On the 4th of October we brought together new economy groups to share our learnings and create a forum to join our thinking on how to tackle the growing challenges facing our economy and society; it was an incredible experience and a resounding success.   The day was be split into themes, covering different ways to trade,  of understanding value, different forms of organisation and ownership and different ways to change thinking. Each section had excellent provocations, followed by open space discussions. We were joined by people all over the globe through our hybrid setup, which en ..read more

A shoal of 10,000 fish made by Bristol school children will be exhibited at the M Shed in June 2022. ‘When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money’    Bristol Pay is seeing off the Bristol Pound scheme with an exciting project to re-use the old notes. Classes at Key Stages 2 and 3 will be able to register and receive a link for lesson plans for ‘The Last Fish’ project. The plans show how children can cut the fish out similar to shown below, and these fish will be exhibited at M Shed in June. T ..read more

  The rise of the merge between technology and societal improvements has been somewhat of a theme throughout a lot of my blogs in regards to blockchain and finance. This blog certainly fits in that category. Only this time, I will be exploring an actual digital currency known as Neco Currency and explain its goals as a non-profit organisation.    What is it? It is an eco-friendly digital currency which seeks to serve as a stable financial system. Similar to many local currencies, Neco currency places emphasis not only on community involvement but also community self-management ..read more

The Bristol Pound, our city’s eponymous and iconic local currency, is leaving circulation by the end of this year after nearly a decade of passing through local shops and pockets. The Bristol Pound was the most successful local currency scheme in Europe, and at peak circulation, over £B1 million was circulated in our city every year. With over 650 business members at its height, the Bristol Pound was a great tool at the time for helping to localise our city’s economy.  Bristol Pound wants to make sure the end of the currency scheme is in keeping with the values that got it started in the ..read more

This is a brief overview of Kate Raworth’s ideas expressed in her book Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist. In it, she provides her own perspective on current models of economics and why these should be adapted in a new age of economic thinking. She’s critical of the idea that a country’s success is based upon its pursuit of GDP growth. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the overall wealth of a country, and some argue that the constant growth of GDP is the most important factor. They believe that if a country’s wealth grows, even if it mainly benefits the extreme ..read more

In March 2020, the Bristol Pound began work on it’s next project for our city’s local economy. In partnership with fintech business Payji, the Bristol Pay idea was put into motion. Bristol Pound was set to provide the concepts, framework and route to market, and Payji was to deliver the financial and technical expertise. Having successfully launched the Bristol Pay pilot and learnt a lot from the partnership over the last 12 months, we have now mutually agreed to part ways. So, what next for Bristol Pay? It’s worth saying that the underlying issues we are concerned about in the economy remain ..read more

The death of the highstreet and decline in the quality of public space have been salient issues for over a decade now. Covid 19 has accelerated the trend and now many highstreets up and down the country are struggling, from Swindon to South Shields. Where there were bustling boulevards there are now clearance signs and chip-board; where there were cultivated green spaces and public works, there are now unkempt patches and empty shopping plazas patrolled by private security. Even with Covid, this may not seem so much of an issue in Bristol – at least in the centre – with its vibrant, local inde ..read more

The Integration of Migrants and Refugees  Utrecht Refugee Launchpad  In Utrecht, there has been an increased focus on the assimilation of migrants into local communities. The Utrecht Refugee Launchpad provides the opportunity for those who may be finding it difficult to adapt to the new culture.    Assimilation is particularly problematic for refugees and asylum seekers, who come to the country in order to escape dire situations (the Syrian Civil War being a prominent example) as they often aren’t able to speak the native language of the country they’ve gone to, let alone ..read more

Antwerp Circular South Antwerp Circular South – The community project using technology to create a circular economy. What does a ‘Circular Economy’ mean (in terms of waste)? Waste is one of the most serious environmental issues facing our society. As a species, we produce 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste every year. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to 3.4 billion. The consequences of our unsustainable lifestyle are already becoming apparent: 8 million separate pieces of plastic find their way to our oceans daily; landfills release methane and other greenhouse gases; and resources lik ..read more

Cities and Climate Change Cities have a complicated relationship with sustainable development. Urban formations, and those that live in them, are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases worldwide – with huge variation within and between them of course. Cities consume incredible amounts of energy, resources and food, and their citizens generally emit more CO2 per capita than those that live elsewhere. For example the carbon footprint of London is roughly 293 times its actual size; or rather three earths worth of resources would be needed for the consumption rate in London to be sustainable. Ha ..read more