Aims & Objectives

Have you ever had that niggling feeling that something is wrong with the economy? We certainly have and we want to explore how we could do things in a more people and nature-friendly way. We have committed to support a process of creating a more sustainable, equitable and resilient economy in Totnes and beyond.

Our specific objectives for the next 1-2 years are:

1. To explore how a local currency can improve Totnes' economic resilience.
2. To raise awareness within our local business community about how peak oil, carbon emissions and climate change will likely affect them (and their profit margin).
3. To identify new business opportunities resulting from our transition to lower energy lifestyles, products and services, and to support new business start-ups.
4. To build a ‘Business Resilience Group’ that forms a supportive, innovative, business community.
5. To investigate alternative business models i.e. that work on principles of sustainable social enterprise for the benefit of all, while remaining viable and profitable concerns.
6. To build partnerships with local, regional and national organisations that share our enthusiasm for sustainable economic development.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to find out more about the group, join us in re-shaping the economy of Totnes or start a project based on an idea you've had at the back of your mind, but have thought infeasible... until now! You will be very welcome. Please visit our website often to see all the latest news & updates from our group. You can also subscribe to the bulletin for a monthly update about all TTT activities.

We are also building a set of resources that we hope will be of use to people who are interested in building relience and sustainability into our local (and wider) economic systems. If you have anything to add to this section please do let us know.

Contact

Contact us at: economicsandlivelihoods.totnes@transitionnetwork.org.

Meetings

This group doesn't have regular meetings at the moment, as we are a relatively small number of people that stay in touch informally, and we are busy working on our projects (more on these below). However details of our intermittent meetings will be available on our group's meetings & events page and on the main TTT calendar. Alternatively please email us and we'll keep you posted directly.

Growing Transition businesses  - a new sub-group?

Please click here for more information. We are planning a kick-off meeting for this sub-group in early September. Once the date is confirmed it will be posted here, and anyone who has an idea for making money from a Transition-related product or service will be very welcome.

Projects

In line with our objectives, our official group launch in July 2007 was accompanied with the issue of a local currency, the Totnes Pound (T£), which we see as one of the main tools to strengthen local economies. We are now on the third issue of the T£, and are very excited about the level of success so far, with over 70 local businesses now accepting it. Please see the relevant Totnes Pound project pages for more information.

We have also initiated a number of projects working with local businesses on awareness raising and taking action to address carbon emissions. These include campaigns to encourage high street retailers to use energy efficient lighting and switch to green electricity tariffs, a pilot programme that provides expert, onsite advice about resource efficiency (reduce waste, electricity, gas, water etc.) with our partner Envirowise, and a trial of a business resource exchange where companies trade spare resources and waste that can be used by their neighbours.

In terms of peak oil, we are currently piloting Oil Vulnerability Audits, an innovative approach that helps businesses to understand exactly what rising oil prices will mean to their bottom line, and what action can be taken. Our partner here is the University of Liverpool Oil Depletion Impact Group.

A related project is the Totnes Sustainable Business Park (ATMOS) proposal (on the old Dairy Crest site) being led by Nigel Topping of the E&L group. Click here to view the website. 

Any events, meetings, workshops or training that relate to the Economics & Livelihoods group or its projects can be seen in our group's meetings & events section and on the main TTT calendar.