Level 1 Business students played a key role in delivering the Watford Clothes Swap, a community event aimed at reducing clothing waste and encouraging sustainable fashion choices.
The swap took place at the College in partnership with Watford Borough Council and Veolia. Residents donated 234 items of clothing. Of these, 49 were taken home by new owners, while 185 items were passed on to local charity Goods for Good, supporting people facing hardship.
Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor of Watford, said: “It was wonderful to see residents choosing sustainable ways to refresh their wardrobes. This clothes swap demonstrated how small actions can have a big impact, reduce waste, and bring our community closer together. I was also delighted to see students from West Herts College get involved, gaining valuable experience while contributing to a greener future for our town.”
Throughout the day, students took on a range of responsibilities, including promoting the event, creating displays, sorting donated items and organising clothing stock. They also greeted visitors, helped them browse the items available and logged completed swaps. Their involvement helped ensure the event ran smoothly and created a welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.
The event gave students valuable experience in customer service, marketing and event planning, helping them build confidence and explore different pathways within the business sector.
Kathryn Harrold, Employer Partnership Manager, West Herts College, said: “Taking part in this clothes swap has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage directly with a sustainability initiative. Not only does it highlight the importance of reducing textile waste, but it also gives students valuable hands-on experience in event delivery, customer interaction, and promoting positive environmental change. We’re proud to work with Veolia and Watford Borough Council who share our commitment to creating opportunities for young people while supporting the local community.”
The partnership between the College, Watford Borough Council and Veolia created a meaningful and practical learning opportunity for students, linking sustainability with real world experience.
Andrew Reidy, Divisional Head of Municipal Operations, Veolia Watford said: “It was fantastic to expand our regular clothes swap events to include students from West Herts College, bringing fresh enthusiasm and energy. Our clothes swap events have always been successful in encouraging residents to refresh their wardrobes whilst minimising waste and working with the college allows us to give students valuable experience in running eco-projects. This partnership extends our sustainability efforts across different generations and beyond our essential recycling and waste collections, street cleansing, and parks maintenance services. Together, we can create lasting positive change for our community and environment.”
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