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The Fresher Forest Initiative launched by Student Aid, is helping UK Universities and accommodation providers to achieve their environmental objectives and aspirations. Working with over 50 University partners this year, the end of 2010 will see a total of 15,000 trees planted in Haiti.

Student Aid supplies the Official Welcome Parcel for over 50 Universities; resulting in more than 1 in 4 Fresher’s receiving a Student Aid Parcel.  Placed on a fresher’s bed to greet their arrival, the 150,000 parcels to be distributed this September are aimed at easing freshers into independent life and contain student essentials such as toothpaste, teabags and cooking sauces. In addition, the parcel contains Student Aid’s University Guide, which covers everything from money advice and entertainment tips to discount vouchers at local stores.

Student Aid’s Fresher Forest Initiative will be supporting the environmental objectives of its partner Universities and student accommodation providers by ‘Planting a Tree for every 10 Student Aid Parcels placed on a Fresher’s Bed’. Working to help develop the long term efforts to rebuild Haiti’s forests, Student Aid is proud to support University and accommodation providers’ environmental policies; together, they will help to plant a total of 15,000 trees.

Student Aid’s Fresher Forest initiative will be working with global charity, Trees For The Future’s Haiti Project, which not only works directly with farmers to rehabilitate the Haitian forest but also focuses on planting fruit trees to help sustain refugees moving out of Port-au-Prince in the wake of the earthquake. Since 1989, Trees for the Future have been taking an active approach with the link between deforestation and climate change; helping to educate and empower rural groups to restore tree cover to their land and to develop long term goals with local communities. They work within thousands of countries, including the community-led projects in Haiti since 2002, with the devastating earthquake in January re-emphasizing the need to address the vulnerability of the people and the environment in the rural regions.

The University of Birmingham, whose environmental aspirations aim to ‘address global challenges’,   welcome the Fresher Forest Initiative. Peter Larkin, Policy and Environmental Services Manager at The University of Birmingham comments: “Through Student Aid’s Fresher Forest initiative, we will be responsible for planting 400 trees in Haiti. This is in line with the University’s Environmental Policy Statement and will contribute to our commitment to protecting and nurturing the environment by managing our operations in ways that are environmentally sustainable, economically feasible and socially responsible.”

Managing Director, Andy Fidler states: “Student Aid is geared towards helping Universities welcome and integrates their Freshers with ease, at a point when they will be making lifestyle choices for the first time. At Student Aid, we believe it’s not only important to make progressive steps to address our own social responsibility but we also have the responsibility to educate and generate awareness of important environmental issues amongst the students of today and leaders of tomorrow.”

Liberty Living, provides accommodation for almost 15,000 UK University students, is now extending its environmental remit to include global issues; if 10% energy is saved annually, their sponsors will build a school in Kenya. Chief Operating Officer, John Kenny, comments: “We are providing tools that enable our students to make their lives greener, and have a positive impact on others – The Student Aid Fresher Forest Initiative compliments our existing environmental policies. Planting 1,500 trees is a substantial act and demonstrates that we choose to partner with organizations that reflect our aims in terms of corporate social responsibility.”

Editors’ notes:

Student Aid Ltd was set up by young entrepreneur Andy Fidler and his business partner Gordon Bennell, whose other successful businesses within the student market include Graduate Fasttrack (the Graduate Selection Firm). Student-Aid.co.uk and Andy have recently been recognized for their achievements winning National Finalist for The Daily Mail’s Enterprising Young Brits Awards and The Daily Telegraph’s Dedipower Digital Awards.

Contact:

Danielle Young, PR Manager

danielle.young@student-aid.co.uk

07854770581

www.student-aid.co.uk