During an event celebrating the work of local voluntary organisations, East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Leader committed to champion anti-poverty work in discussions about the future of local government in Devon.
Hosted by Councillor Paul Arnott, EDDC’s Leader, Councillor Dan Ledger, the Poverty Panel Chair, and facilitated by Devon Communities Together, the event took place at EDDC’s Blackdown House headquarters in Honiton.
Councillor Paul Arnott, EDDC’s Leader, said:
“This event celebrated the brilliant achievements of local voluntary organisations, as well as highlighting the challenges and pressures that they are up against. Working in close collaboration with voluntary groups is key for the council to help support residents who are facing financial hardship.
As the discussions and debates about the future of local government in Devon progress, I will ensure that anti-poverty work is central. In the years ahead, the council aims to continue strengthening its partnerships with voluntary groups and we will keep them updated about how changes to local government will affect them.”
Inspirational guest speakers who shared their experiences at the event included:
- Matt Evans, a member of the Torbay, Plymouth & Devon Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Assembly, and Chief Executive of Active Devon
- Sue Owen-Evans from Exmouth Foodbank
- Matt Smith from Waffle, Axminster
- Lisa Pike from Open Door Exmouth
Answering questions from the audience, a guest panel included:
- Tara Bowers from Exeter Community Energy
- Dean Stewart from Citizens Advice East Devon
- Eleanor Browne from Devon Communities Together
- Ellie Barnes, East Devon’s VCSE Network Coordinator
The council has identified some next steps to better address some of the pressures facing both voluntary organisations, and the residents that they support. EDDC plans to strengthen collaboration with voluntary organisations, as well as partners such as Devon County Council, and the NHS.
The council’s new Anti-Poverty Strategy is currently in development, following consultation in Autumn 2024, and from feedback from voluntary organisations. As part of this, the council is inviting voluntary groups to apply to join a working group to co-design a new grant funding scheme, so that it effectively meets the needs of the local community. £191,000 of funding has been allocated for grants for the next two financial years, through a combination of the Community Buildings Grant, all Community Grants, and the Action on Poverty Grands funds.
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