Celebrating the Change: Working Better Alongside You
By Esther Molina 21st October 2024
Dearest Transition community,
We are excited to share with you a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of your international support organisation. Over the past few months, we have been working to restructure and clarify the role we play in the movement, so we can better listen to and align with the needs and aspirations of communities applying Transition. We have recognised the need to improve the ways we work in collaboration with and alongside the wider movement, and are committed to providing more opportunities for co-learning and co-design.
In this article we will summarise the changes that have been made so far, share emerging ideas and plans regarding the role and services we offer within the movement, and suggest ways in which you can input and help shape the next steps.
What’s New?
For the past few years there have been two entities supporting and representing the Transition movement at the international level. These were Transition Network (a UK registered charity – with an international focus) and the Hubs Heart Circle – a group of international movement based contributors with close relationships to several Transition Hubs and local groups.
It recently became clear that having two somewhat separate teams working at the international level was leading to role confusion and a drain on energy and resources due to the need for additional meetings and internal communications. We all agreed we would much rather use this time, energy and budget in offering support activities and services outwards into the movement, so it became clear that a restructure and simplification was needed.
The new structure retains the benefits of the previous two-system model, while simplifying organisational and meeting structures, improving efficiency and freeing up capacity to work more closely alongside the wider movement. We have carefully combined the strengths of Transition Network (the charity) and the Hubs Heart Circle (internationally based team) to ensure we retain a legal entity that can receive and redistribute funds, while also ensuring we have an international perspective and movement representation within the team. This is not a situation of one structure being absorbed into another but rather the creation of a new 3.0 entity that was asking to be born: Transition Network international (TNi).
This is the current picture of Transition Network international (see simplified visual representation above) and it will likely keep evolving with changes and adaptations as we try things out, learn from doing, and listen to what you, as members of the movement, need from us.
Key aspects:
- Our strategic shift: Better listening and acting on your needs. We have heard your feedback, challenges, and aspirations, and have realigned our strategy to work more effectively alongside and in support of communities delivering Transition at the grassroots. We are excited to engage more directly with hubs and groups through projects, focus groups, community research, regranting activities and the refreshed Hubs Group that is emerging from the recent Hubs self-assessment process. We look forward to connecting more, understanding better your current challenges, needs and successes, and exploring ways in which we can best accompany and support you.
- A more efficient team. We have restructured our organisation to create a more efficient and responsive team, with clearer strategic aims. This allows us to be more attentive and in service to the movement, better positioned to support the incredible work you are doing on the ground.
- An evolving entity: transparency and adaptability. Transition Network international is not a static organization, we are an evolving entity. This restructuring is part of an ongoing journey to become a more effective part of the support system for the movement. We are committed to transparency, sharing the process, and celebrating our collective evolution.
- Fundraising for the future. This transformation is just the beginning and we will be sharing more news in the coming months. We are actively working on new fundraising efforts and lines of enquiry to enable regranting activities such as seed grants and development grants, to directly support your work. We will continue to consult with you as we move forward, ensuring that your voices guide our direction.
What’s Next?
You might have some questions now. To answer them, and to further explore these changes with you, we will hold two “Ask Us Anything” sessions scheduled across different time zones:
Tuesday Oct 29th 15.30 UTC (Check your local timezone here)
Thursday Nov 7th 11:30 UTC (Check your local timezone here)
In November we will be reviewing the strategic aims of Transition Network international and making more tangible plans for 2025 and beyond. We will be inviting input from the wider movement via a consultation and advice process. More information about how to participate in this will be shared in the coming months.
This is a challenging time in the world and in our communities. However we also see it as a time of great potential for the application and uptake of Transition, as we have seen many times over the amazing impact that groups and Hubs can have in their local areas. This evolution into Transition Network international is a reflection of and response to the collective intelligence, increasing relevance and ongoing creative energy of the Transition movement. We are here to serve and work alongside you, to amplify your activities and to help you receive the support and resources you need. We look forward to embarking on this next chapter together.
Stay tuned for more updates, and please do not hesitate to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or feedback. We are listening and committed to being in good service to you all.
In community and celebration,
Deborah Benham and Esther Molina,
On behalf of the Transition Network international team