Transition Southampton believes in a positive, sustainable, community imagined future. We work with local communities, organisations and local governments to create positive, sustainable, community-based solutions that tackle climate change and energy scarcity. We are part of the international Transition Network, and have a range of active and past projects across food, energy, waste, transport and the built environment, including our long-running Repair Cafes and our September Green Open Homes Week (see below.)
Southampton Sustainable Living Guide 2025
Packed with links and ideas, our updated Sustainable Living Guide is now out – printed copies available at at various green events around the city, our Open Homes Week or any of our repair cafes. There is a text-only version online here
Some of Our Projects
Our current projects include Repair Cafe, Growing Places and Rat-proof Composting. We’ve run various projects and events over the years including our Open Homes Weekends. Check out the full list here and get in touch you’re like to get involved or have an idea you would like support with, by emailing chair[at]transitionsouthampton[dot]org
Southampton Repair Cafe
**** Please note: 18 October Repair Cafe at Immaculate Conception will run from 10.30 till 12noon, not 1pm ****
Repair Cafes run regularly around the city (scroll down for full list of dates) for repairs including electrical, sewing, computers, bikes, jewellery etc. We tackle most portable things. All Repair cafes run from 10.30-13.00. No need to book, just turn up for repair or a cuppa! (If you’re unsure about your item feel free to email us at a week or so beforehand to check ) We welcome cash donations for repairs, which help cover our hall hire and insurance costs. We also welcome more volunteers, especially anyone who could help us with advertising/social media to spread the word! More info at repaircafe[at]transitionsouthampton[dot]org
Our four venues are:
Shirley Parish Hall (St James by the Park Church Hall), 1A Colebrook Ave. The hall itself doesn’t have a postcode but the ‘what three words’ location is silks.ants.fields ; you can park in the surrounding streets; bikes can come into hall.) Ignore Facebook pasts saying “14 Colebrook Avenue” – we are trying to get this changed! Map details: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3wnR6sPUmo66rF2b7
We will continue to hold repair cafes during the refurbishment of the Parish Hall, although these may be held in the Church itself rather than the Hall.
Freemantle Baptist Church Hall, Testwood Rd, SO15 8RL (this is near Millbrook station, on the corner of Testwood Rd and Waterhouse Lane; look for the ‘Memorial Hall’ sign above the church. Park in car park/surrounding streets; bikes can come into hall.) Map details: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ttbxs2vFqWyMgtTJ6) We need more help with admin at this one! Email if you can help.
Immaculate Conception Church hall, Portswood Rd, SO17 3SB (the hall is behind the church and access to parking is off Belgrave Rd near its junction with Kent Rd.) Map details: https://maps.app.goo.gl/syzq9ZhmPeY1AGii9
St Denys Community Centre, Priory Rd, SO17 2JZ.
Map details: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EfMsrFF7tQQhtowm7
Totton repair cafe runs on alternate months, run by one of our volunteers – for more details see their facebook page.
Upcoming dates in 2025
Oct 18 Immaculate Conception NB closes at 12noon
Nov 1 Shirley
Nov 15 St Denys
Dec 6 Freemantle Baptist
Upcoming dates in 2026
Jan 17 St Denys
Feb 7 Freemantle Baptist
Feb 21 Immaculate Conception
Mar 7 Shirley
Mar 21 St Denys
Apr 4 Freemantle Baptist
Apr TBC Immaculate Conception
May 2 Shirley
May 16 St Denys
Jun 6 Freemantle Baptist
Jun 20 Immaculate Conception
Jul 4 Shirley
Jul 18 St Denys
Aug 1 Freemantle Baptist
Aug TBC Immaculate Conception
Sep 5 Shirley
Sep 19 St Denys
Oct 3 Freemantle Baptist
Oct TBC Immaculate Conception
Nov 7 Shirley
Nov 21 St Denys
Dec 5 Freemantle Baptist
NB there are other repair cafes in Hampshire including Eastleigh, Totton and Winchester – see https://therestartproject.org/networks/hampshire/ for a list of what’s coming up where.
For more on Southampton Repair Cafe see our Repair cafe page or our Blog about its history.
Blog: Could Southampton become one of the first National Park Cities?
Southampton (alongside Glasgow, Rotterdam and Breda in the Netherlands and Chattanooga in Tennessee USA, will join London and Adelaide, the only two cities to have already been given the accolade, on UN World Cities Day 31 Oct 2023!
Southampton is a unique city well known for its Maritime history, ancient walls and it’s pioneering in the fields of science and medicine. But Southampton’s natural heritage; our parks, the Common, green spaces, allotments, gardens, local nature reserves, and rivers are often undervalued. Learn more about Southampton National Park City on our Blog here.
Blog: From Gas Boiler to Air Source Heat Pump
If you’re curious about what’s involved in converting from a gas boiler to an Air Source Heat Pump, check out this fantastic write-up from one of our members, which has recently been updated 18 months after installation.
Don’t chuck your Windows 10 PC!!
You’ve probably been seeing the messages from Microsoft saying they will no longer support Windows 10 after 14th October and, if you can’t update to Windows 11, to buy yourself a new computer. How dare they! As supporters of keeping things going for as long as possible we’ve been checking out what’s really going on. The Restart Project is campaigning against such massive waste: https://therestartproject.org/right-to-repair/windows-10/ and is helping out with information.
So, if you’ve got a computer which can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 you need to know the following:
- If you do nothing your mancine will still work after 14 Oct but will no longer receive updates.
- You could be eligible to get another year’s support from MS – and buy time to decide what to do next – check out the Updates menu on your computer (this could be free or cost £24)
- If you can’t get the extra year’s support, you could convert your machine to another operating system, like Chrome or Linux (with help if necessary)
So don’t chuck your Windows 10 computer! If this would interest you, let us know via our facebook page or by emailing repaircafe[at]transitionsouthampton[dot]org and we will see if we can line up some support.
Green Open Homes Week
Green Open Homes 2025 is over. This successful event saw 50 visits to 19 homes plus free public workshops from 4 independent green local businesses. Read more here on our dedicated website. We will be publishing a summary shortly.
Imagine Southampton Film
What do you see when you imagine a better Southampton? Our new Imagine Southampton film harnesses the collective power of our community’s imagination to imagine a better future for our city and our communities.
Bitterne Park Growing Places
We’re repeating our successful community food growing project again this year. Watch this space for news of what’s next this year.
Imagine 2030 using the Transition Time Machine
See what people saw in 2030 when they travelled into the future. A full write-up is available on our Blog.
Join a Southampton Group
If you’re looking to get involved with a local group there any many amazing environmental organisations around the city, some are listed here.