SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Core principles

Our approach to sustainability is founded on the following core Group principles, which apply to all sites:

• Being an active member of local community – participating in cultural and historical events and attractions, using local producers and supporting local charities with donations in time, money and access to our facilities.
• Providing a supportive, fair and inclusive work environment where individual differences are embraced and team health and wellbeing is paramount. Our wellbeing programme includes an Employee Assistance Programme, mental health first-aiders, the cycle-to-work scheme, the flu jab and discounted gym membership. All team members are paid at least the national living wage.
• Making our attractions accessible to the widest possible range of people as practicable, and offering educational experiences for school children at all our attractions.
• Always protecting the health, safety and data of our guests and team.
• Respecting the environment and seeking to minimise our impact through energy and water efficiency, waste minimisation and recycling, and encouraging low carbon transport to our attractions.
• Avoiding the use of single use plastics where possible and being part of the Refill scheme to encourage and enable the use of refillable water bottles.
• Operating ethically and with integrity. Abiding by the letter and spirit of all relevant legislation, including prohibiting corruption and bribery in all forms, and respecting human rights.
• Being mindful of our supply chain sustainability impacts and implementing a Responsible Sourcing Policy to drive improvements in this area.
• Providing sustainability training for all team members and additional training, education and expert support for relevant roles as necessary.
• Communicating our sustainability approach internally and externally, and proactively seeking feedback on our approach though post-visit customer surveys.

Local implementation

Individual attractions are encouraged and supported to implement their own local sustainability initiatives to support the Group principles.  At Oxford Castle & Prison these include:

• Hosting ‘Jail and Bail’ events where volunteers are locked in the prison and have to fundraise £1,000 to get out.
• Supporting a local hospice, Helen and Douglas House with fundraising and use of the Castle event space.
• Lighting up the attraction in support of community, cultural or charity events such as the NSPCC and Oxford Pride.
• Taking part and supporting NSPCC with their fundraising events such as the Christmas Trail for which we allow them to use the attraction as a base
• Taking part in local community events such as the light festival and work with the University to put on a Son et Lumiere
• Having a trained mental health first aider in the team.
• Providing translation sheets to make our attraction as accessible as possible to different language speakers.
• Transitioning to low energy PIR and/or LED lighting.
• Providing recycling bins in customer and office locations.
• Using biodegradable cups for coffee and mead.
• Encouraging water efficiency with dual flush toilets and mixer taps.
• Where possible we use carbon capture paper for our marketing leaflets.