Twelve East Devon projects benefit from rapid response fund

Twelve fantastic East Devon Coronavirus-related projects have now been funded by the Covid-19 Prompt Action Fund, a joint grants scheme from East Devon District Council and Devon County Council.

The Covid-19 Prompt Action Fund is a small grants scheme which quickly provides small grants of up to £499. Community-led Coronavirus-related projects and activities can apply for the small but important things that help them support vulnerable people in this difficult time.

There’s still more funding available, to find out more and apply: www.devon.gov.uk/document/covid-19-prompt-action-fund

So far the successful grants are:

The Broadclyst Parish Council Community Support Scheme - £495 towards volunteer expenses, and leaflet printing to let people know about the scheme.
Brampford Speke Help - £495 towards fuel costs, packaging and printing.
The Random Kitchen, based at Honiton Rugby Club - £400 to help pay for ingredients and enhanced cleaning to cook meals for vulnerable people in the area.
Beer Action Group - £495 to help pay for providing and delivering food parcels to people in need.
Mill Water School - £495 to help pay for activity packs for children and parents.
Launchpad SW CIC, based in Budleigh Salterton- £495 towards delivering hot meals to vulnerable people who can’t cook for themselves.
East Budleigh Parish Council - £395 to help pay for scrubs for a care home within the parish.
Ottery Community Volunteers - £495 to help pay for the expenses of their volunteers and support deliveries to vulnerable people in the parish.
Axmouth Parish Council - £345 to help support volunteers within the parish, such as refunding them for any fuel costs.
Sidmouth Voluntary Services - £495 to help pay for a kitchen refurbishment so they could start making and delivering meals for vulnerable people in the Sid Valley.
Colyton’s Local Delivery Service - £300 to help refund costs incurred by their volunteers, such as fuel costs when delivering to people who are self isolating.
The Ottery Help Scheme - £495 to pay for Personal Protective Equipment for their volunteer drivers.

Applications are accepted from constituted and not-for-private-profit Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector groups and organisations, town and parish councils, charities or businesses, or a combination of such groups working together. Organisations can apply multiple times for different projects.

Non-constituted groups without their own, separate bank account, small local businesses and individuals can also apply but they will need to do so with the support of an accountable constituted organisation acting on their behalf either as guarantor or as the holder of the funding, see the website for further details.

Councillor Ian Thomas, Chairman of East Devon District Council’s Community Grants panel, said: "Our voluntary and community organisations, together with town and parish councils, form the bedrock of East Devon’s drive to ensure that all our vulnerable residents are properly shielded and supported in these challenging times. We should be proud of and grateful for the dedication of each and everyone involved.

"I am pleased that we have been able to contribute to all of these projects, and hope we can help more over the next few weeks if they need it."

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "I am pleased that East Devon District Council joined the COVID-19 Prompt Action Fund. At extremely difficult times like this it is important that we all work together to support our residents, especially the most vulnerable.

"The way our communities have responded to this challenge has been exceptional and these examples from East Devon demonstrate just how many volunteers give so freely of their time - stepping up to support those in need and helping keep their neighbours safe, often in the most innovative of ways.

"I am so pleased we can go some way in matching their generosity through this fund and support their inspiring work that is proving so essential to our county’s resilience."