Grassroots sport, community arts and cultural projects, festivals, children’s play areas, support groups and community transport are among the beneficiaries of more than £390,000 county council funding awarded over the last year.
In total 474 local groups have received funding from Devon County Council’s (DCC) Locality Budget, enabling predominately volunteer-run clubs, groups and projects to repair community assets, purchase key essentials, provide services and host community events to help improve the lives of local people in every corner of Devon.
Over the course of last year each of DCC’s 60 councillors had £8,000 a year to help them respond to local needs – they use their local knowledge to ensure their share is used where it will be of the most benefit.
Since April almost £22,000 has been allocated across 27 grassroots sports activities across Devon.
These include training facilities Shamwickshire Rovers Youth FC, Stoke Fleming Cricket Club and Bideford rugby club Under 12’s, an instructor for children’s canoe sessions in Kingsbridge, solar panels in Ottery bowling club, a portable defibrillator at an over 50s football club in Exminster and new flooring for a North Devon gymnastics club.
While more than £20,000 has been awarded to projects and activities related to Devon’s heritage and environment. Arts and cultural events such as the Windrush Caribbean Cricket Festival, Mid Devon’s Folklore Library & Archive and woodland seating in Mid Devon and heritage craft skills sessions in Exeter are among the projects to receive funding.
Activities for children at South Molton Carnival, new flags for Exmouth’s War Memorial and stage drapes for a panto in Ivybridge and equipment for the Plough Arts Centre Bideford have also been supported.
At least £35,000 has been shared by children’s groups, nurseries and schools. The funding has helped purchase community play equipment, outings for young diabetics in Exeter, online safety courses for children at 30 primary schools and new gardening equipment, horticulture lessons and support for activities delivered by scouting groups.
And organisations offering support, such as food banks, mental health and wellbeing advice groups have received more than £40,000 in funding.
The Devon and Dorset Association Exeter Branch, mother and baby groups, support groups for chronic pain, art therapy for cancer survivors, support for SEND children and South West Blood Bikes in each district are some of the other applicants that have benefitted.
And in each case funding has been nominated by local councillors to benefit local communities and support Devon County Council’s objectives and priorities through improving health and wellbeing, helping communities to be safe, supporting young people, supporting the economy, tackling inequality or responding to the climate crises.