the ethical guide to local living leamington spa, coventry & warwick campus Wel come. and welcome to the Ethical Guide to Local Living! Whether you’re a student new to the Midlands, or hello, have lived here your entire life, it’s never too late to find out more about what the area has to offer. We have written this Guide as a small introduction to the wealth of projects and businesses in Leamington Spa, Coventry and Warwick campus that are leading by example in the way of environmental and social consciousness. Inside you’ll find a directory of our favourite local grocers, cafes and restaurants; independent designers and retailers; things to do in the charming Warwickshire countryside and volunteering projects that need your help. We’ve also included some hints and tips to help you make small, simple lifestyle changes that will reduce your energy consumption, curtail the waste you produce and save you money! If you’re interested in working in the not- for- profit sector post university, you’ll find some words of wisdom from a Warwick graduate, and if you fancy investing your time to volunteering abroad, don’t miss the recommendations on how to choose a project with impact! If you suffer with anxiety, mental health problems, or are overwhelmed by stress, you’ll find a Services section at the back of the Guide with advice on where to go for help or a chat. We have loved putting this guide together and hope you’ll find it handy, informative and enjoy reading it. Frances Ellis, Editor, and the Ethical Guide team. CONTENTS EATING OUT 1 GROCERIES 3 FASHION 5 CAREERS 6 VOLUNTEERING 7 MAP 9 THINGS TO DO 11 RECYCLING 13 ENERGY 15 WATER 16 SERVICES 17 ABOUT WARWICK HUB 18 eatingout The Garden Shed Mallory Court If you can’t go without your coffee, then this veggie/vegan cafeé is the place for you. Based behind Gaia, The This hotel, brasserie and restaurant Garden Shed boasts loads of delicious in South Leamington serves food and drinks with an ever-changing traditional French classics with a menu, focusing on providing tasty, local modern British f|air. Their weekly- food and preventing waste. With a changing menu ref|ects the highest relaxed vibe, this is the perfect place quality seasonal produce available. to grab a drink to enjoy inside or out The restaurant has excellent sourcing in the courtyard. standards that include using free range, Freedom Food and high-welfare meat, and the kitchen garden and The Coffee Box estate’s fruit trees are also a regular source of produce for the A cosy little cafeé on Clemens Street restaurant’s kitchen. which uses tons of ethically sourced produce and has a fantastic range of vegetarian and vegan options. This Warwick Street is the perfect place to grab a drink, snack or light meal. Kitchen WSK is an artisan deli and cafeé FreshRootz based on (you guessed it) Warwick Street. They offer plenty of Based in Ryton Organic Gardens free- range, British and organic and open seven days a week, this produce, and can tell you about the restaurant and cafe serves fresh, tasty provenance of all the food they sell. vegetarian and vegan meals and snacks They are big on recycling here, and that you are sure to love. Winners of avoid using plastics. Soups, salads BBC Good Food Award, their fresh, and deli boards are the usual fare, healthy food celebrates f|avours from as well as teas, coffee and tarts. around the world using quality British produce. Cafe Ego Coventry Conroy's Coffee This Youth Enterprise is a House vegetarian/vegan music cafeé adjoined to Ego Performance Pop down to Conroy’s on Corporation Company’s Community Arts Venue on Street for fresh home-made food,with Cook Street. They have developed an extensive gluten-free menu as well an entire program of work to meet as plenty of veggie and vegan options, the needs of young people and adults great for those with dietary needs! with learning disabilities. All prof its from the cafeé go into supporting their charity AND they run some great food workshops! haddie & trilby For delicious, well-sourced bread head to the bakery Haddie & Trilby. They kenilworth the use all quality ingredients including organic f|our from the local Charlecote almanack Mill. Drop in to their Regent Street base or order a loaf from Warwick Kenilworth’s Gastropub sources Uni Food Co-op. As well as bread they seasonal and local ingredients for have mouth-watering cakes, sandwiches, its menu. They operate a no- air- coffee and regular pizza nights. freight policy for imported goods and use recycled furniture, lowering their environmental impact. The pub is a member of the Peach Burst Juice Bar Foundation who work with 8 ‘Local Heroes’, promoting knowledge of This little cafe and take-away on food provenance, healthy eating, Regent Street offers a delicious range sports education and environmental of juices and smoothies, along with awareness. sandwiches and baguettes including a sizeable range of veggie and vegan options. shop locally This is a fantastic change everyone can make - it means you will: • SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES • KEEP YOUR MONEY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY • PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF YOUR CITY • KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR PURCHASES COME FROM • POTENTIALLY REDUCE YOUR AIR MILES • FIND UNIQUE PRODUCTS MADE ONLY IN YOUR AREA • SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, ARTISTS, DESIGNERS buy seasonal GroceriesA quick look at what grows naturally and when will immediately help you to reduce your carbon footprint: seasonal food requires less energy to produce. Get started with EatSeasonably’s free easy-to-use calendar.. http://eatseasonably.co.uk/what-to-eat-now/calendar/ buy organic A really easy but effective way to protect the environment. Organic farming reduces the level of pollutants in groundwater and creates richer soil, promoting plant growth but reducing erosion. It can also reduce exposure to pesticides and antibiotic resistant bacteria. boycott unethical companies If you don’t agree with their behaviour, don’t give them your money. This is a sure-fire way to directly influence unsustainable business practices. where can we shop? The University Food Co-operative is a non-profit and run entirely by students. It orders and sells ethically sourced vegan groceries and household items at wholesale price. Becoming a member gives you both a 10% discount for the rest of your life and a chance to shape the way the co-op is run. You can pre-order customisable veg on boxescampus and bread deliveries from the fabulous Haddie & Trilby. Warwick Uni Allotment Society. Located just behind Arthur Vick is the student-run allotment. Getting involved is fun and means you always know what you’re eating, where it came from and how it was grown. It’s a fun and social way to encourage biodiversity and develop a deeper connection with the land around you, as well as great exercise. in leamington Gaia Run according to principles of sustainability, social justice and non violence, this cooperative sells everything from veg to toiletries.They even have an exhibition space for local artists, advertising space for therapists and shop space for local craftspeople and businesses all for free! Canalside Community Food This seasonal organic veg box delivery scheme offers the chance to get involved with producing food for the community. Anyone can help out at Leasowe Farm, located just outside of Leamington Spa. Hilltop Farm Stocking the best seasonal, British produce that is sourced as close to home as possible to minimize food miles! Aubrey Allen This butcher’s and deli on Warwick Street offers carefully sourced high quality, traceable meat. in coventry The Food Union and Leigh Street Community Garden The project hopes to generate discussion and action to tackle the socially and environmentally unsustainable aspects of our food system. They have regular sessions at the Leigh Street allotments. boycott unethical companies Five Acre Farm This organic vegetable farm between Coventry and Rugby is a partnership between farmers and the local community. The farmer gets a regular income and the members get fresh, local, seasonal veg. You can sign up for weekly share of the harvest for £7/£12. Down to Earth Located on Earlsdon Street, Earlsdon this independent shop stocks organic wholefoods, fairly traded goods and locally sourced produce. They also run a box scheme including veg, meat and fish options. everywhere! Farmers’ markets are great places to grab some local, seasonal produce. Here’s a few: - Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa, 4th Saturday of every month -Abbey End, Kenilworth, 2nd Saturday of every month free -Broadgate, Coventry, 3rd Friday of the month Campus Farmers Market; see online as dates vary. fashion Everyone loves a bargain, but a shockingly low price tag inevitably means compromises have been made elsewhere along the production line. Fast fashion is an ethical and environmental minefield. Much of the material used in the mass- produced clothing on the high street is non biodegradable, unsustainable and comes from an exploited market. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT The 2013 Rana Plaza factory disaster COTTON... KILLED MORE THAN 1,130 20,000 litres of water is used WORKERS, who were working 12 hour shifts and to produce 1kg of cotton; being paid £25 a month. The catastrophe sparked equivalent to a single T shirt a global outcry for improved safety and working and pair of jeans. Unsafe use conditions in factories, with many left asking who’s of chemicals has severe health responsible: the consumer, retailers or governments? impacts on workers in the field and water run off from fields waste not, want not pollutes freshwater ecosystems £140 MILLION WORTH OF USED CLOTHING GOES and kills fish.