News from Transition Stroud!
Dear readers,
This is my last newsletter as editor, and also my last month doing social media for Transition Stroud. Details about how to apply for either or both positions are below.
I’ve really enjoyed working for Transition Stroud – it is worthwhile work and a good team to be part of. However, the reason I’m leaving is primarily exhaustion and I want to take this chance to explain why that’s the case.
Like many people who take on relatively small jobs, I’ve been doing a lot of them in parallel. In our current ‘gig economy’ climate it is ever more common for people to end up working multiple part time jobs. When you are self employed, there’s no sick leave and no paid holiday. Sometimes there are seven day weeks. It’s an insecure, precarious way to work, which adds to the stress. What’s invisible from the outside is also the work of moving between jobs, of knowing a job’s worth of things about the outfit you’re working for, but having to retain and track all of that for perhaps half a dozen different outfits. It takes a toll.
If we want people to live sustainably, they need to be able to earn at a level that makes this possible. The minimum wage is not really a living wage – it does not pay people enough to live decently. The living wage is not a sustainable wage – it doesn’t allow people to make the best choices. If we want carbon neutrality it is important to have an economy that makes it possible. This is why interventions like a Universal Basic Income are so important. A sustainable, resilient society is also one that doesn’t push people into illness and exhaustion just to survive.
Transition Stroud pays workers above what is considered to be the living wage and thus is pushing towards that sustainable wage. This is really important, but perhaps not one of the more visible things Transition is doing locally.
I’d like to finish my stint as editor by thanking you all for supporting the newsletter, sending content, sharing it on, and reading it. Without readers, a newsletter is worth nothing, and by being part of this community, you make a difference. I have no doubt that you’ll give the next editor the same support and help this project to grow and help us all work towards carbon neutrality.
Thank you.
Bryn.
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Welcome to 2021!
2020 showed us that community is thriving locally, and we can take the lead to bring change, with government often following the lead of people and their priorities. Appreciating key workers, supporting those around us, addressing food poverty and facing systemic racism are all areas that have been highlighted in the past 12 months, and ones we need to continue to work on.
Climate will also be at the forefront in 2021, with the launch of Stroud District Council’s 2030 strategy and the COP26 climate talks in November. We must imagine and act to create our own futures, continuing to build community resilience while holding our political authorities to account to support us through change at a wider and systemic level.
Anyone can be involved, everyone is needed. Come and join us!
Nick
Transition Stroud Co-ordinator
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Communications Job Vacancies
We have two paid positions around Communications, both key roles for sharing the work of Transition Stroud and partners and for engaging better with our community. We would be happy to combine the roles and for one person to apply for both.
Deadline for both applications is 24th January 2021.
Please submit a cover letter (2 sides maximum) outlining why you would like to take up one or both roles along with a CV and references to Nick Turner, Transition Stroud co-ordinator, admin@transitionstroud.org. Please include links to examples of your work if available.
Interviews will be held on Zoom or as appropriate in early February. Ideally the successful candidate(s) will be able to have a hand-over and take on duties by the start of March.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Deliver a monthly e-newsletter using online software (currently Mailchimp) at the beginning of each month. Requires maintaining contact with our Action Groups, partners and wider network to collate, edit and organise content for our monthly mailout. Give occasional support with Press Releases.
Remuneration: £100 per month, initially for a one year period.
Read the full Newsletter Editor job description.
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Research and deliver 3 – 5 Facebook posts a week and share regular information on Twitter from Transition Stroud Action Groups, the TS Council, local climate action groups, the local community and the wider Transition network. Responding to contacts as appropriate.
Remuneration: £100 per month, initially for a one year period.
Read the full Social Media Coordinator job description.
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Transition Stroud and Stroud Potato and Seed Days
Plans for this year’s Potato Day are under way, but may of course be subject to changes in the lockdown rules.
On Saturday February 6th 2021, 8.30am to 2pm at Stroud’s Farmer’s Market, we have a stall with kind permission from Gerb. The stall will be selling a range of potato varieties, from Dundry Nurseries, Cheltenham and our famous Potato Lemon Drizzle Cake!
This year, we are trying another development:
On Sunday February 7th, 11am to 3pm at Trinity Rooms, Stroud (opp Stroud Hospital on Field Road) with our potato varieties for sale and the full range of locally saved seeds from Stroud Community Seed Bank to distribute. We hope to have the cake available also!
3pm to 4pm Prepaid Potato (and Seed) orders for collection
All the above will be assessed according to C-19 rules of the day, so cake may not be possible on either days.
The development of 2 days and the official inclusion of seeds, is due to the need for a weather safe February venue and also the demand for seeds during March 2020. The 1st lockdown, when access to seeds became limited and people began to grow their own food once more, caused a welcome surge of interest in seed saved in Stroud District.
Anyone looking for 2020 silver linings, can add this to their list: the sudden realisation of the need for seeds as an aspect of local food sovereignty. Our Seed Savers distributed packets by post and collection organised via social media throughout the spring.
This event is a joint venture of Transition Stroud and Down to Earth (see their website for info). It is a vital fundraiser, but also a wonderful awareness raiser, with new growers coming to buy spuds, take away seeds and ask for growing info or who to connect with locally. We have loyal and regular volunteers from both organisations.
We are asking for 3 responses from Transition Stroud members:
1/ Please put these dates into your diaries! Both volunteers and ‘customers’
Look out for our banner on Merrywalks Bridge in Jan and tell your growing friends.
2/ If you have not volunteered before, please consider doing so now.
We need more folk to help with the 2nd day. It is a very inspiring and uplifting occasion, just what is needed to start a new year! Our regulars will tell you what fun we have…with Clare and Paul Sheridan, our stars, dressed in repurposed potato sacks!
3/ We intend to have prepaid orders for potatoes (and some seeds if feasible) via social media, to be collected from Trinity Rooms, Sun 7th Feb from 3pm to 4pm. (Other times, dates may be possible by arrangement).
Please consider this option when it is available on the Down to Earth website, soon.
seedbank@downtoearthstroud.co.uk www.facebook.com/stroudcommunityseedbank
www.downtoearthstroud.co.uk
Thank you, Spud and Seedy folk, past, present and future!
https://www.downtoearthstroud.co.uk/seed-saving/
In view of the new Lockdown, Stroud Community Seed Bank will distribute the seeds from 6 local venues allowed to open at time of writing:
LOOSE in Stroud
CHALFORD and HORSLEY Community SHOPS
THE LONG TABLE, Brimscombe
TRINITY ROOMS, COMMUNITY FREEZER Top of the town, Stroud
PAGANHILL COMMUNITY GARDENS and CAFÉ, Paganhill
We are not allowed to sell our seeds, but we do ask for donations to help fund this essential venture. Thank you.
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The Stroud Community Car Club which has been running successfully for a number years, is seeking new members. We have two cars on the road at present – a Kia parked in Cainscross and a Peugeot on Bisley Road. The beauty of the car club is that a car is available to use without the hassle and expense of owning a car. Booking a car is easy and can be made via the website for as little as half an hour at a time. Please visit our website www.svccc.co.uk for more information and if you would like to join the Car Club and become a user please contact Bernard Jarman email: svcccinfo@gmail.com
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Thank you for reading and for your ongoing support!
If you’re doing something you think might encourage or cheer other people, email Bryn for the newsletter – brynnethnimue@gmail.com or contact us by social media (see below). We’ll do what we can to support fellow travellers locally, tag us on Twitter for re-tweets and pop things on the facebook wall for sharing.
You can also follow our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TransitionStroud/
And connect with Transition Stroud on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TTStroud
If you want to encourage anyone to sign up for this newsletter, please send them to the website – https://www.transitionstroud.org/
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 We are grateful to those individuals and organisations that fund Transition Stroud including the Community Investment Grant from Stroud District Council
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