Archived news from 2020

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Consultation on the closure to traffic of Mill Road bridge

Cambridgeshire County Council are consulting on the closure of Mill Road Bridge to vehicles (except buses and emergency vehicles). Currently the closure is temporary, and strong views have been expressed both for and against. Please let the council know what you think by taking their survey here (takes 5 minutes to fill out). Find out more here.
Source: Cambridgeshire County Council 21 Dec 2020

Coats of Many Colours - Second-hand coat drive

Coats of Many Colours is a campaign seeking to collect second-hand coats from the Cambridge community and, with the support of Wintercomfort, pass the cleaned coats on to the homeless. We are looking for coats, men's trousers, as well as hats and gloves. You can drop off at any of the locations listed or book a collection. More...
Source: Coats of Many Colours 13 Dec 2020

'Net Zero Now' - new project from Cambridge Carbon Footprint

Net Zero Now is a new project supporting members of the community to deliver carbon reduction activities, events and communications that engage people of all backgrounds. Approximately 60% of the changes needed to reach net zero by 2050 will require changes to the way we live our lives. Individually, and collectively we'll need to reduce energy use, and make changes to the way we travel, what we eat, how much we buy and how we dispose of things. Net Zero Now aims to fast track behaviour and attitude change by doing three key things:
- Providing training in effective communication and engagement strategies
- Developing practical organisational skills
- Creating tools and resources to support carbon reduction activities.

Net Zero Now is set to start late 2020. You can sign up via the CCF website here. Check back soon for new resources, events and support for your community.
Source: Cambridge Carbon Footprint 24 Nov 2020

'The power of asking good 'What If' questions' - catch up

To inspire you for the Transition: Bounce Forward project's What Is - What If - What Next visioning exercise, you are invited to join Rob Hopkins and guests to explore what it is that makes a really good What If question. Rob says 'The ability to ask really good what if questions is a key skill for the 21st century'. The guests are Phil Frodsham of Transition New Mills, who ran a great community 'What If' exercise with his community just before lockdown. Megan O'Malley who, inspired by 'What If' developed an amazing programme of work with students in the primary school she teaches at in Melbourne, Australia. Ruth Ben Tovim, formerly of Encounters Arts, and amazing community arts practitioner, who will share what makes a good what if question. For background to the Transition Bounce Forward and more info,click here. You can catch up on the session via youtube here. More...
Source: Transition Network 22 Nov 2020

Inspiration and Opportunities for Transition Cambridge

At our AGM, we spent some time thinking about what inspires us about Transition Cambridge, and what future opportunities we see for TC, specially in the context of covid. Here's what we came up with - it makes an interesting read! If you feel inspired to take any of the ideas forward, please get in touch and we'll do our best to support. Thanks to Meg and Nicola for noting these ideas during the meeting! More...
Source: Transition Cambridge 11 Nov 2020

Transition Cambridge AGM - new Chair and Treasurer

At our AGM on 29th October, we elected a new chair, Anna McIvor and a new treasurer, Sam Maddrell. Nicola Terry agreed to continue in the role of secretary. We offered a huge vote of thanks to our out-going chair, Jacky Sutton-Adam and out-going treasurer, Judith Rattenbury; their hard work and enthusiasm have enabled Transition Cambridge to thrive and grow over the last few years. Huge thanks also go to Nicola Terry, who has been keeping most of the Transition Cambridge administration going over the last few years, as well as running the energy group. You can read more about what we discussed in the minutes of the AGM. More...
Source: Transition Cambridge 10 Nov 2020

Fundraising for a meeting space at Empty Common Community Garden

Empty Common Community Garden is a centre of food production, community participation, and education in organic gardening and sustainability in Cambridge - see our blog here. We are now raising money to build a hut out of recycled materials and buy a bell tent. These will be used for meetings, educational activities, larger events, talks, films etc. and just cups of tea. This will give us a versatile meeting place right in the middle of Cambridge and the large bell tent which can be used within the garden or elsewhere so even more people can be inspired to live well with a light footprint.

Please help us raise money towards this! You can donate through our JustGiving crowd-funder page, or if you are member of the Coop you can select us as your chosen cause (more info on how to do this here). You can also send a donation directly through to our bank account - details here. Very many thanks. More...
Source: Empty Common Community Garden 10 Nov 2020

Cambridge Climate Therapists

Cambridge Climate Therapists offer resources for anyone experiencing climate distress or anxiety. They also offer communications workshops, and have done workshops with local groups such as Transition Cambridge and XR. They now have a new website where you can read more about what they do, and maybe get some help for your group if you are working locally. Their website is https://www.cambridgeclimatetherapists.org.
Source: Ro Randall, Cambridge Climate Therapists 09 Nov 2020

Can you help shape the Cambridge Climate Change Strategy?

To help everyone enjoy a cleaner greener Cambridge, the City Council is holding a consultation on their strategy about climate change 2021 to 2025. You can watch a video introduction here. It's open from now till 20 December, you can fill in an online survey, and there are themed workshops online from 4 to 26 November. Links and more info here.
Source: Cambridge City Council 27 Oct 2020

Daily Bread beds rebuilt and looking great!

A very big thank you to all the volunteers who took apart the old beds, moved all the earth, and built the new ones, which are looking beautiful! Here are some pictures of the new beds with the lovely metal animal and plant sculptures re-attached, and with a few plants already in. We'll probably have one more workday in a couple of weeks, to put in some posts to stop cars bumping into the beds, to level the earth around the beds, and lay down some bark chippings (more details in next newsletter). There is a lovely story behind the beds, including how local schoolchildren designed the animal and plant images, which were then made by local artist Jayne Ruffell Ward - if anyone feels inspired to write this up as a blog post or a news story for a local paper, please get in touch!
Source: Our Earth 26 Oct 2020

Roof and cavity wall insulation hotspot maps for Cambridge and surrounding areas

Carbon Neutral Cambridge have done an analysis of local hotspots where there are poor roof or wall insulation, as a tool to help people check if they might be able to get grants to improve the insulation in their home, and save on their energy bills. You can read about it in the Carbon Neutral Cambridge blog here. There are grants available: first check the map to see if you're in a hotspot, then check your own roof/walls and/or help your neighbours do the same, and then apply for a green homes grant and get your home upgraded if the insulation is sub-standard. Your can find the full "Hot Numbers" report here, and here are the maps showing roof and cavity wall insulation by postcode.
Source: Carbon Neutral Cambridge 26 Oct 2020

Have your say on Logan's Meadow

Cambridge City Council and the newly formed Friends of Logan's Meadow are embarking on an exciting project to more than double the size of the LNR to contribute to the Natural Cambridgeshire Doubling Nature Vision. It is hoped that the proposed habitat creation in the City will provide residents with an insight into Fenland biodiversity and encourage them to further explore the Fenland landscape and wildlife on our doorstep. Please tell them how you use the space and how you would like to see it shaped and maintained in the future. The current plans are representative only and more detailed proposals would be shaped by this consultation and shared through further engagement before approval and implementation. The consultation closes 20th November. More...
Source: Friends of Logan's Meadow/Cambridge City Council 17 Oct 2020

Cambridge Community Resilience and Regeneration Map

As part of her permaculture training, Meg Clarke has created this wonderful web of Cambridge groups involved in building local resilience, showing some of the connections between them. It is well worth a look! It shows how Transition Cambridge is embedded in a web of connections with other groups, all helping Cambridge move towards a more sustainable future. If you could help us create an online version of this, please get in touch. Thanks!
Source: Transition Cambridge 12 Oct 2020

Transition Bounce Forward - online talks from the Transition Network

The organisers say 'While the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vulnerability and inequality experienced by many people in our communities, it has also demonstrated the potential for major and swift changes to reframe the purposes of our economy and our society. In true Transition form our vision is not to 'bounce back' to how things were before. Transition groups have been crafting a vision of a better future for over a decade, that speaks to the needs for community resilience and a society with a focus on caring. So instead of bouncing back, we invite you to join with us to bounce forward.' The first three events - on the theme of 'What Is' - featured speakers from Transition initiatives around the country and are available online here. More info here.
Source: Transition Network 12 Oct 2020

Grow an Extra Row to Support the Cambridge Community

Cambridge Sustainable Food are looking for surplus fruit and veg donations towards an emergency food programme, which is helping those struggling to access food during COVID-19.

In partnership with Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance, they have set up 8 local Community Food Hubs across Cambridge and a community lunch and shopping service to help those in need.

CSF welcome all donations of fresh fruit, veg and herbs to help keep these services running. They have already had some delicious donations and some streets have set up community growing schemes to grow and donate fruit and veg to their nearest Community Food Hub.

If you can grow a row extra to share with the Cambridge community, get your street involved in growing together or if you find you have a glut on your hands that you would like to donate, please contact Louise

You don't have to be an experienced grower to help out. Even if you have surplus tomatoes from your first time growing, please get in touch! More...
Source: Cambridge Sustainable Food 27 Jun 2020

'The Secret of Change' film - available online

In 2015, filmmakers Zoe Moyden and Chris Bettles set off on a journey to visit Transition groups in the UK, Canada and the US to document them for a film. They were welcomed by groups in towns, cities, villages and deserts, who hosted them, and shared their stories, their projects, their hopes and fears, their learnings.

The final product is a series of 7 short videos entitled 'The Secret of Change'. It offers the viewer many things. It tells the stories of Transition groups whose stories we don't hear enough of. What emerges from all the stories here is how vital human connection is. As we emerge blinking back into the world from many weeks of Covid lockdown, the stories these videos tell are deeply important and powerful. How do we build back better, in a way that puts climate change, social justice, biodiversity and fairness back at the heart, and how do we start this ourselves?

There's a full description and review by Rob Hopkins here. More info about the film and link to viewing here.
Source: Transition Network 07 Jun 2020

'Spaces to Breathe' campaign

Camcycle believes that people in the Cambridge region need spaces to breathe to allow them to stay safe, happy and healthy. During the coronavirus pandemic they would like to help people stay active while protecting themselves and others, by identifying areas where it's hard to keep at least 2m away from people when walking or cycling and proposing temporary measures to reallocate space away from motor traffic while the roads are quieter. This would help widen existing walking and cycling routes and provide alternatives to those that are busy or narrow.

Inspired by the temporary measures being installed by cities around the world from Bogotá to Berlin and Budapest to Brighton, they would like to encourage decision-makers in and around Cambridge to work with their communities on ideas to provide more space for those walking, cycling or using mobility aids. You can sign their campaign letter, and suggest where improvements to safe spaces to walk and cycle. Just follow the link below. More...
Source: Camcycle - 16 May 2020

Homes needed for 3000 oak saplings

Cambridge and Ely XR have 3000 oak saplings to plant this winter. We need places to plant them, people to look after them and donations! Though we have met our target of £2000 already this is part of a nationwide Extinction Rebellion Rewilding campaign which is at 75% of its goal.

You can contact the local campaign directly here More...
Source: XR Ely 08 May 2020

Climate Cabaret

The Cambridge Literary Festival became the Cambridge Listening Festival, and there are various talks you can listen to on-line, including one on "Climate Cabaret" looking at how artists, writers, and activists are responding to the climate emergency in an increasingly uncertain world.
Source: Cambridge Listening Festival 22 Apr 2020

Online Open Eco Homes - what would you like to see?

For the last 11 years, Open Eco Homes has organised visits and tours of local homes together with talks and workshops which explore particular topics in more detail. 2020 looks a bit different... They had to cancel this September's open days due to Covid-19, so they're making plans for Open Eco Homes online events and information in the autumn. They're exploring: webinars, virtual home 'tours' with Q&A, and resources like blogs, videos, information, how-tos, etc. If you'd like to help shape this year's online offering, do fill in the form with your interests here.
Source: Open Eco Homes/Cambridge Carbon Footprint 17 Apr 2020

Covid-19 announcement from Cropshare

For the moment we will not run volunteer sessions on the farm, but will hope to organise some sessions later in the year, where we can make sure volunteers can work at a safe distance outside, and have in place precautionary measures to ensure those of you that choose to come out and help grow food are as safe as possible. Thanks so much to those who have offered help recently. We will be in touch as soon as possible when we schedule the next farm volunteer day on this email list.

Meanwhile, crops are being planted and growing on as usual! Take care and hope that you have the opportunity to farm from home, either in your garden or windowbox. Please feel free to share with us any pics of your farming from home on Facebook or Twitter! More...
Source: Cropshare 01 Apr 2020

Empty Common Community Garden Video

The ECCG group have put together a lovely film of how the community garden evolved from the bare earth to the paradise it is now. Its fun and quite uplifting to watch - and it will get your fingers itching to get stuck in again when we can. More...
Source: Transition Cambridge 29 Mar 2020

Coronavirus policy statement from Transition Cambridge

We don't wish to impose cancellation or postponement of Transition Cambridge events, however it is highly likely that many of our events will be cancelled or postponed. The organisers of our project groups are best placed to decide with their groups whether to postpone their meeting or event. Some Transition groups may implement specific precautionary measures at their gatherings which will be explained at their events. Any cancellations of Transition Cambridge activities will appear on our events pages as soon as we hear. We would like to remind everyone to take sensible precautions to protect themselves and those around them... (continued here).
Source: Transition Cambridge 17 Mar 2020

Paid summer internship with Camcycle

Once again, Camcycle is offering a paid summer internship. They say "This is a great opportunity for someone to bring their own knowledge, energy and commitment to their work for our charity, while developing skills and experience that will prepare them for future career opportunities." It's for 8 weeks, starting in July. The deadline for applications is April 5th - job description and application form are here.
Source: Camcycle 16 Mar 2020

Job at CCF: Net Zero Now Co-ordinator

Cambridge Carbon Footprint (CCF) is looking for an experienced community organiser to help deliver an exciting new project - Net Zero Now (NZN). The NZN project is designed to facilitate action on climate change by building capacity in community groups around South Cambridgeshire to deliver carbon reduction activities, events and communications that engage people of all backgrounds. The project will focus on helping community groups to achieve behaviour and attitude changes by doing three key things: providing training in effective communication and engagement strategies, developing practical organisational skills, and creating tools, resources to support carbon reduction activities.

This is a part time role: 2.5 days/week.

The deadline for applications is 9am Monday 28th February More...
Source: Cambridge Carbon Footprint 19 Feb 2020

The first fully EV Car Club vehicle in Cambridge

Members of Transition Cambridge have been advocating for the development of a zero emission Car Club for Cambridge and the surrounding villages.

The car club contract is jointly managed by the City & County Councils. In September of last year it was relaunched with Enterprise offering a hybrid vehicle in many of the 30+ locations across the City. The first fully electric vehicle has been placed at Arbury Court car park and is making use of the AC connection from one of the pre-existing taxi chargers at the site.

Further details on how to join & location of vehicles can be found here
Source: Transition Cambridge Clean Wheels 31 Jan 2020

Stewards needed for Youth Strike for Climate on 14 February

Are you free on the morning of 14 February? Stewards (over 18's) are needed to help out at the Youth Strike for Climate. The route of their march is usually from Shire Hall (starting around 9.30) into town, ending at King's Parade (time tbc, usually around midday). The march route and the end time will be confirmed when we know and you'll get a briefing document. There will be brief training at the start before the march sets off. If you're able to help out, contact Dave More...
Source: Youth Strike for Climate 23 Jan 2020

The County Council's Climate Change and Environment Strategy Consultation

Last week we held a discussion to consider Transitioners' responses to the Cambridgeshire County Council's consultation on its climate and environment strategy. With a number of climate and carbon mitigation experts and specialists from our community present, we think we have some strong responses to offer the Council. We are now compiling a checklist of comments made at the meeting which will be available to share with like-minded individuals and groups in the next few days. Our document is intended as an aid to others who hold Transition Cambridge's values of community resilience and low carbon living, and who would like to respond to the consultation, which closes on 31 January 2020. You don't have to complete the online consultation for your response to be considered, you can email the Council about particular points that you want to comment on. If you'd like a copy of our finished Transition checklist of points, please email Jacky More...
Source: Transition Cambridge 20 Jan 2020

Radio show feat. Rob Hopkins

Nick Skelton and the talented people at The 7th Generation radio show on Cambridge 105 have put together a show on the theme of 'What If...' - imagining ourselves into the future we want to create. It features an interview with Rob Hopkins about the power of the imagination and 'What If' spaces. There are examples from successful community groups and municipalities too. As it's New Year, there are also resolutions - what's yours? It's on mixcloud so you can catch up any time. More...
Source: Transition Cambridge/Cambridge 105 radio 13 Jan 2020

Exhibition: 'Walking on Thin Ice: Co-operation in the face of a changing climate'

Experience the vision of twelve teenagers selected from around the UK to work directly with polar researchers. 'Walking on Thin Ice: Co-operation in the face of a changing climate' is a co-curated exhibition about climate change as they see it. The exhibition is at the Polar Museum, Lensfield Road. Drop in for free, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. More...
Source: Scott Polar Research Institute 10 Jan 2020

Job with Cambridge Carbon Footprint

CCF are seeking a new coordinator for their successful Open Eco Homes project, now entering its 11th year. They say: "In Open Eco Homes (OEH) householders show visitors how they save home energy by their home's design, retro-fitted improvements and smart behaviour. This is the 11th year that CCF will run these 2 autumn weekend open days, along with training events to help people turn their inspiration into real home energy improvements. OEH has a great record and reputation of informing and inspiring thousands of visitors to make their own home-energy improvements and reaching a wider public, normalising and raising demand for affordable, low-carbon homes. The OEH Coordinator is the key staff member responsible for delivering Open Eco Homes, supported by volunteers, including the OEH Manager, and other staff in the CCF Office. You would be a fixed-term employee of CCF: 2.5 days/week, from about 24 Feb to 18 Oct 2020 on £22,328 pa, pro rata + benefits." There's more info on their website, including a fuller job description, and how to apply. The deadline is 9am on 13 January. More...
Source: Cambridge Carbon Footprint 10 Jan 2020

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