Leading Torridge volunteering charity could fold without urgent help

Torridge councillors are to consider next month if they can financially support a much loved charity from going under.

Taw and Torridge Voluntary Services (TTVS) has been playing a leading role in voluntary projects across northern Devon for the last 30 years but could fold by June next year if it cannot find core funds for wages, insurance and rent.

At a meeting of Torridge District Council on Monday (November 3), Bideford councillor Huw Thomas received backing for his motion to look into how the authority could provide some of the funding shortfall of £40,000 to £45,000.

He said TTVS was very good at getting money for specific projects and had been behind the Young Carers scheme, social prescribing, working with the NHS and third sector and a financial inclusion project which maximises income for people over 65.

Over the last two years the Bideford-based charity had dealt with 550 referrals and had secured £1.74 million in unclaimed benefits for older people.

Cllr Thomas said it provided the ‘leadership to empower groups and individuals to bring about change’ and was instrumental in the local memory cafe and local work clubs.

He said: “TTVS does really good work, but it can’t get money for its core costs and has been hit by the rise in the minimum wage and national insurance. It is struggling to find money for wages, insurance and rent.”

He added that money it had secured from sources such as the National Lottery and Children In Need did not cover these things.

“Without the core funding of up to £45,000 it will begin to wind down and could cease operating by June 2026,” he said.

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Cllr David Brenton for Bideford South said TTVS used to get annual funding from the council and he would like to see this happen again so it could plan ahead rather than depending on ‘grain falling out the sky’.

A report will be put before the next full council meeting setting out options for how the council could provide the required financial support for TTVS for the immediate term and going forward beyond 2026.