Put Devon first urges leading charity

A new campaign encouraging people who live in Devon to put their county first as it begins its recovery from the Corovirus pandemics has been launched by the charity Love Devon.

As Devon navigates its slow and cautious route out of lockdown, it is encouraging people to put #DevonFirst.

Love Devon is the trading and fundraising arm of Devon Communities Together which works with a very broad range of people, from rural and coastal communities to more urban centres, people like you, or people you might know.

 The charity supports them to tackle a wide variety of challenges facing their communities in areas including affordable housing, entrepreneurship, rural isolation and loneliness, community buildings, sport and play, health and wellbeing, and responding to climate change.

The charity’s Acting CEO Nora Corkery said: “Funds are stretched and resources are set to get tighter as the recession deepens. Yet the need for support has never been greater. Those who donate to Love Devon will be helping our team of community project workers to make a real difference to people living in the county.”

The projects include supporting older and vulnerable people who are struggling more than ever with loneliness and isolation or who are worried about physically reintegrating into their communities, as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The charity will also be working with village halls across Devon as they reopen their doors and try and adjust to new ways of operating to remain at the heart of their communities; working with young people as they face challenges around unemployment and new ways of working; and supporting communities to develop and adapt their community emergency plans and increase their resilience.

Nora added: “With the support from those who live in Devon, we can do all this and more and help rebuild Devon.”

To get involved, the charity is urging people to set up a regular donation for which they will receive a welcome pack including a reusable shopping bag.

Donations can be set up online by visiting www.devoncommunities.org.uk/donate.

Love Devon is also encouraging people to use the hashtags #DevonFirst and #RebuildDevon where possible.