Changing the world one street at a time
11th November 2021
Just as the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow comes to a close, where world leaders have pledged to take action on climate change, local charity Transition Town Totnes is ramping up its efforts to help residents adapt and face the challenges ahead.
Transition Town Totnes (TTT) has been successful in securing £18,000 from Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
This will enable the grass-roots charity to roll out its award-winning Transition Streets initiative to at least another 25 streets.
Transition Streets (TS) aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve community well-being in participating streets and beyond.
It first launched in 2009, when it reached 550 households in Totnes and District, each of which made average savings of £570 and 1.3 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
After a successful pilot this year to update the handbook and relaunch the scheme, it is forecast that financial savings could be doubled, along with further savings on CO2 emissions.
“The handbook is a wonderful resource for our slow and steady future plans.”, adding that they enjoyed; “Meeting in each other’s gardens and learning workshop protocol.”
Another said they enjoyed; “Meeting my neighbours, sharing information and ideas about local sustainability and green living resources.”
Project manager, Myrtle Cooper, oversaw its relaunch this year and describes how it’s not just about saving the planet. It makes people’s everyday lives better too with local residents becoming happier, healthier and more resilient in the face of climate change.She says;“Transition Streets brings people together in supportive and safe neighbourhood groups to talk about the climate crisis, catalysing personal and collective environmental and civic action.“We launched a pilot to evolve the project – which originally ran over a decade ago – to reflect changing understanding and calls to action that the urgency of the climate crisis demands, and in response to the Totnes community asking for its revival.
“Navigating the project during the pandemic and launching new online and in person groups has been a creative challenge, so we’re delighted to have been awarded funding to offer many more local groups and grow the project over the next year.”
Having led the successful pilot to its fortunate position of receiving funds, Myrtle will soon be handing over the reins to a new Project Manager to take the project forward. Applications are invited from local residents living in Totnes and surrounding areas.
Find out more on the TTT website and apply by November 15th: https://www.transitiontowntotnes.org/2021/10/were-recruiting-a-project-manager/
Please reach out to TTT if you would like to get involved:
info@transitiontowntotnes.org