Background - Sustainability programme
In 2020 Railway Union junior hockey section started working to develop a Sport & Sustainability programme.
Railway Hockey club has commenced a member led sustainability programme to reduce our environmental footprint as a sports club and to explore what initiatives we could implement to improve this.
When we discussed with members lots of ideas were submitted and over time we aim to introduce these as Sustainability Objectives and then create an implementation plan for roll out.
For the hockey club this is the start of a journey and something that has come from our junior members as it is very important to them and as a member led club we are happy to facilitate this and incorporate it into what we do as a club.

Some of the initial ideas that were put forward are below and these will be put onto an action plan to allow us to incrementally build our Sustainability programme over time. As always any ideas , thoughts and even better a willingness to get involved please email our junior hockey coordinators Steve Hiles (ruhcboys@gmail.com) or Riona Norton (ruhccolts@gmail.com)

Some of the Sustainability suggestions from our junior members:
(these will be rolled out over time)

1. Introduce playing kit & training gear made from sustainable / recycled materials
2. Reduce down our water consumption created by our water based hockey pitch

Other ideas that were put forward ... work in progress
3. Eliminate & Ban Single Use Plastics from hockey players using the pitch
4. Reduce down our carbon footprint caused by transport to pitch for matches/training
5. Introduce Club kit & equipment "swaps shop days" where sticks/equipment/kit that has been outgrown can be used by others
6. Make sure supporters & parents are always using Keep Cups for coffee
7. Organise talks from sustainability experts for members to better educate us on how we can improve our impact on the environment
8. Quarterly Sustainability updates to be sent to members on how we are doing
9. Set up Junior Club Sustainability Committee to drive this forward

# Some of the above might not be possible during COVID restrictions