“One of the big ways we can tackle carbon and air pollution is getting people out of their car and travelling more sustainably to the Trust, and that’s where 1dayaweek comes in. They help get the word out about the different ways people can get to our sites. It can really help the trust to reduce our contribution to air pollution. ”Adam Newman, Sustainability Manager, Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Our goal was simple. To reduce the number of staff driving to work 5 days a week. A bold objective came with a host of knock-on benefits.
Fewer staff driving to work means fewer cars. This would reduce the Trust’s need for car park provision – and its associated financial pressures.
Softer benefits include a marked improvement to air quality, as well as mental wellbeing, finances, and fitness of employees.
Baseline monitoring showed a pattern of increasing car use year on year. To help tackle this, we used internal coms, electronic displays across the sites, and internal and external wall signs to promote 1DAW. This was wrapped up with a hugely successful launch event.
Our friends from First Bus even brought an actual bus filled with freebies! Firstbeat, Northern Rail, Up and Running and Evans Cycles were all also on hand to advise employees on everything from running shoes, running/cycling clubs, e-bikes, public transport tickets, and train times.
Monthly prize draws have proved popular with employees, who have won thousands of pounds of prizes. This has obviously encouraged take-up in the 1dayaweek campaign.
Discounts at Up and Running were secured, along with vouchers from Evans Cycles, First Bus, and Northern Rail. Then, with a number of employees working from home in the wake of Covid, we ran WFH competitions. This increased morale and kept the 1dayaweek campaign relevant.
Read interviews with two of the Leeds Hospitals 1dayaweekers: Ella and Charlie.
