Funding available to help Devon’s communities reconnect, rebuild and recover

Community-led facilities and activities, like many things, were quickly suspended during the onset of the national coronavirus lockdown.

As the country begins to return to some degree of normality, Devon County Council is keen to help local communities get back to doing the things they love safely and confidently, so they’ve created a special fund to support them.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

“We are proud that Devon is a place where people have the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives in thriving, prosperous communities, and supporting our residents as we recover from the pandemic is key to ensuring this continues to be the case.

“The county has a fantastic network of community groups that work hard to support vulnerable residents and maintain people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

“We've seen the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on our residents, we've witnessed the disruption across our communities. Now more than ever, as restrictions are easing, it is important that we continue to support a wide range of initiatives that do inspiring work to reach people within their communities and help them to remain well-connected and resilient as we face the challenge of recovering from this pandemic.”

The Reconnect Rebuild Recover Community Fund will provide grant funding of up to £1,000 for smaller projects and between £1,000 and £3,000 for larger projects that help local people to reconnect, rebuild and recover their community-led facilities and/or social activities.

It will support community-led initiatives that:

• encourage a range of people to participate in activities that improve their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing
• provide safe community-led transportation links and services which encourage and help people to re-connect and re-socialise safely within their communities
• encourage people to develop skills and learning through volunteering their time, knowledge and expertise to help and support the facilities and/or social activity and the people using them

You can find out more, including how to apply, on the Devon County Council website.