Devon councillor grants see almost £400,000 awarded to communities and groups

The past year has seen more than £390,000 donated to community-based projects, clubs and initiatives by Devon county councillors.

Each of Devon’s 60 county councillors gets £8,000 to spend in their communities on local needs, known as the Locality Budget.

The recent financial year saw sports clubs, community arts and cultural projects, festivals, children’s play areas, support groups and community transport are among the 474 groups to receive funding.

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Since April 2025, almost £22,000 has been allocated across 27 grassroots sports activities across Devon.

These include training facilities for Shamwickshire Rovers Youth FC in Bideford, Bideford rugby club Under 12s and new flooring for a North Devon gymnastics club.

Further afield, recipients included Stoke Fleming Cricket Club, an instructor for children’s canoe sessions in Kingsbridge, solar panels in Ottery bowling club and a portable defibrillator at an over 50s football club in Exminster.

Activities for children at South Molton Carnival and equipment for the Plough Arts Centre in Torrington have also been supported, plus there were new flags for Exmouth’s war memorial and stage drapes for a panto in Ivybridge.

Above: The South West Blood Bikes charity has also benefitted from funding via the Devon county councillor grant scheme. Credit: Trevor Brayley

At least £35,000 has been shared by children’s groups, nurseries and schools. The funding has helped buy community play equipment, outings for young diabetics in Exeter, online safety courses for children at 30 primary schools and new gardening equipment, horticulture lessons and support for activities delivered by scouting groups.

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Organisations offering support such as food banks, mental health and wellbeing advice groups have received more than £40,000.

The Devon and Dorset Association Exeter Branch, mother and baby groups, support groups for chronic pain, art therapy for cancer survivors, support for SEND children and South West Blood Bikes in each district are some of the other applicants that have benefitted.

Funding is nominated by each ward local councillor to benefit local communities and support Devon County Council’s objectives and priorities. These include improving health and wellbeing, helping communities to be safe, supporting young people, supporting the economy, tackling inequality or responding to the climate crises.