‘Our Places’ were projects that helped support the idea that no place or community should be left behind after the pandemic.
Please note that the content of the above video is included in this webpage.
‘Our Places’ Impact
The impact of the ‘Our Places’ projects included:
- The creation of two new work hubs and provided three work hubs with additional funding
- Supporting or funding six natural capital innovation pilots
- Supporting the creation of eight urban regeneration strategies for our hardest-hit towns
- Supporting six community energy funds
- Delivering 38 site visits to SMEs for energy efficiency advice
- Supporting 14 ‘quick win’ projects in coastal and market towns
- Greater links between DCC and town and district councils
Community Energy Fund
The Community Energy Fund was set up to support the recovery of businesses and the wider economy of Devon following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The key objective of this fund was to support, develop and fund a small number of high-quality Community Energy initiatives that will help to advance and strengthen the Community Energy sector in Devon.
Grants were provided to voluntary, community and public-sector organisations across Devon.
Community Energy Fund projects
- Regen South West and Devon Energy Collective – Power Allotments
- Exeter Community Energy
- Heart of Devon Community Energy
- South Dartmoor Community Energy
- Tamar Energy Community
- Totnes Renewable Energy Society
Find out more about the projects – Community Energy Fund – Economy and Enterprise (devon.gov.uk)
Natural Capital
This fund supported, developed or funded a small number of high-quality Natural Capital initiatives that created employment and training opportunities in Devon.
Natural capital projects
- Apricot Centre CIC– School of Regenerative Land-Bases Business
- Brickhouse Vineyard Ltd– Soil and Soul
- Coldharbour Mill Trust Ltd– Culm Valley Rural Skills
- Devon Wildlife Trust– Northern Devon Natural Solutions
- EcoLogic Consultant Ecologists– East Devon Conservation Grazing
- Running Deer CIC– Countryside Worker Skills
Find out more about the projects – Natural Capital Challenge Fund – Economy and Enterprise (devon.gov.uk)
Urban renewal
This project focused on a review of coastal and market towns in Devon and created 7 regeneration Boards, 8 regeneration Strategies and allocated funds for 14 additional ‘quick win projects.
This was a cross-partner project with district and town councils and regeneration boards leading at its core.
Urban Renewal ‘quick win’ projects
- Axminster e-bikes (led by Axminster Town Council)
- Bideford Town Promo (led by Torridge District Council)
- Bideford Burton Art Box (Led by The Burton)
- Bideford eatBideford (led by Torridge District Council)
- Bideford Town Hall
- Ilfracombe RYA (led by North Devon District Council)
- Ilfracombe Dive Centre (led by North Devon District Council)
- Okehampton business app (led by everything Okehampton / Okehampton town council)
- Okehampton BID (led by West Devon Borough Council)
- Seaton Marshlands (led by Seaton Town Council)
- Teignmouth and Dawlish Teign Estuary Trail (Led by Teignmouth District Council)
- Tiverton – Active use of empty commercial units (Led by Tiverton Town Council)
Devon Work Hubs and live/work pilot
Two new work hubs were created, three work hubs were provided with additional funding, alongside a research project on supporting the future development of shared live work spaces.
Work Hubs
- Bideford (new)
- Kingsbridge (new)
- Modbury (additional funding)
- Totnes (Tribe) (additional funding)
- Axminster (Waffle House) (additional funding)
“We see a lot of women who are solopreneurs in our Work Hub who work for themselves. It’s less about growing into huge corporations but growing their confidence, skillset, and their awareness of what help is out there to grow their business.” – Devon Work Hubs
Find out about Work Hubs.
Thank you to all the project stakeholders involved in Devon Recovery Fund projects.