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 (see below.)
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 News
Repair Cafes run regularly around the city: see full list of dates below for repairs including electrical, sewing, computers, bikes, jewellery etc. We tackle most thinkgs (except microwaves.) 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 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), 1 Colebrook Ave, S015 5NS (note that this postcode takes you to the Parish Office, which is on Church St, opposite the church itself; you can park in the surrounding streets; bikes can come into hall.) Map details: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3wnR6sPUmo66rF2b7
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)
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 continues on alternate months, run by one of our volunteers – for more details see their facebook page.
Upcoming dates in 2024
Oct 5 Freemantle Baptist
Oct 19 Immaculate Conception and Totton
Nov 2 Shirley
Jan 18 St Denys
December 7 Freemantle Baptist and Totton
Upcoming dates in 2025
Jan 18 St Denys
Feb 1 Freemantle Baptist
Feb 15 Immaculate Conception
Mar 1 Shirley
Mar 15 St Denys
Apr 5 Freemantle Baptist
Apr 19 Immaculate Conception
May 3 Shirley
May 16 St Denys
Jun 7 Freemantle Baptist
Jun 21 Immaculate Conception
NB there are other repair cafes in Hampshire including Eastleigh 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?
STOP PRESS: 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.
Net Zero Transition talk and film – follow up 25 Sept 2024
What do we really need to do to reach ‘net zero’? What does net zero actually mean? Can we rely on technologies that don’t yet exist at scale? What behaviour changes are needed? Our second free film and discussion evening, 7.30pm at October Books, Portswood Rd, looks at what we can do as individuals and in society. No need to book. More information here.
Transition Talk 30 Oct
Clearing the air: neighbourhood air pollution and what we can do about it
7.30-9pm October Books. Free entry, donations towards room hire welcomed. No booking needed.
Air pollution is acknowledged by the UK Government as the largest environmental risk to public health.1 48,625 premature deaths are attributable to air pollution each year in the UK.2 Lighting fires in our homes is a major contributor of harmful small particle (PM2.5) air pollution3, which can damage lungs and other organs, and be harmful to health.4
This talk will explore the health, financial and environmental impact of wood-burning, as well as how small changes to how you burn can reduce the amount of pollution produced. It will cover actions we can take to reduce air pollution in general and keep ourselves safe from dirty air. It will also look at other sources of air pollution in Southampton.
Speaker: Hazel Agombar, The Environment Centre (tEC). tEC is is an independent, environmental charity with extensive experience delivering local air quality projects. The team are currently working with Global Action Plan to train healthcare professionals across Southampton while also delivering a wood burning project on behalf of Winchester City Council, Southampton City Council, New Forest District Council, Southampton City Council and Eastleigh Borough Council.
1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-pollution-applying-all-our-health/air-pollution-applying-all-our-health
2. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023GH000910
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants/emissions-of-air-pollutants-in-the-uk-particulate-matter-pm10-and-pm25
4. https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/burnbetter/; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2022-air-pollution
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.
Gardening projects
Our green gardening consultancy program continues for those within walking distance of Portswood. Feedback from recipients has been uniformly positive – why not see if our volunteer ecologist’s advice could help your garden support wildlife. Our retro-fit “rat proof composting” research also continues. If you have rats in the garden and are interested in a rat-proof compost collar, or if you live within walking distance of Portswood and would like a wildlife garden consultation see our Green Gardening Consultancy page.
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.