Plastic straws are almost always used only once before being disposed of. Further, they really are non-essential (we can drink soda without right?). Plastic straws are single-use, lightweight, and made from Polypropylene , a material which isn’t easily recycled and degrades slowly. As a result, the…

It is said that we get through a staggering 500 million straws a day in the US. These small plastic tubes of convenience pose a disproportionate impact on the environment due to their lightweight and the sheer volume that we get through. Unfortunately, they are not easily or always recycled. Knowing…

Many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws now exist. In the US alone 500 million plastic straws are used a day. Their environmental impact is not nearly as insignificant as you might think exemplified by an estimated 7.5 million plastic straws being found washed up on America’s beaches. The…

Staying motivated as a social entrepreneur or ambitious changemaker requires constant effort because all the great aspects of setting out and doing good in the world equally contribute to its downsides. Setting out on an entrepreneurial path requires focus and dedication. Here are 9 Tips to Staying…

How to use Quora to Build your Reputation & Grow the Reach of Your Social Enterprise Quora is the biggest online platform where you can find user-generated answers to questions about anything. People ask about work, DIY help, relationships, and personal life experiences. And there are usually people…

Is your job about to be eaten by a robot? AI is developing faster than you can say ‘Blade Runner’ and automation is radically remodelling the way we work. Add the rising gig economy to this equation and you may be looking anxiously over your shoulder right now. Why is creativity and critical…

What soft skills do you need in the fast-paced world we live in to manage change projects? It’s tough out there and whereas doing good is very rewarding you are also going to need to manage people and relationships to grow and develop your social enterprise. What’s involved in people management for…

Do you motivate people to take action even after you leave the room? Changemakers setting out on a journey to grow a social enterprise or scale an impact project will in all but the smallest enterprises require hard working teams behind them to help bring their plans to life. The idea of new tasks,…

By Patrick Ballin Abuse scandals. Misappropriated funds. Toxic workplaces. Funding crises. Failed mergers. Closures. Layoffs. I’m talking there about charities, not profit-hungry corporations. It sometimes feels like chunks of the charity world have lost their way, becoming mired in their internal…

Are you starting a social enterprise or project? Or managing the next stages of growth, spinning plates with loads to organise? It can be pretty overwhelming. Having the right productivity tools and software in place can make all the difference in the quality of your work, your organization level…

How does sugar impact your stress levels? Research studies have shown a diet full of fruit and vegetables can result in higher wellbeing . Why is it we crave sugar when stressed? But what really happens when we’re stressed - In stressful situations our body enters a ’ flight or fight mode ’ which…

Here Dene Stuart, drawing from over 35 years experience in the commercial sector, shares his insight into how to go about leadership for change. What is leadership, how do you find your why and become an authentic leader. Dene has also uniquely developed 7 leadership qualities for change . Why…

By Jenny Birkett Mindfulness has become quite the buzz word nowadays. Everywhere from offices to schools to hospitals are now offering mindfulness classes. So what is mindfulness and how can it help us in the context of our daily lives? What Is Mindfulness & How Does Mindfulness Help Us Seize the…

In this article, John Turley shares his insight into how to build a collaborative culture, one that connects people meaningfully, motivates and encourages innovation. Culture is critical for any organisation, small or large, to drive change, He has also written about Innovative Cultures and what we…

Microfinance enables people living in poverty to become financially independent. The benefits of ethical microloans really are striking. Simply put, they create jobs. Can blockchain transform microfinance? Bryony from DEKI explains more about their mission and the technological developments…

Our eighth SDG Network MeetUp , hosted by Global Action Plan, was an inspirational and engaging gathering with helpful advice and interesting Q&A around the theme of starting a social enterprise, as social female entrepreneurs Kathy Wong ( Moeloco and Crazy Dreamers TV show ), Sophie Andre ( Elysia…

3 days ago # renewableenergy # climatechange # environment # greenenergy # cleanenergy Different Types of Renewable Energy Our Atmosphere now contains the highest levels of C02 ever. We know the threat of climate change is very real. We must all share the responsibility for climate change. Of…

Hiring a designer to build a brand from scratch can be an expense you don’t need when starting your social enterprise. Having a brand people can relate to, that appeals to your audience and that attracts interest is an important step to it all feeling real and something that you are proud to be…

We’re super excited about Tech for Good’s Blockchain- Hype or Hope? Event at Techspace, London, 14th November. Tech for Good’s Ellie and Dama say: ‘Blockchain has been heralded as the next big thing in the social sector and has fast risen from emerging trend to a disruptor in the development and…

An evening of challenging and empowering debate on 26th March at London Metropolitan University brought together students of London Metropolitan University, the Sustainable Development Goals Network, UK Africa Diaspora Forum, and the Let Toys Be Toys campaign. The evening explored the battle for…

It can be hard work setting out on a journey to create change. Where do you start? How do you go about it? If you’re starting up a social enterprise, charity or change project, or growing one that exists being productive is key. Having a morning ritual for productivity can make all the difference.…

Stories have an incredible power to inform, inspire and challenge us. The entrants of the Koreo Prize did just that. TRVST’s Louis went along to their event to marvel at their creativity and probe a little deeper on why storytelling matters and how turn hype into real action for the SDGs. This…

Once upon a time, as an 11-year-old I was enthused by OXFAM’s ‘Poverty Make History’ campaign. Once I believed that changing one life was enough. How often do you hear that story? And how often do we find a way to ignite that passion again? Well, for me, Tuesday evening at Tech For Good’s…

As consumers, we all know plastics are everywhere. We’ve produced more plastic in the last 10 years than in the whole of the 20th century and 50% of the plastics we use, we use only just once. From the Arctic where the majority of UK plastics end up to the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone to the Great…

Guest writer and activist, Olivia Rosane, share her views on the complexity of activism and Martin Luther King’s legacy in today’s world. Martin Luther King Day is the only Federal holiday in the United States that honours someone specifically for activism, for working collectively with others to…

Adam Leipzig’s The TEDx talk, Find Your Life Purpose In 5 Minutes has over 10 million views. I can bet that 90% of those viewers haven’t found their life’s purpose. At least this viewer and writer hasn’t. But what can we learn from this hunger for purpose? Can we corral it to make a positive impact…

By Katherine Wiseman For National Storytelling Week, Writer Katherine Wiseman explores how role models for young girls and children shape who they become. The recent BBC adaptation of Little Women reminded me of how much I’d loved the book, as a child. The thing I loved most about it was the…

By Alex McKenzie Bounceworks is a company dedicated to making digital products that build emotional resilience and wellbeing amongst children. Our first project is Apart of Me ; a safe, virtual space that helps children that have suffered bereavement. It’s a platform game for IOS and Android. We won…

CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) is posing exactly this question at a session at Marmalade Festival in Oxford on 12th April. They’re bringing people together to re-imagine their city around what really matters to them. Organiser, Ana-Julia Van Bilsen Irias , explains why she’s so excited about…

A few weeks ago we received the wonderful news that our Ecoed app was granted a Social Impact award from the Techies SW via our partners and app developers ojo solutions. The Social Impact Award seeks to reward ‘a product or service driven by technology that is making a difference to its users and…

Meet Max Dubiel and Ted Rosner ; 2 guys on a mission to change the world and change the lives of young offenders through coffee. ‘I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.’- Flash Rosenbury, Cartoonist and performer Since April 2016,…

Meet Sam from Ministry of Waste who tackles beach plastics in the Philippines and connects local communities to global leaders of sustainability and waste industry innovators to tackle the issue of plastic in the ocean. She speaks honestly on the power of local communities and how starting her…

Have we opened Pandora’s Box in terms of plastics? Can we close it again? Is plastic-free living possible? Noelle Pisacano offers us a glimpse into her new blog , her childhood inspiration and how an insulated, reusable lunchbox and pasta e fajioli can change the world. Thinking back to the early…

David Smith is a father on a mission to reduce the effects of London air pollution by reducing the highly polluting fumes children breathe everyday whilst they travel to school. He’s campaigning for ‘Keep Clear’ road markings to be used at bus shelters to prevent traffic idling whilst children wait…

Good food and good eating shouldn’t be about diets, deprivation or turning foods into enemies. Food is joy, and should never induce feelings of guilt and shame. We should respect each others’ choices whether it’s vegetarian, vegan, or an omnivore. That’s why all are welcome at The Bear Kitchen…

2018 has seen the United Kingdom join the fight against ocean plastics in a big way. On January 9th, the ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics went into effect, many organisations are now working towards banning other disposable plastic culprits such as plastic straws , But one enemy combatant has…

The question in this moment is, are we truly willing to reimagine international development and aid? In my last piece for TRVST I wrote in general terms about the types of cultural change I think need to happen in the international development sector in the wake of the on-going #AidToo moment which…

The issue of ocean plastics hit our TV screens with the BBC’s Blue Planet II, a national debate was sparked, and now public pressure is accelerating policy change. On the surface, this issue appears to be a product of our ultra-modern obsession with plastics, but in reality, the issue has a deeper,…

David Smith is a father on a mission to reduce the dangerously high air pollution children breathe everyday whilst they travel to school. He’s campaigning for a change in traffic light phasing during the toxic school run, to reduce emissions from vehicles start-stop-idling in congested traffic.…

By Katherine Wiseman For National Storytelling Week, Writer Katherine Wiseman explores the importance of storytelling, and why storytelling is still essential today. My mum is a huge Tom Jones fan - always has been, always will be. She thinks he’s a musical genius. She used to have a poster of him…