Max Hatton, a fourth year American Studies student, describes what it’s like to be an intern at Swansea’s Environment Centre.
The Environment Centre, a local registered charity on Pier Street (not far from Wind Street), does a lot of good for the local community, helping to educate people on how to live in a more eco-friendly way and how to reduce their carbon footprint.
They are a very friendly organisation run by a small team of staff and volunteers who are all committed to their cause, which is great to see.
I was given the opportunity to work there through my Political and Cultural Studies Module.
The lecturer, Helen Brocklehurst, had to assign students to local businesses and organisations around Swansea. I have always had a keen interest in ecology and when I heard about the Environment Centre, I jumped at the chance to get involved and see how things worked behind the scenes of the battle to raise awareness for greater environmental care.
Since working there I have already started making a few changes to my own life to reduce my carbon footprint, much to the annoyance of
my roommates.
One of my duties whilst on placement has been to promote the Environment Centre’s own ‘Green Fayre’ which is held annually at the
National Waterfront Museum during the last weekend of November (24-25th).
The Environment Centre run and organise the event and many international and local organisations get the chance to set up stalls and promote their work or products.
The Green Fayre will give you the chance to see how you can get involved with local and international charities, a great opportunity if you’re looking at bulking up your CV a little bit, while also seeing how you can make small changes in your life to help live more sustainably.
This year there are over 60+ stalls such as the Wales Monkey and Ape Sanctuary, Greenpeace, Love Zimbabwe and several local organisations
and eco-friendly businesses that sell locally grown produce and crafts, it stands to be a funfilled day. There will be seasonal crafts available
at the Fayre to get you in the Christmas spirit.
This is the 28th annual Green Fayre and each year it gets bigger.
The Environment Centre has been a great place to work; the staff are all really friendly and easy to get on with and made me feel comfortable since day one. Their whole building is fitted with all the latest in ecofriendly technology, from table-tops made from recycled CDs and plastic bottles to a turfed roof.
It’s a welcoming environment and has a coffee shop where members of the public can come and visit and ask questions or read up on how
to reduce their carbon footprint.
If ever you’re in the Marina and have time to spare its worth visiting the Environment Centre (10am – 4pm Mon – Fri) to see what’s going on
in your local area. Why not visit today?
