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Staff and students working with an amateur football club on its net zero project have helped it win a national award in the ‘sports sustainability oscars’.

Leicester Nirvana, who started working with º£½ÇÉçÇø in 2021 on its aim to become the first net zero amateur club, won the ‘partnership of the year’ category at the BASIS (British Association for Sustainable Sports) awards.

The honour is for the club’s collaboration with º£½ÇÉçÇø and United Nations Football for the

Goals project, which aims to harness the power of sport to give the young and marginalised a voice in the climate action debate.

Staff and students have worked with Nirvana on reducing its carbon footprint but also on creating a positive impact in the local community, encouraging youth engagement and awareness around climate action, renewable energy, and sustainable development.

º£½ÇÉçÇø’s partnership with Nirvana also led to an international network of football clubs across Europe, Africa and Asia being established to share experiences and good practice on sustainability under the UN’s Football for the Goals banner.

Dr Mark Charlton, Associate Director of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s SDG Impact Hub, said: “We are incredibly proud of this partnership with Leicester Nirvana FC. Together, we are demonstrating the power of combining sport, research, and international frameworks like the SDGs to create meaningful change.

“This award is a testament to the innovation and shared vision of our collaboration.”

Ivan Liburd, the SDG Champion for Leicester Nirvana, said: “We are thrilled to receive the partnership of the year award. It’s an incredible honour and a reflection of our commitment to sustainability in football.

“Our partnership with º£½ÇÉçÇø and the UN has been instrumental in our journey to become net zero. This award shows how sport can be a force for good, driving both environmental and social change.”

The BASIS Awards highlight organisations in the sports industry making significant contributions to sustainability.