Sustainability

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In September 2015, the United Nations’ General Assembly adopted the 2030 ‘Agenda for Sustainable Development’ that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, their new agenda emphasises a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all.

At The Pythian Club, we are focused on supporting communities by creating positive social impact, driving social equity, and promoting social mobility through a host of diversionary activities.

The 17 SGDs are listed below with an understanding of the on-going work-in-progess The Club are involved in and how this relates to the UN’s SDGs.

 

Goal 1: No Poverty

The needs of the people living in our local community are always at the forefront of the work we do.

We aim to engage and support those that may have difficulty accessing education, health and food. During seasonal celebrations, for our Outreach team distribute gifts and bags at our sessions in areas of deprivation in Nottingham.

Additionally whenever funding allows, session run by The Pythian Club within the community are provided free of charge.

 

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Through the ‘Cost of Living’ fund, The Pythian Club provides donations of food during outreach sessions to homeless people understanding how the cost of living crisis negatively impacts many of those within our community.

During COVID, The Club delivered food parcels to community members.

 

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

The Club provides physical activity for young people through the delivery of sports sessions they run within the community and within schools and colleges. These physical activities provide a wide range of health benefits for the mind and body, as well as social and emotional well-being for participants.

 

Goal 4: Quality Education

The Pythian Club work with a variety of schools, colleges and universities to ensure we can provide the young individuals whom we engage with solid opportunities and pathways into further education as well as support to remain within the education system.

For those who struggle with formal education, The Club offer the opportunity to gain nationally recognised sports accreditation and other leadership opportunities.

Within our community sports sessions, we provide opportunities for young people to get involved in leading activities and allow them to explore their interests in sports coaching.

 

Goal 5: Gender Equality

At The Pythian Club, we are passionate about providing support to everybody, regardless of gender identity, as we believe in equality and spreading the message of inclusivity, diversity and belonging across the communities we engage with.

The Pythian Club’s ‘Open Up The Badge’ initiative specifically targets women, and other under-represented groups, encouraging them to participate in sports. Opportunities to widen participation can be demonstrated where The Club took a group of 9 women to watch the FA Women’s Cup Final at Wembley in May 2023. The group were delighted to be part of a record-breaking 77, 390 people attending a women’s football final.

 

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

With the addition of the pergola in our community garden, The Secret Garden, constructed by volunteers from Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), we have been able to collect our own rainwater using a water butt.

This has helped us to water and cultivate a variety of plants in our garden, while saving water use in our community centre.

 

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

With the fast-growing development of our community garden, The Secret Garden, we are working towards installing many different features to facilitate access to reliable and modern energy, such as solar and wind power.

 

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Through our wide array of activities, we strive to promote youth employment, education and training to implement economic and social policies aimed at eradicating youth poverty.

We have worked incredibly hard to create a safe, inclusive work environment; we always work towards eradicating substandard working conditions such as inequality and discrimination.

 

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

As an organisation, we always aim to encourage forward thinking and help support our attendees to help turn their ideas into reality.

Through the volunteering opportunities, work placements and internships we offer, young people are encouraged to support designing and delivering sessions and being involved in qualitative and quantitative research to inform our strategy.

 

Goal 10: Reduced Inequality

As an organisation, The Pythian Club works to increase social mobility and reduce inequality through the diversionary activities and opportunities we provide to upskill young people.

We actively promote equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging within our sports sessions and more recently through The Club’s ‘Open Up The Badge’ initiative which targets under-represented groups, e.g. women, those with disabilities etc. to participate in sport.

With thanks to the kindness and generosity of organisations and sometime members of the public, we receive tickets to take young people to watch elite sports games. These opportunities enable The Club to widen sports spectator opportunities to those who otherwise may never experience sport at this level. November 2024 provided such an opportunity:

  • The King’s Trust (previously known as the Prince’s Trust), enabled us to take 3 young people to a premier league football match watching local favourites, Nottingham Forest versus Newcastle.

  • Rugby Football Union, the national governing body for rugby union in England, we received 20 tickets for young people and their guardians to watch the England v Japan match at Twickenham, part of the Autumn Nations Series 2024.

 

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The Pythian Club sits on the Nottingham Climate Assembly steering group and were actively involved in supporting Nottingham’s first Youth Climate Assembly which took place in Summer 2022. On-going support is provided by helping to disseminate the 4 key areas of the manifesto created at the assembly, namely Transport, Shopping & Consumption, Food and Nature all firmly focussed on supporting sustainable cities and communities.

 

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Whenever possible, The Club produces digital marketing materials to help reduce their carbon footprint.

 

Goal 13: Climate Action

The Pythian Club is actively involved and sits on the steering group for Nottingham Climate Assembly who supported Nottingham’s first Youth Climate Assembly which took place at the University of Nottingham in Summer 2022 and was attended by some of The Club’s Young Leaders.

At The Secret Garden, we use educational materials to teach the young children we engage with the importance of being environmentally friendly.

 

Goal 14: Life Below Water

Our Secret Garden Project has benefitted from the introduction of a pond which aims to help preserve life below water through nurturing different breeds of plant life, providing a sanctuary for different wildlife such as dragonflies and frogs and is a wonderful opportunity to educate all attending the garden sessions about pond life.

 

Goal 15: Life on Land

With the wide array of plant life in our garden, we attract and provide a sanctuary of breeding for dwindling populations of native pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

We have also made connections with many of the dog walkers at Heathfield Park so we can work together in making the space safe for dogs and other animals.

 

Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

We have worked in conjunction with the British Transport Police, NET tram as well as the Nottinghamshire Police to keep our community as safe, welcoming, and inclusive as possible.

Our Outreach team interact with people in the local community helping to maintain order and also encourage people to move away from anti-social behaviour though involvement in positive pathways we provide.

 

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

We have collaborated with many different organisations across Nottingham to keep our community sustainable.

Many local businesses, such as Selco Builders Warehouse, Active Notts, Street games, and more, have provided in-kind donations to assist us in running our activities. In addition we have also have volunteers from other organisations participate in our sessions as well as providing work experience for local school pupils, work placement for University students.

Establishing connections across our community is vital to ensure so we all work together to build a safer and more sustainable world.