300 children enjoy summer adventures thanks to Bovey Tracey Council grant

More than 300 children and their families took part in free summer activities this year thanks to a small grant from Bovey Tracey Town Council.

The council gave £940 to Better Places Community Interest Company, marking the first award of its kind from the authority. 

The money, raised from local council tax, funded four community events.

Activities included raft building at Parke with the support of Dartmoor National Park Authority and the National Trust. 

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Children were able to take home the rafts they made from natural, foraged materials. 

Another day in Heathfield was spent exploring nature with Devon Wildlife Trust. 

Free packed lunches were provided at every event.

Councillor Lisa Robillard-Webb, who works with Better Places, told the council meeting on Monday 15 September: “It went exceptionally well. I don’t think we could have squeezed another person through the door and we had repeat families, some with four children under four years old, who kept coming because they loved it so much. It was lovely to see the parents chatting, and the grandparents. It was hugely successful and we’ve shown there’s a need.”

She added that the grant covered all four events, reaching 328 children and their families. 

“We’re very grateful and hope this will become part of the Town Council’s integration and connection with families in the future,” she said.

Mayor Councillor Sheila Brooke said the project was an example of how the council could support the community: “We’ve seen what an impact Better Places has had on people in the last two or three years and wanted to support them. The pleasure it gives families is amazing and to me it goes really well with our social supermarket and other services we have in the community.”

She added: “Covid really exposed a lot of food poverty so awarding a grant of just £940 is a really good use of taxpayers’ money. All this has sprung from the little help hub we established after the pandemic. Without Lisa’s energy it simply wouldn’t happen.”