Green Gown Awards 2021: Build Back Better - De Montfort University - Finalist

Community Solutions Programme

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, has used its position as community leader and anchor institution for Leicester to lead a programme to enable its communities to follow the United Nations’ call to ‘build back better’.

The programme consists of three projects: 1. Reducing the Digital Divide - DMU is calling on local businesses and organisations to donate unused computers, laptops and other digital items which are offered to the community to help tackle the digital divide exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. Germ’s Journey - The newly published book: ‘Bye Bye Germs: Be a Handwashing Super Hero’, was developed to teach children in a fun and engaging way about respiratory disease and the importance of handwashing and has received great feedback from parents and teachers regarding its effectiveness. 3. Homelessness City Project - The project supports people in Leicester to enable them to set up a home and support reintegration into the local community following a period of homelessness.

DMU supports individuals and families recently affected by homelessness to access practical items like furniture, travel passes or essential items which will help them to create a settled home environment.

Top 3 learnings:

• Identifying the correct community partners will ensure that the project is best placed for success.
• Ensure your project is scalable so that if external funding is secured, it can grow.
• Take your time. Long term impact has more benefits than short term success.