Sustainable Travel Tips and Links

This is a guest post by Mat and Blanca, the team who ran the Transition Café How Can We Have Sustainable Holidays And Travel? on 19th February. In our brainstorming session we came up with a whole range of travel ideas - from day trips around Cambridge to holidays across Europe - and lots of tips for things like where to get tickets, accommodation, and vegetarian or vegan food. So we thought it would be good to share them with you all here. We hope you find them useful.

A new Chair for Transition Cambridge - Jacky Sutton-Adam

At our Annual General Meeting last October, I announced that 2019-20 would be my last year as Chair of Transition Cambridge. The Chairperson's role in Transition Cambridge is emphatically not a position at the top of a pile, TC is non-hierarchical in structure, it's more accurate to experience and view the role as a position surrounded and supported by a large, loose network of like-minded and knowledgeable people. One of the best things about my experience has been discovering this. 

 Who might take up the challenge of chairing Transition Cambridge? We are actively looking now for a new chair person, so I thought it would be good to set out what I've learned from my experience and what qualities and characteristics seemed helpful in the role. It's worth remembering that these are not exactly requirements for the position, rather an insight into some of the skills a new Chairperson might offer, or want to develop for themselves.

1. Connectivity in the Community  Having a wide network of friends and acquaintances is a valuable resource, and you don't need to bring a ready made one with you! It's an asset that you can develop as you go. When opportunities arise or you need advice and feedback, other people, both within Transition and beyond can help you find clarity and focus with projects and tasks. The beauty of Transition Cambridge is that there are already many people who are ready to support and assist. Over the last few years many acquaintances have become my friends, and old friendships have blossomed and matured.
2. Public Speaking -being a face of Transition Cambridge  Speaking to a roomful of people can be nerve-wracking - most of us would rather not! But it's a valuable skill as it develops self confidence and focus and can help to bring out your passion – and that makes for compelling listening. On more than one occasion I found myself abandoning notes and speaking from my heart which was both easier and more authentic! When you speak with passion, people are drawn in.
3. Delegation Skills  Delegation is a grand word for getting things done in community. I learned that it's important to be as specific as possible in describing what you want to delegate. I also learned that that a personal chat on the phone or over a cup of tea was more effective than a generalised email!
4. Empowering Others  Transition Cambridge has always been a constellation of communities; interest groups form and find their place in TC with an idea, plus two or three people who have energy to give to the idea. I have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating and supporting at these 'start-ups'. I've learned that its more effective to stay in the background and allow people to shape their project in the way that is right for them.

I feel privileged to have collaborated and worked alongside many individuals with detailed knowledge, strong vision and clear focus, both within our community and also in the wider environmental scene in and around Cambridge. It's certainly been a learning curve, and I have felt a deepening and maturing awareness and understanding of the many environmental/ social issues we face. On the global and local stages, my time in the Chair has been an eventful period for the environment and climate, and I'm relieved that at long last, these existential issues are attracting mainstream media attention and increasing engagement from local government.

If you are curious about the role of Chair, or can suggest someone who might be interested, we would love to hear from you – please email Jacky or Nicola for a confidential chat.