Newton Abbot community groups share £16,000 Town Council grant boost

Four community groups in Newton Abbot have been awarded more than £16,000 in grants from the Town Council.

Applications for funding ranging from £1,000 to £5,500 were considered at a meeting of the council’s Finance and Audit Committee this Wednesday (October 29).

The smallest grant went to the Newton Abbot Community Shed, which plans to buy air-cleaning equipment to help reduce sawdust in its workshop.

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Peter Stevens, Chair of Newton Abbot Community Shed, said the group aimed to be “self-sufficient for core costs” and had not received any grants last year.

ABOVE: Newton Abbot Community Shed (Credit: CAG Devon)

Since opening in July 2023, the Shed has grown from an informal group to a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation. 

It now operates from a workshop in Newton Abbot Library, where more than 50 members meet regularly.

Wellbeing in Action received £4,600 to help launch a Women and Girls’ Health Club at its Good Karma Store in Queen Street.

Lindie Whitfield, Chief Officer at Wellbeing in Action, told councillors her charity had to relocate after its base was demolished.

ABOVE: Wellbeing in Action in their new space (Credit: Wellbeing in Action Facebook)

She said the group was now set up in empty shop units and working alongside local businesses to help share costs. 

The organisation offers free baby and toddler equipment and runs a “boutique-style space” that doubles as both a charity shop and a women’s support centre.

Ms Whitfield said: “It’s rare for us to go for grants” and explained to the meeting that her group had been largely self-financed.

Teignbridge Citizens Advice received £5,500 after reporting that demand for its services is at an all-time high as more households struggle with the cost of living, and Newton Abbot Community Transport was awarded £5,000 to support services such as Ring and Ride.

Mike Hocking, Chair of Newton Abbot Community Transport Association, said the charity had faced “a difficult few years” since the pandemic but had still provided transport for more than 10,000 elderly, vulnerable or isolated people in the past year.

ABOVE: Newton Abbot Community Transport (Credit: aDoddle)

He said the charity now runs three rural bus routes that commercial operators had stopped providing. 

“Without us many people would be trapped in their homes,” he said.

The committee approved all four applications, awarding a total of £16,100.

Committee Chair Cllr Louise Cooke said: “Our community is blessed to have these wonderful, selfless groups looking after its interests.

“We are acutely aware that it is public money we are offering but believe most people would approve of its use in this way.

“Our thanks go to all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep Newton Abbot a healthy, happy and caring place.”