Photo posted on Flickr by jseattle

On Oct 17, people gathered at our Transition Cafe event to find out more about local community and complementary currencies with speakers from Sheffield Lets and St Mary’s Timebuilders.

Local trading currency
Barabara from Sheffield LETS kicked off by describing Sheffield Stones, and how the local system works as an exchange of skills with one hour of time being roughly charged at 5 Stones, but negotiable, depending on the skill. A really wide range of skills are traded, and the scheme provides an interesting way to meet other like-minded people. They’re now looking to develop their website so that requests and offers can be made available online as well as through their current, paper based directory. Techno-wizards please get in touch!

Developing skills and community spirit
Beth from St Mary’s Timebuilders followed on, presenting their timebanking scheme primarily as a way to develop skills in people who are excluded from mainstream economic activity through illness, disability, lack of English, etc,  In the timebanking system, an hour of time given is always equivalent, no matter the type of skill offered e.g. legal advocacy, washing up, or driving a minibus. The emerging strengths of the scheme is the evident development of cooperation amongst participants, building local community links and a motivation to give time to others irrespective of monetary rewards, and to value individuals as more than the sum of their skills and effort.  They’re aiming to reach 900 participants by the end of their 5-year funding, so if you have any ideas about local projects that could benefit from a similar approach, then do shout up.

Local currencies
Susannah from Transition Sheffield described some of the local currencies set up by Transition groups e.g. those in Totnes, Brixton and Bristol.  The primary benefits of these systems are to keep money circulating for longer in the local economy, rather than leaking out via corporations whose profits go to owners or shareholders which may be many miles away.  The idea is to plug the ‘leaky bucket‘, and to build economic resilience within a local area. As such these local currencies are often championed by local independent traders.  The Bristol pound is also strongly supported by Bristol Council, where it is possible to pay council tax and business rates via the local currency and the Mayor has elected to take all of his salary in Bristol Pounds.  As austerity measures are starting to bite in Sheffield, this would be a timely moment for proposing the Sheffield pound.

Discussion points
The discussion was wide-ranging:  Alternative trading systems should be valued because they allow individuals to take back a measure of control over local financial systems rather than relying on the debt-based fiat money of a national currency which can become worthless through hyper-inflation and lack of trust.  However, these alternative currencies are subversive not just because of their ability to disrupt conventional  economic systems, but also in their capability to promote cooperation rather than competition.
Various examples of cooperation were mentioned: trading cooperatives such as the Spanish giant Mondragon and Sheffield’s own Regather, and also local housing cooperatives in which cooperation rather than competition is the norm.  There are also a number of online experiments such as Ripple which have potential to edge out commercial payment systems such as credit cards.  There was some discussion about the impact of scale on maintaining trust in a cooperative system, but a general feeling that there was scope for people to simultaneously participate in a range of different cooperative and trading systems at different scales and levels.

Summary
We covered a lot of ground, and I think everyone went home having learnt, understood or shared something about these different kinds of trading systems and currencies, and a number of key benefits were articulated:  valuing, including, and developing individuals, building a spirit of community cooperation, and taking control of our financial resilience.  All in all, they’re seen as creating happier and more stable communities.  What’s not to like?

Photo posted by polandeze on Flickr

Allotment Soup is an annual creative and artistic harvest celebration of food growing and
allotment culture, organised by Grow Sheffield.  This year, it was held up at Grimesthorpe Allotments, and 20 or so allotment holders participated by hosting artwork and workshops.

Transition Sheffield contributed by putting on a Transition Trail with a set of questions designed to provide a bit of thought and discussion:

• How did you feel when your first seed sprouted?

• What is the easiest fruit/veg to start growing?
• Which is better – local, fairtrade or organic?
• Could we survive without electricity?
• When person A helps person B, who feels best?
• Where does water come from?
• What is good about being on this allotment, right now?
• How much land does it take to feed a city?
• How did you feel when your first seed sprouted?
• How many ways does food travel to get to your plate?
• Should everyone have the right to somewhere that they can grow food?
• Do we need other things apart from food in order to thrive?
• How many people could this plot feed?
• Should allotment holders be allowed to sell food?
• How much time does it take to grow £1 of strawberries?
• When would/will the most people grow or have grown the most of their own food? – 50 years ago or 50 years in the future?
• Does plastic grow on trees?

There was a steady trickle of interested people throughout the event and they were interested not just in these questions, but also in the fine produce evident on the allotment, including some grapes nearly ripening, a wheelbarrow of fine squashes, and Rick’s excellent raised bed and soakaway system which uses privet trimmings to create walkable paths between beds.

And the day finished with a lovely gathering including soup, steady chatting and live music. It was lovely to look around and realise how many new faces we’d met during the day.
And many people were surprised by how spacious and beautiful the allotment site is – an invigorating and breathable space between the semi-derelict and wild industrial areas of the Don Valley, and the densely packed terraces of Osgathorpe.   Many thanks to Grow Sheffield for organising another fine event.

However Transition Sheffield is run by a small crew called the hub who aim to support as many other people and groups or spokes as possible in getting involved and making a difference. Here are notes from a recent hub group meeting: Transition Sheffield meeting notes, 16-08-13 (doc) / (Pdf)

With Jack and Rob on the steps of City Hall

Thursday 27 June was a packed day for Transition Sheffield with workshop, sustainability delegation, and evening talk.

We held an afternoon workshop on Sustainable Cities. We set the scene with a presentation to share some information about the motivation for the Transition network, and about local Transition initiatives. Participants chose to discuss five key topics – Food, Transport, Money, People, and Technology. When asked how they felt, there was general agreement from participants that they’re capable of supporting a change to create a more sustainable Sheffield, and most people wrote down a specific action that they intended to take, even if only to find some further information, or to connect with others. See below for more discussion notes.

Many thanks to Colette Cameron for the loan of her amazing decorations – see information about her classes and workshops.

Then we set off to the steps of the Town Hall to meet with Cllr Jack Scott (Cabinet member for Sustainability, Recycling and Streetscene). A bunch of people gathered with music from SolarActive‘s solar powered soundsystem and the Transition Banner. Jack sped into town to meet us in the council’s electric car, and we handed to Jack a copy of the latest Transition book – the Power of Just Doing Stuff. It’s well argued, very readable, and has great examples of inspiring projects.

After a stopping off to refuel in the very excellent Blue Moon Cafe, we gathered in the Quaker Meeting House to hear a talk by Rob Hopkins, one of the founders of the Transition movement. He’s won various awards and plaudits as a leading grassroots campaigner, ‘green community hero’, and ‘new radical’, and is a very engaging speaker. A recording of his talk is available (thanks to Chris from indymedia).

Screenshot from presentation

Nearly 40 people piled into the lovely Fusion Cafe for our May event, with transition initiatives and other local groups meeting to swap stories, discuss successes and challenges, and learn about what others were doing.

Each group had its own story, but some challenges had everyone in the room nodding in agreement…

How to bring new people in?

Often people will come to events, but then not become regular members of a group. While it’s good to have a small group of committed people, we need to be realistic about the amount of energy needed for projects. Overcommitted people are not happy people! In dispersed communities, like those in the Hope Valley, individual communities might not be big enough to run projects alone.

Transition is about bringing communities together. Regular meetings are important, and several groups emphasised how good it was to socialise with each other as well as working on projects. Green drinks evenings are held in a Buxton and Chesterfield, and are a good chance to meet outside of project meetings.

How to work with the local council?

Some projects had initial support from their local council, but found this support withdrawn later. Some groups found councillors were receptive to ideas, but officers were not.

Transition Glossopdale is developing a transition resolution for their council to adopt which will express general support for transition projects, especially those that will save the council money. Transition Chesterfield encourage awareness in their community by attending meetings at the town hall, then emailing members a summary of what’s going on, and who to contact if they want to comment or get involved.

How to deliver something tangible for sustainability?

Transition Hope Valley is working to create practical cycle networks for local people in the valley. Transition Chesterfield got £7000 funding to train three people in bike maintenance, who now train others to fix their own bikes. Sheffield’s new Repair Cafe teaches people to fix broken objects, with the tagline ‘better than new!’ Empty shops have been filled with Grow Sheffield’s art projects and fruit exchange, and Transition Chesterfield’s hugely successful annual Potato Day.

The energy in the room was overwhelming, and we left with promises to keep in touch, to forward information about projects, and even to lend an apple press.

As someone asked – ‘if we don’t do it, who will?’

Story contributor: Jenni Brooks

And here are the winners* of Sheffield’s 2012 Transition Awards: (NB. You can also check out the full list of nominations.)

* Selected through a non-competitive and inclusive process

Photo by YoTuTu

This Transition Cafe event was on Wednesday 18 April 2012, from 7:00-9:30pm, at the lovely Harland Cafe.The focus for the evening was Sheffield’s Food Plan. Chris Shaw, Director of Health Improvement at Sheffield City Council, described the progress of the plan.

He expressed regret that the progress of the plan had been impacted by cutbacks etc., but thought that awareness about some transition concepts had begun to filter into discussions of those implementing the plan (e.g. with attention now being paid to food poverty and to wellbeing).

Questions from participants initially focused on the practical implementation of the plan, for example, whether a survey of available land for local food growing had been considered; how cumbersome public food procurement processes could be simplified to enable local organisations to participate; and whether the sustainable food cities award would actually bring any benefits. There was also a request to speed up the setting up of real partnership work with other local organisations interested in the food agenda.  This is something which was raised a couple of years ago and hasn’t been achieved.

However, on a more positive note, a Conference is planned during the Food Festival in September 2012. Chris promised that rather than simply being consumer-focused, this will include consultative and awareness-raising elements.  Transition Sheffield will be helping to organise these with the aim of moving to more sustainable, resilient food systems in Sheffield.  If you are able to help in any way, or your organisation would like to be involved, please contact rickwatson50’AT’hotmail.com.