the students within the university , which may even be replicated across the other healthcare disciplines .
For now , I ’ d just like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to all my peers and lecturers who supported my idea , for helping this become a reality , and for pledging to develop this further in order to support lasting sustainable change .
NHS England ( 2020 ) For a greener NHS : Delivering a net zero NHS . Available at https :// bit . ly / 4cDVRv7 [ accessed 19 March 2024 ].
Royal College of Occupational Therapists ( 2023 ) Looking the part – meet the new colourways for NHS uniforms in England . Available at https :// bit . ly / 4cFbylQ [ accessed 19 March 2024 ].
Wiseman D ( 2021 ) This is how much clothing waste goes to landfill in the UK . Available at https :// bit . ly / 49moLgr [ accessed 19 March 2024 ].
Wright K ( 2022 ) Towards net zero : reducing the carbon footprint of nursing uniforms . British Journal of Nursing , 31 ( 15 ): 821 – 821 . DOI https :// bit . ly / 3PRNYbJ .
Words AMANDA PAYNE , Final Year Occupational Therapy Student , University of Derby . For more information on Greener AHP Week and how to get involved visit https :// bit . ly / 4aIMqJf .
© Dimensions via Getty Images
In 2019
54 %
of all clothing went to landfill
April 2024 OTnews 43