Transition Scotland Support Case Study Series: Number 09 March 2011
Towards Transition Glasgow www.ttglasgow.ning.co.uk GLASGOW IN FOCUS
Glasgow City Chambers in darkness for Earth Hour 2011
KIND OF PLACE: City WHERE IS IT? West of Scotland, on the Clyde POPULATION: 580, 690 INVOLVEMENT WITH TRANSITION: Affiliated with the Scottish Transition network WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? From the ‘ning’ site at www.ttglasgow.ning.co.uk
WHAT does Transition look like in Glasgow? There are a lot of people in Glasgow. Greater Glasgow is the most densely populated area of Scotland, but even so, the different areas have a very definite ‘feel’ to them. All kinds of cultural, social and economic needs converge to create the various communities spread along the Clyde valley. For the people who joined together in 2008 after the Climate March to talk about Transition, it would have been a mammoth task to ‘transition’ the whole of Glasgow. Instead, small seeds were begun in people’s own
communities and these are now beginning to grow, spread out and cover a wider area. There are Transition groups in the South, East West and in Garrioch. There are also a range of projects who are not directly transition groups, but whose work and interests connect them to the groups and individuals involved in Towards Transition Glasgow. How do people keep in touch and up to date with one another? The network is wide, and consisits of linked groups and people in Glasgow, mainly kept in touch via the ‘ning’ website and social networking site. Events also have a big part to play in bringing people together and joining up ideas
from different communities. Much of this work has been helped by having a full time worker from Transition Scotland Support, Luci Ransome, working with some of the projects in low income areas on transition ideas. However, everyone involved in Glasgow has contributed a vast amount of volunteer time to attempt to keep in touch, and keep working together. While there are still challenges to be faced, and a number of communities in which there is not yet anything happening, Glasgow’s transition and sustainability network is growing. People are beginning to see a new hope for a city that was once left bereft by the loss of
TRANSITION GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES CITY TRANSITION IN Glasgow, Transition groups tend to start small in communities, and join forces, or make links with related organisations in the area. There are four ‘transition’ area groups, which are a few of the 18 groups that are active on the website. Each group has its own focus depending on what part of the city it is working on and the interests of its particular members. Food growing is very popular, with most of the groups taking this on in some form, whether directly through the group or in association with other projects. It seems to be something that is quite easy to get people interested in - as we all have to eat! Transition group members are often involved in community gardens, or community orchards across Glasgow, and the informal local food growing network seems to be flourishing.
Good links with the council are also helpful when considering such a large area. In Glasgow, TTG try to ensure relationships are built with the council, as more can be achieved when people are working together in mutually understanding ways. What are the problems for this model in a city? It pays to be connected, so that people feel that they are part of a wider movement. However, people have busy lives, and often meetings can be difficult to arrange for times and in locations that suit everyone.For this reason, the website has been key in keeping everyone in touch. Events that look at themes are often better attended as people can be more discerning about the things that do directly affect them, and can be surer that they will have something to contribute, and will get something out of going along.
TRANSITION SOUTH SIDE IN the south side, the transition group has been holding film nights and talks on various aspects of transition. They have also been working hard on the establishing and upkeep of the community orchard in Queen’s Park.
EAST END TRANSITION EAST End Transition have been going for a few years in Glasgow. They have a connection with the ‘Dennistoun Diggers’ who are setting up and running a community garden in the East End. They have held workshops and are currently in the process of designing the garden.
TRANSITION GARRIOCH GARRIOCH residents association are growing in the back courts of the tenements there. Often these spaces are used purely for drying, and sometimes are little used at all. This project hopes to make them productive and pleasant to be in.
WEST END TRANSITION THIS is the newest of the groups, and is currently in its development stage. The group have had film showings and contributed to some of the Transition events that have happened over 2010/11. There are ongoing plans for re-skilling workshops.
Find a range of useful resources at www.transitionscotland.org
SEEDS OF CHANGE ALL of the events in the ‘showcase’ series involved an aspect of sharing and spreading ideas and options. All three had workshops that people could learn from or interact with. Through the series of events, people who were working on similar things but who might not usually see one another, began to become familiar. In this way, these events also began to create a wider sense of community in Glasgow which added richness to the already busy community hotspots.
JOINING UP ACTIVITY WHEN working in a city or a big conurbation, it is likely that there is already activity happening. One of the key ideas about TTG is that it should act as a hub, not to replicate, but to connect activity. Events that join people to look at particular themes mean that what is already happening can be shared, ideas can be catalysed in new communities, and people can get involved where their passion and experience will help most.
EVENTS TRANSITION Scotland Support provided some money for a series of events in Glasgow. These were themed and aimed to bring together people from across the city to look at particular issues. They were all family friendly and included activities for young people. The first event was ‘Heart and Soul Food’ which looked at a range of ways to grow and source local food using short workshops and discussion groups. Freshly cooked food was provided for the event by members of West End Transition. In the evening a series of food related films was shown. The second event, ‘Warming the Home Front’ looked at energy efficiency and generation. This event was organised and funded in conjunction with Eco Renovation Network, with contributions from community groups like The Scottish Ecological Design Association and the Energy Savings Trust.
People left more confident in their skills, with valuable contacts. A few months after this, members of Transition Belsize came to Glasgow to provide ‘Draught-busting’ workshops to people who would then take the simple and effective methods they had learned out to at least two other people in their community. ‘Walking in a Waste Free Wonderland’ was the third event, with a waste and skills focus. This event joined up activity that had been happening in projects and communities on reusing what might be termed as rubbish (old clothing, paper, ruing pulls, plastic bags) and turning it into other things. The final event was a market place bazaar with workshops, held in a city centre cafe/bar, Mono. ‘The most significant cumulative effect has been to feel part of a national network of people working hard and creatively in their own communities.’ Event feedback.
It is also useful to provide different ways for people to get involved, create a buzz and celebrate activity.
Find a range of useful resources at www.transitionscotland.org
PLAYBUSTERS AND DEPOT ARTS
LINKED AND ASSOCIATED GROUPS
Both of these have had interaction with Transition in Glasgow. Depot Arts is an arts based project in the North of Gasgow that aims to give their participants skills and confidence. They looked at a having a Green office, and took some of the young people along to the eco festival ‘Big Tent 2010’ in Fife. www.depotarts.co.uk
Love Milton is a community led project looking at developing a multi-functional community space in a community that currently has little in terms of resources.
Playbusters work in the East End as a community suport project on a wide range of initiatives. With support from TSS, they held an Environmental Group and employed a Climate Challenge officer to work on local food and waste issues. www.playbusters.org.uk
the area through a range of activities including cookery, community gardening and environmental arts. Urban Roots have volunteer teams who reclaim disused space as community gardens. This creates safe and well used spaces that are also community resources. They also often work with Dennistoun Diggers on workshops around growing and gardening. www.urbanroots.org.uk
Love Milton is working on waste and recycled crafts, as well as artwork that create a sense of identity for Milton, and pride for those living there. Milton have had a series of resilience events, in association with Transition Scotland Support, each with Many of the West End more of a community led feel. Transition group are also www.lovemilton.org involved with Woodlands Community Garden. This In Toryglen, Urban Roots project has turned a gap site in work with local people on the West End into a productive projects that improve the community garden complete environment and health of with energy awareness hub. WCG hold regular workshops and celebration events in the garden. It acts as a community and education hub for the area.
Galgael work in Govan, an area which was built up on the shipbuilding on the Clyde. They have facilities for woodworking and a blacksmith. Galgael create traditional boats, calling on the heritage of the area to inform them.A vital part of their work is supporting local people through a programme of skills to enable them to find both employment and a sense of pride. Galgael’s philosophy is more than that though, as every person who passes through on a placement also becomes part of a wider ‘clanship’. This is a group of people who understand and support one another, creating community. www.galgael.org
Find a range of useful resources at www.transitionscotland.org