Network weaving is about strengthening the connections between people, projects and places so that knowledge, support and momentum can flow more easily.

Rather than creating new programmes, the work focuses on:

• listening to what is already happening on the ground

• building relationships between groups

• surfacing patterns, challenges and opportunities

• connecting local work into a wider movement

It is a form of relational infrastructure building at a national scale.

Over six months, we:

• travelled across the South West meeting Transition groups in their places

• connected with 50+ groups regionally, and contributed to conversations with over 125 groups nationally

• held conversations to understand what groups were doing, what they needed, and what was emerging

• built relationships between groups, projects and organisers

• supported peer learning and exchange across the network

• contributed to the design and delivery of the Transition Assembly, bringing together 150+ people from across the UK

• helped capture and share learning through a national report and online platforms

This work created a regional and national picture of community-led change that is rarely visible.

Across the network, we saw an extraordinary depth of work already happening:

• community food projects, repair cafés, energy initiatives and local enterprises

• long-standing groups sustaining local action for over a decade

• new projects emerging in response to climate, economic and social pressures

At the same time, clear patterns emerged:

• many groups are deeply embedded but feel isolated

• much of the work is held by a small number of people with limited resources

• connection between groups is inconsistent but highly energising when it happens

• where regional infrastructure exists, collaboration and resilience are stronger

This project reinforced something central to our work:

connection is not a ‘nice to have’, it is essential infrastructure.

Across the UK, thousands of people are already working to strengthen their communities and respond to the crises we face.

But without strong relationships, shared tools and ongoing support:

• knowledge is lost

• energy is fragmented

• and change happens more slowly than it could

This work showed that when connection is prioritised:

• confidence grows

• collaboration increases

• and the potential for systemic change expands

• Relationship-building is critical, but consistently under-resourced

• Regional networks play a key role in supporting local action

• People need practical tools and shared infrastructure, not just ideas

• Bringing people together, even briefly, can unlock significant momentum

• National movements are only as strong as the connections between their local parts