A fundraising event to support a school’s ambitious plans to make its campus carbon neutral by 2050 has been named Schools’ Fundraising Campaign of the Year.

Malvern College held its inaugural Green Giving Day in June to help raise funds to reduce its carbon footprint and make its historic buildings fit for the future.

The college, working with its alumni association, the Malvernian Society, plans to redevelop its campus, retrofitting its historic and listed buildings, many of which date from the 1800s.

The school will cut emissions by changing how the buildings are heated and lit, reduce energy waste through insulation and energy efficient glazing, invest in renewable energy, and generate its own energy, with solar, wind and air-source options all being explored.

The Green Giving Day, which raised more than £130,000, has been named Schools’ Fundraising Campaign of the Year in the IDPE 2023 Development Awards.

The IDPE Development Awards showcase and celebrate excellence in school fundraising and engagement in both state and independent schools across the UK.

Keith Metcalfe, Malvern College headmaster, said: “This Award means an enormous amount to us, as it recognises the incredible hard work of everyone involved in our first Green Giving Day and our vision for a carbon neutral campus. We couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved - a fantastic £134,776 to kick start the College’s Green Fund.”

Over the last year, the college has been working with Purcell Architects and CBG Consultants to develop a long-term plan, which will place sustainability at the heart of all it does. Pupils and other key stakeholders have been consulted and a new 10-year masterplan has been created.

The school will be holding a second Green Giving Day in November next year.