Transition Network

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £270,000 (final round, 2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £100 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Northern Ireland (Scotland served by partner SCCAN)

Contact Details

Website: www.transitionnetwork.org / transitiontogether.org.uk

Email: finance@transitionnetwork.org

Phone: 01803 865669

Registered Charity Number: 1128675

Company Number: 6135675

Overview

Transition Network was established as a company limited by guarantee in March 2007 and registered as a charity in March 2009. The organization supports the international Transition movement, working in service to self-organizing Transition groups and Hubs creating community-led change for a sustainable and just future founded on wellbeing. In 2021, Transition Network received just over £5.9 million from The National Lottery Community Fund's Growing Great Ideas programme for a ten-year project called 'Growing infrastructure, networks and capacity for Transition in Britain'. As of March 2024, the charity's latest income was £903,094. The organization operates in 22 countries with 45 areas within the UK. However, due to restructuring at The National Lottery Community Fund, the programme which funded their work will not be continuing as originally planned, and the organization is currently working out future plans and options.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs (Now Closed)

The Seed Funding programme offered three tiers of grants (application deadline was 7 January 2024):

• Micro Grants: £100 - £500 (super light touch application - one short written paragraph, or short audio/video description)
• Full Grants: £500 - £5,000 (short online form)
• Partnership Grants: £5,000 - £10,000 (for collaborative work between groups)

Total Programme Investment: Over £430,000 distributed across multiple rounds, with the final round distributing £270,000 to support community-led change.

Application Method: Rolling basis with fixed deadline rounds (programme now closed)

Priority Areas

Funded projects included:

• Local Food Production: Community gardens, food growing schemes, local food directories, Plot to Plate initiatives
• Energy and Climate Action: Energy savers clubs, energy cafes, youth climate workshops
• Community Infrastructure: Libraries of Things, community hubs, compost collectives
• Capacity Building: Staff/coordination costs, website development, Citizens Assemblies
• Community Development: Youth engagement projects, visioning conversations, local events
• Skills and Knowledge Sharing: Repair cafes, training, networking
• Social Justice: Working in solidarity with under-resourced groups, building diverse partnerships

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions were not explicitly stated, though eligibility was restricted to:

• Transition groups or Hubs registered with Transition Network
• Groups based in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland has separate funding through partner SCCAN)

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Governance and Leadership

Transition Network operates using a sociocratic organizational approach where “everyone has a chance to talk, listen, and suggest ideas equally” and decisions are made by checking if anyone has “serious objections” rather than simple voting. Since April 2018, Trustees and staff are members of Transition Network's Primary Circle, representing a shift to shared governance. This change followed a survey of and engagement with the Transition movement in 2017, which influenced a new Strategic Framework.

The organization has an anonymous primary funder - a charitable foundation set up by a family member redirecting wealth accumulated through past extractive economic activity towards regenerative activity. Other funders have included The Tudor Trust (grant from January 2016, with a one-year extension in 2019 for organizational development work) and Open Society Initiative for Europe (2019 grant for the Municipalities in Transition project).

Specific trustee names and leadership team members can be found on their community space at hub.transition-space.org/people.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Seed Funding programme required applicants to:

1. Be a Transition group or Hub registered with Transition Network
2. Read the “All You Need to Know” guide
3. Review Frequently Asked Questions
4. Submit a short online form (Full and Partnership Grants) or one paragraph/audio/video description (Micro Grants)
5. Groups could make multiple applications and apply for more than one grant type

Current Status: The grant programme is now closed. The page is retained for information only.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines were not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Success rates were not publicly disclosed. Historical data shows:

• Final round (2023-24): £270,000 distributed
• Earlier round: £140,000 distributed to 87 groups for 111 projects
• Multiple rounds supported over 70 groups in various years
• Total programme investment: £430,000+ across all rounds

Reapplication Policy

Groups could make multiple applications and apply for more than one type of grant, suggesting a flexible reapplication approach during active funding rounds.

Application Success Factors

Types of Projects That Succeeded

Successful funded projects demonstrate several common characteristics:

Community Impact Focus: Projects that directly benefited local communities and addressed real local needs were successful, such as Transition Wilmslow's “Plot to Plate” initiative, which created local food gardening and a market stall.

Transformational Potential: As one recipient stated, "Without this funding we wouldn't have been able to secure the compost tumblers... The funding has been genuinely transformational." Projects that could demonstrate how small amounts of funding would unlock significant change were favoured.

Diverse Approaches: Successful projects spanned multiple sectors:

• Community Roots Permaculture Project planted fruit trees with 80 families
• Think & Do created an energy savers club across 5 Camden estates
• Bristol Living Soil established the city's first compost collective
• Transition Buxton launched a Library of Things
• Carmarthen Together organized a launch event connecting 15 community projects

Practical Solutions: Projects that addressed tangible community needs with concrete outputs (community hubs, food growing schemes, repair cafes, energy workshops) were regularly funded.

Building Capacity: Projects could include coordination/staff costs, relationship building, network development, and infrastructure improvements (websites, publicity materials).

Application Approach

Micro Grants (£100-£500): Required only one short written paragraph or a short audio/video description - described as “super light touch”. These could cover practical items like booking a room, paying a facilitator, buying garden equipment, making signage, or purchasing tools for a repair cafe.

Accessibility: The programme emphasized making funding accessible to grassroots groups, with minimal bureaucracy for smaller grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Alignment is Essential: Only Transition groups registered with Transition Network were eligible - alignment with the Transition movement's principles and values was fundamental
• Community-Led Focus: Projects must demonstrate genuine community involvement and address local needs for sustainable, resilient, and socially just futures
• Think Small but Transformational: Even micro grants of £100-£500 could be “genuinely transformational” - focus on how small amounts can unlock significant change
• Diverse Activities Welcome: From food growing to energy efficiency, youth engagement to infrastructure development - the programme supported a wide range of community-led initiatives
• Future Uncertainty: Due to restructuring at The National Lottery Community Fund, the seed funding programme has closed and future funding is uncertain - interested groups should monitor the Transition Network/Transition Together website for updates
• Partnership Opportunities: Larger Partnership Grants (£5,000-£10,000) encouraged collaborative work between multiple Transition groups
• Light-Touch Process: Particularly for micro grants, the application process was designed to be accessible and quick, reducing barriers for grassroots community groups

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO
• BE THE EARTH FOUNDATION
• The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
• David and Elaine Potter Foundation
• The Rayne Trust
• THE IRELAND FUND OF GREAT BRITAIN
• THE BADUR FOUNDATION
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• THE VARDY FOUNDATION
• The Randal Charitable Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register: TRANSITION NETWORK - 1128675. Accessed via https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4035612
• Transition Network About Page. https://transitionnetwork.org/about/
• Transition Together Seed Funding Page. https://transitiontogether.org.uk/seed-funding/
• “How seed funding nourishes community action” - Transition Together. https://transitiontogether.org.uk/how-seed-funding-is-nourishing-community-led-change/
• The National Lottery Community Fund: Transition Network. https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/blog/2021-07-19/transition-network
• “A Year of Transition Together” - Transition Network News. https://transitionnetwork.org/news/a-year-of-transition-together/
• Transition Network Transparency Page. https://transitionnetwork.org/about-the-movement/the-charity/transparency/
• Transition Together About Page. https://transitiontogether.org.uk/about/
• Quote from funded project recipient: "Without this funding we wouldn't have been able to secure the compost tumblers... The funding has been genuinely transformational." Source: How seed funding nourishes community action, Transition Together website