5 minute read
London Climate Action Week: The Village Practice, Islington
In the second of our short series celebrating London climate Action Week, we’re focusing on a practice in North London as an example of how the LCAW goals last longer than just this week.
We asked local GP and former Greener Practice director Tamsin Ellis what her team has been doing to fulfil the 3rd LCAW goal of ‘building whole of society action’. Here’s what she told us:
“I’m really proud of the achievements we’ve made as at team at The Village Practice (TVP) over the last 6 years. With leadership from our Practice Business Manager, Samantha Hubbard, we have embedded environmental sustainability into the practice’s ethos and daily operations.”
The work could not have been achieved without a dedicated green team who meet quarterly in protected time, driving a culture of improvement that benefits both staff and the wider community.
“TVP is a medium sized practice (13,000 patients) located in North Islington, an area of high deprivation . It also has the largest Severe Mental Health (SMI) list in Islington and a large homeless population. In making green changes the practices has placed health equity at the heart of sustainable transformation.
TVP initiatives demonstrate how environmental action can directly improve patient wellbeing, reduce inequalities, and strengthen community resilience.”
Culture and values
“TVP has embedded Sustainability into its mission statement and core values. The practice has incorporated green and sustainable goals into agenda items for all staff meetings and staff appraisals as well as within the recruitment process. A sustainability page was also added to the practice website.
Active travel
“The practice champions active travel through partnerships with Islington Council, hosting free bicycle repair events for children, adults and staff. TVP also supports the Cycle to Work scheme. For staff unable to commute by bike, the partners invested in a fold‑up practice bicycle for local home visits. The practice is also signed up to the RCGP active practice and a Park Run practice.”
Practice garden
“The practice has a a low tree equity score and limited local green space, the practice secured £10,000 funding in 2022 to build a wellbeing garden. Staff planted it during protected time and now share responsibility for its upkeep. Featuring herbs and seasonal flowers, the garden offers a restorative space for staff and patients. TVP also works with local charities such as the Islington Garden Workshop to promote free Gardening groups to patients.”
Events
“TVP runs regular community events that blend sustainability with health promotion. For Earth Day, staff and medical students co‑created healthy plant‑based
recipe cards and funded a free food pantry with all ingredients provided, alongside herbs grown in the practice garden. Other events have included a staff walk for Clean Air Day, communal planting sessions, and pollution‑awareness activities, The practice also runs regular housing drop-ins in partnership with Islington Council to support people with their housing needs and warm/cool spaces events in the winter and summer.”
Digital inclusion
“Through Get Online Week 2025, TVP partnered with the Good Things Foundation to provide digital‑skills support and reconditioned phones for low‑income patients. A refurbished iPad in reception now helps patients access the NHS App and order prescriptions, improving access and reducing inequalities. This work led to be recognised by the Good Things Foundation as Hub of the Month and an award in online confidence.”
Procurement
“The practice has introduced successful procurement changes include sourcing reconditioned clinical equipment and switching to consumables with reduced plastic content, alongside promoting behavioural changes such as reducing glove and couch roll use. TVP has also made sustainable changes such as switching energy supplier and creating lights off policies. With these changes the practices saved over £20,000 in sustainable changes over 2020-2024 which was then reinvested back into sustainable projects for staff wellbeing and plants for the practice.”
Staff wellbeing
“Many of the practice changes have been centred around staff. Milk is now in glass bottles, a donated coffee machine uses wonky coffee pods alongside a pod recycling station and staff have access to regular fruit deliveries. The partners and practice manager arrange for plant based meals and treats for staff on Green Week and Clean Air Day yearly. Using an upholstered book shelf, a patient and staff book swap scheme was created in the waiting room. A copy of the Ethical Consumer is available monthly in the staff room. Over the last few years, a whole team staff picnic has been organised in the park, connecting everyone to nature and the local community environment. “
And for the future…
“The practice is committed to further reducing its carbon footprint. Plans include solar panels, the hope is (with help from the landlord) to fit community solar panels for the practice and the 12 social housing flats above the practice to use the surplus energy.
From the changes listed above the practice has achieved Platinum status in the Green Impact for Health Toolkit and ranks in the top 25 practices nationally. TVP is known locally for being sustainable and has actively shared its work across Islington, the ICB, London, and nationally. This collaborative approach amplifies their impact, supporting system-wide, whole-society change, in line with the London climate Action Week goals.”
And finally, for London Climate Action Week, we’re planning to ask all our staff to make a ‘green pledge’. Last year staff committed to changes such as “I will try and stop shopping from SHEIN for a whole month and look on Vinted”…we still congratulated everyone on all ideas no matter how big or small! – Samantha Hubbard, Practice Business Manager
Inspired? You can find out more on TVP’s social media feed here