EDDC announces dedicated support for local community action groups

East Devon District Council is kicking off the new year by providing extra support to enable local community groups to deliver environmental projects across the East Devon area.

The council is partnering with Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon and funding a dedicated project coordinator to empower new and existing groups – many of which are led by teams of committed volunteers – to work towards a more sustainable future.

CAG Devon works at a grassroots level with residents across the county to improve sustainability and equip them with the tools, skills, and know-how to make a lasting impact. The groups’ activities have a particular focus on ‘green’ initiatives, including waste reduction, composting, sharing, re-use, repair, biodiversity, and energy saving.

In the last year alone, the CAG Devon network’s activities have:

• Prevented 111 tonnes of waste.
• Diverted 68 tonnes of waste from incineration.
• Avoided 361 tonnes of carbon emissions.
• Provided almost 25,000 volunteer hours, valued at over £380,000.
• Hosted 88 events across Devon, engaging with 44,732 attendees.

Fifty groups are currently supported by CAG Devon, including five in East Devon. Each group delivers a unique service, from surplus food cafes and community fridges to water refill stations and clothes swaps.

Sarah Kersey, the new project coordinator for East Devon, has been busy supporting the East Devon groups that are already up and running: the SAVE Food Hub, Seaton Repair Café, Transition Exmouth and Broadclyst Environment Group.

One of the groups that has benefited from membership is Sidmouth Repair Café, which last year prevented 1.35 tonnes of waste, avoided nearly three tonnes of carbon emissions and saved consumers over £9,000 by repairing electrical items like vacuum cleaners and radios and mending clothes, bags and teddy bears – all through volunteers’ time worth nearly £16,000. The café operates on the last Saturday of every month (except August and December) from St. Francis Church Hall in Sidmouth.

“As members of the CAG Devon network, we have felt supported and encouraged,” explains Angie Carney of Sidmouth Repair Café. “Each month, a member of our team uses the simple software provided by CAG Devon to enter statistics gathered at our latest event to calculate the amazing impact we have made. Our team has really become its own lively community, and we enjoy opportunities the network provides to share our story with others thinking of setting up a repair café in their own towns or villages."

Sarah and the wider CAG team are on hand to provide advice on organisational issues that might otherwise act as barriers to groups being able to get their ideas off the ground. Membership is free and open to groups with a democratic membership.

Sarah will work with East Devon groups to:

• Increase their impact on reducing waste and improving sustainability.
• Facilitate connections with other likeminded groups and support organisations.
• Help them access grants and funding.
• Expand community events and activities.
• Deliver training, implement basic governance, and sort insurance.

East Devon District Council is committed to achieving its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. The partnership with CAG Devon and the new project coordinator role reinforces the council’s support for local communities in building a greener future.

Councillor Marianne Rixson, Portfolio Holder Climate Action, East Devon District Council, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with CAG Devon by funding this new project coordinator role. East Devon is home to many passionate community groups working to make a difference, and by providing this additional support, we can help them expand their reach, develop new projects, and ultimately make our communities more sustainable. Tackling climate change is one of East Devon District Council’s biggest priorities, and community action will be critical in driving the long-term change we all aspire to achieving.”

Charlie Eddisford, Community Impact Lead, Resource Futures, added: “The power of communities is at the heart of our organisation, and it is inspiring to see this in action across Devon. We are delighted to expand and deepen our collaboration between CAG and East Devon District Council, supporting community-driven solutions to environmental challenges while promoting resilience and wellbeing. Together, we can unlock the potential of local groups to drive meaningful change and build a regenerative, circular future.”