The Loddon Foundation

The Loddon Foundation was established in 1988 to provide care and education to children with severe autism and associated disabilities. The main site, The Loddon School, is a residential school located on a large, countryside campus in Basingstoke.

The Loddon Foundation joined the Climate Essentials programme in late 2023 thanks to funding from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The Loddon Foundation’s initial interest was to install solar panels, however the Climate Essentials platform has enabled them to take a more holistic approach to sustainability.

By using the Climate Essentials platform, The Loddon Foundation has been able to calculate and understand their carbon emissions, while putting in place a number of initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and become more sustainable.

"“[Climate Essentials] has brought to us a different view of our way of impacting the climate” - Mike Lakin, Trustee at The Loddon Foundation

Two thirds of The Loddon School’s Scope 3 emissions in 2022 came from purchased goods and services. As a result, the school has committed to engaging with their supply chain and endeavouring to purchase from more ethical suppliers.

Alongside this, The Loddon Foundation has been able to secure authorisation for the installation of solar panels. This installation will be completed in 2025 and should have a pay off time of three to four years. Solar panels will drastically reduce the school’s carbon footprint, whilst also offering long term cost savings.

The Loddon Foundation is passionate about sustainability, and considers doing their bit for the planet as part of their responsibility to the children at the school.

This passion for sustainability is reflected in everyday operations at the school, and involves both staff and students. The children are taught about recycling and waste disposal, and energy saving strategies are emphasised across the school. There’s also a large polytunnel where children grow their own vegetables.

Climate Essentials, with the support of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, has enabled The Loddon Foundation to approach their sustainability efforts with increased knowledge and understanding. The work that The Loddon Foundation is doing towards decarbonisation reflects the strong values and morals that the organisation operates by, and goes towards building a better future for the children of the school.

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* Sponsored by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

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