Fiona Ward

I sense that everyone involved in REconomy, and in Transition, knows this feeling of being empowered to act.

Our aim was to see if we could estimate the potential value of a new kind of local economy…

“Road trip” sounds better, but it was of course a rail trip, taking in 10 places over 1,500 miles in 22 train legs in 11 days – from Totnes to Maidenhead, Lewes, Brixton, Norwich, Durham, Dunbar nr Edinburgh, Slaithwaite, Manchester and Hereford then back to Devon…I finish my roadtrip inspired and enthused by the fledgling local economic work that I have seen. It’s planting the seeds of a new local economy and providing extensive learning opportunities. The power of this work so far, as well as providing some jobs for people of course, is that it’s starting to change the story about our economy.

If Transition is to succeed – to deliver on its promise of happier, more resilient communities – then it’s always seemed obvious to me that the work we do is fundamental to this change. If we can find ways to create enough work that contributes to the resilience of our area, that is more fulfilling, in tune with our own particular skills and values, and that pays the bills, then many of the outcomes we want will naturally emerge.

A Transition Enterprise (TE) is a financially viable trading* entity that fulfils a real community need, delivers social benefits and has beneficial, or at least neutral, environmental impacts.