One Year Anniversary for Torbay Grassroots Challenge

Date added: Tuesday 11th May 2010
Latest updated: Wednesday 11th April 2012

Members of the local business community and local voluntary groups will join together with Devon Community Foundation on 11th May at Torbay Yacht Club to celebrate the first anniversary of the charity's Torbay Grassroots Challenge.

The evening will be introduced by James Cross, managing partner of Kitsons Solicitors and Chairman of Torquay Chamber of Commerce who will congratulate the charity on its success in making £343,000 in grants to 65 voluntary and community groups helping local people in need over the past year and in raising £78,000 for these groups. This has now been doubled by the charity's Grassroots match funding initiative, creating an extra £156,000 in future funding for local volunteers.

Groups who have received a grant from Devon Community Foundation will speak at the event, including Torbay's ADHD Support Group and Torbay's Street Pastors which have both received a Torbay Grassroots Grant. Other groups speaking will include STEPS, which provides employment and training for adults with learning disabilities and Torbay Homestart, which supports families struggling with children aged under five. Both these groups received grants from the £166,000 Torbay Targeted Support Fund, designed to help local people deal with problems caused by the credit crunch, like family breakdown, unemployment, mental health issues and debt.

A further £71,000 is available in match funding for Torbay's voluntary groups if local businesses and people can help to raise a further £71,000 by March 2011.

James Cross, Chairman of Torquay Chamber of Commerce comments, "Supporting Devon Community Foundation through the Torbay Grassroots Challenge is a fantastic way for local businesses to give something back to the local community and make sure that money gets to the local causes and people that really need help. In these difficult economic times, the chance to turn £100 into £200 is something that shouldn't be missed out on. If the remaining £71,000 is not raised, the money will be lost to Torbay and go elsewhere in the country."

Kathy Beechen, Deputy Chief Executive of Devon Community Foundation, "The work Torbay's volunteers do in helping to identify and tackle local issues and areas where local people need support and help is fantastic and as a local charity, we're delighted to support them in their work. We hope the evening will show the real impact a small grant can have in helping vulnerable local people and inspire people to give locally by supporting the Foundation's Torbay Grassroots Challenge. Together, we can build stronger and better communities together."

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Press enquiries to Sarah Gunn on 01752 509581

EDITORS NOTES

Devon Community Foundation: Devon Community Foundation is Devon's local charity for local people, supporting hundreds of voluntary and community groups every year. In the last 7 years it has awarded £7 million in grants to groups in Devon and over the last two years, its endowment fund has grown ten fold, ensuring grant making can continue both now and for the future. It can currently match the value of all donations through its Grassroots Challenge.

Torbay Street Pastors: The street pastors are a group of volunteers providing on the ground ‘listening' support to those in Torbay struggling with problems like drug and alchohol, loneliness, family breakdown, teenage pregnancy etc. They are on the streets every Friday and Saturday night in Torbay's harbour area. A grant of £3,500 from Devon Community Foundation's Torbay Grassroots Grants has helped them to buy more equipment and train more volunteers so they can extend their service.

STEPS: Provides work experience and training for adults with learning difficulties and others. Work includes adapting toys to make them usable for children with disabilities.

Torbay Homestart Provides support for families with children under five who are struggling with issues like debt, family breakdown, mental health problems. Volunteers go into family's home to offer them one on one support. Grant of £10, 126 from Devon Community Foundation to train more volunteers, increasing team from 12 to 43.

ADHD Support Group: Support group for parents and children/young people with ADHD. In Torbay Received a grant of £2,000 from Devon Community Foundation

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