Pre-loved clothes, books and kitchenware donated by students in Bath have helped raise more than £1 million for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity.
Ghika Savva and Councillor Paul May with one of the donation points last year | Photo © B&NES Council
The landmark total has been reached through the annual Student Moving Out Campaign, led by the Student Community Partnership (SCP), which encourages students leaving their homes at the end of the academic year to donate good quality items instead of throwing them away.
Running for more than a decade alongside the British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good campaign, the initiative has involved Bath & North East Somerset Council since 2015.
Donations are used to stock the BHF shop in Bath, with sales helping to fund life-saving research into cardiovascular disease.
The 2025 campaign was the most successful so far, raising just under £209,000 and pushing the overall total generated since the initiative began to more than £1 million.
Of that, items left at 15 temporary donation points around Bath this summer alone raised £150,675.
Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, said: “It’s worth celebrating this level of partnership working between the council and the universities and colleges.
“This is a fantastic achievement and I’d like to thank everyone who donated and helped make this the most successful year to date.
“The items left in the 15 temporary donation points around the city centre this summer raised an incredible £150,675.
“In line with our zero waste strategy, this work helps increase recycling and promotes a circular economy – where rather than throw products away we keep them in use for as long as possible.”
The SCP brings together the University of Bath, Bath Spa University, Bath College, their students’ unions, Norland College and Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Professor Cassie Wilson, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience and Sport), University of Bath, said: “We’re very proud to be part of the Student Community Partnership and to see the incredible impact of this initiative.
“Reaching the £1m milestone reflects the commitment of our students and partners to sustainability and community support.”
Professor Rebecca Schaaf, Senior Pro Vice Chancellor at Bath Spa University, said: “We’re delighted to have played our part in reaching this brilliant milestone, funding the important work of British Heart Foundation and encouraging more sustainable choices.
“BSU continues to hold sustainability as one of its core values and embeds this across the board.
“For over a decade we have supported the Pack for Good initiative, encouraging recycling activity across the city, and we look forward to helping it to reach even more milestones in the future.”
Tim Reeves, University Account Executive at BHF, added: “Far too many of us have felt the pain of losing someone we love to cardiovascular disease, the world’s biggest killer.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the student community partnership which helps British Heart Foundation (BHF) power groundbreaking research to save and improve lives.”
