On Saturday 8th February, local people planted 500 trees to create a Cranbrook Canopy, helping to make Cranbrook a better place for people and wildlife.
Around 40 volunteers of all ages joined East Devon District Council and Cranbrook Town Council to plant new native woodland, including 250 oak trees, at Cranbrook Country Park in the heart of the Clyst Valley.
Cranbrook Canopy is a five month project funded by Woodland Trust’s Street Trees project, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, East Devon District Council and Cranbrook Town Council. It aims to inspire...
It may be cold outside, but there’s a warm glow spreading out across the whole of Devon. From coast to countryside, villages and towns to cities, LOVE Devon is bringing communities together to support themselves and each other and to celebrate everything that is good and glorious about living and working in this part of the world.
LOVE Devon was established by Devon Communities Together which is approaching its 60th birthday. The independent charity was set up with the intention of helping communities to help themselves, and LOVE Devon was established as a way of raising awareness...
A new network has been launched in Devon and Somerset which will connect the region’s many and varied social enterprises, supporting them to grow and benefit their local economies - and create positive social change.
Enhance brings together new and existing members from across the two counties to form an umbrella network that will provide events, training and networking opportunities across the region. Members also receive a listing on the new website at: www.enhancesocialenterprise.org.uk, along with regular newsletters, opportunities for additional support programmes, peer-...
A pioneering project to promote wellbeing and good mental health for young children has received a cash injection from a leading housebuilder in the region.
Exeter’s Trinity Primary and Nursery School has been handed £1,000 from Persimmon Homes South West’s Community Champions fund to develop a unique project helping Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One pupils learn about their emotions and how they affect mental health.
Music teacher Laura Loft, who made the successful funding application, said: “We want to put on a workshop and event called ‘BIG EMOTIONS:...
Over 50 volunteers of all ages teamed up with East Devon District Council officers, councillors and Greener Ottery on Saturday 11 January to help plant native West Country apple trees in a new community orchard in Land of Canaan, Ottery St Mary.
The project, which was organised by East Devon District Council’s Parks service in conjunction with Greener Ottery and ward member Cllr Vicky Johns, is a reflection of both the council and local community’s interest in sustainability and climate change.
The community orchard is the start of a bigger project to help support wildlife...
Devon’s residents are being urged to hang on to their broken possessions over the Christmas holidays so they can be fixed at what promises will be the largest repair café ever held.
The Big Fix 2020 will be held on Saturday February 15, and will see up to 109 repair cafes across the UK being held simultaneously.
The national event is being coordinated by Devon County Council and follows the success of The Big Fix last year when volunteers broke the record for the number of items repaired at a single repair café.
Both events are examples of Devon County Council’s...
An action plan to help reduce the amount of food waste in Devon was endorsed by Devon County Council's ruling Cabinet.
It follows a Food Waste Spotlight Review being commissioned by Devon County Council’s Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Commitee earlier this year.
Representatives from food charities, councils and anaerobic digestion plants attended the review to discuss why food is wasted, how to reduce it and ways to improve its collection.
Almost a third of all food purchased in Devon is thrown away, either by residents or businesses,...
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has donated 60 hampers to local members of the Armed Forces community in need this Christmas.
The SSAFA Devon branch has donated 60 hampers and 28 gift cards across the county to those in need this Christmas across the local area.
On Tuesday 10th December, the charity hosted a hamper presentation at the Exeter Guildhall where the Lord Mayor Councillor Peter Holland presented ten hampers to local beneficiaries.
Corporate supporters were also in attendance on the day, including Fraser and Wheeler Estate Agents, Gilbert Stephens LLP...
Through its Well Built Community Fund, RGB Building Supplies has already donated £5,000 for groups, charities and schools to spend at its branches this year. It has one last giveaway for 2019 and is calling for nominations for the chance to win £1,000 to purchase building materials or tools.
RGB's Community Fund aims to help groups complete much-needed projects that they would not otherwise be able to.
The donation is to be spent at an RGB branch and can be used to buy materials to complete a renovation project, or perhaps tools that could help with construction trade...
Fuel poverty levels in Devon have been on the increase in recent years and whilst projects like Healthy Homes for Wellbeing , run by Exeter Community Energy (ECOE), have been tackling this issue head-on with drop-in energy clinics and in-depth home visits across the region, there is still a lot more that could be done.
ECOE’s new Winter Warmth campaign highlights the issues of fuel poverty and hard-to-heat homes faced by local residents each and every winter. Having recently launched the Healthy Homes Hardship Fund, ECOE is seeking donations which they hope will make a world of...