Projects delivering Sustainable Development Goals
We recently reviewed our existing plans, strategies and policies, and identified that we are already delivering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a number of our projects and services.
St Margaret’s Bus Station
Leicester’s St Margaret’s Bus Station has recently been rebuilt and is now the UK’s first net zero carbon bus station (goal 13). The building includes 390 solar panels to generate its own energy (goal 7) and has the highest possible Energy Performance Certificate Rating of A+. The bus station also features electric bus charging stations, secure cycle storage and improved pedestrian and cycling facilities (goal 11).
- Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 13: Climate action
Find out more: St Margaret's Bus Station.
Tiny Forests
‘Tiny Forests’ were created at nine schools in the city, as part of a project celebrating the 200th Commonwealth Games. Each Tiny Forest contains 600 trees and provides a great educational experience and resource (goal 4), with pupils helping to plant them, learning about nature and creating new outdoor learning areas. The Tiny Forests will also provide a habitat for wildlife and improve biodiversity (goal 15), as well as absorbing carbon emissions as they grow (goal 13).
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 15: Life on land
Find out more: Nine new Tiny Forests in Leicester will help celebrate the Commonwealth Games.
Better Off Leicester
We launched a new online tool in 2022 to help people in the city manage their finances, ensure they are getting the benefits to which they are entitled and minimise the impact of the cost-of-living crisis (goal 1). There is also information on how to find and apply for jobs and access childcare. A separate website launched around the same time provides information for agencies and professionals on tackling poverty, with a range of sections including food, health and wellbeing, jobs and skills and the incidence of poverty across the city (goal 3).
- Goal 1: No poverty
- Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing
Find out more: BetterOff Leicester and Anti-poverty strategy.
Ellesmere College – new Knighton Fields Campus
Investment has transformed the previously empty Knighton Fields Centre, creating a purpose-built school with 60 places for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) in the city. The new centre is a satellite campus for Ellesmere and features flexible classroom space as well as an immersive therapy room, a sensory room and other specialist facilities. By providing a modern teaching environment with all the support that students need, the new campus is supporting the delivery of a quality education (goal 4) for young people with SEND and, in so doing, helping to bring about greater equality (goal 10) for everyone in the city.
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Find out more: £4.8m scheme provides school places for 60 children with complex needs.
Leicester Fashion Technology Academy
A new fashion and textiles skills academy has been launched by the Council in Leicester, working closely with leading training provider Fashion Enter. The academy provides accredited training for people wanting to work in the local textiles industry and developing the skills of existing workers in the sector (goal 8). The academy is supporting textiles manufacturers in Leicester on skills development, as well as promoting fair working practices and high standards in the industry (goal 9).
- Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Find out more: New textiles training centre to launch in Leicester.
Holiday activities and food programme
The council delivers a free programme of activities and food provision during the Christmas, Easter and summer school holidays for students receiving free school meals (goal 2). The programme is funded by the UK government and has provided support to thousands of pupils at sites across the city. The council has also run pop-up community pantries during half-term breaks, supported by Samworth Brothers and Company Shop, to help make sure children aren’t going hungry over half term.
- Goal 2: Zero hunger
Find out more: Holiday activities and food programme.
Safer Leicester Partnership Plan
The Safer Leicester Partnership aims to make Leicester a safer place to live, work and visit, and includes the council and the local police, fire services and NHS trusts alongside other partners from the public and private sectors. The partnership has set out a plan to tackle a wide range of issues including violence, discrimination, exploitation, crime, deprivation and community engagement to make the city safer (goal 16).
- Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Find out more: Safer Leicester Partnership Plan.
Women Talking, City Listening
The Women Talking City Listening project engaged with women from across Leicester to gather information on the particular issues and challenges they face today. The research project produced a series of recommendations on opportunities to improve gender equality locally and has been used to inform the development of council projects, including within Neighbourhood Services (goal 5).
- Goal 5: Gender equality