Newton Abbot Town Council gives £16,000 boost to local charities

Community groups in Newton Abbot have been given a financial shot in the arm worth more than £16,000 by the Town Council

Grant applications and requests for financial support ranging from £1,000 to £5,500 were considered at a meeting of the authority’s Finance and Audit Committee on Wednesday October 29.

The smallest bid came from Newton Abbot Community Shed whose members need air-cleaning equipment to reduce harmful sawdust from their workshop.

Wellbeing in Action had applied for £4,600 to help launch a Women and Girls’ Health Club at its Good Karma Store in Queen Street while Newton Abbot Community Transport requested £5,000 to help with maintaining services such as Ring and Ride.

Teignbridge Citizens Advice had asked for £5,500, stating that demand for its services was at an all-time high as households struggled to cope with the cost of living crisis.

Lindie Whitfield, Chief Officer at Wellbeing in Action, told members that her charity had been forced to relocate after its base had been demolished.

They were now establishing new premises in redundant shops, with possible co-locations with existing businesses to share costs.

Among the services they offer are free baby and toddler equipment and a ‘boutique style space’ that doubles as a charity shop and women’s support centre.

Ms Whitfield told the meeting that her group had been largely self-financing and said: ‘It’s rare for us to go for grants.’

Mike Hocking, Chairman of Newton Abbot Community Transport Association, described ‘a difficult few years’ since the pandemic but that it had still managed, in the past year alone, to provide transport for more than 10,000 elderly, vulnerable or isolated people.

He added that his charity now operates three rural bus services that commercial operators had backed away from.

‘Without us many people would be trapped in their homes,’ he said.

Chair of Newton Abbot Community Shed, Peter Stevens, said his charity had been ‘keen to establish ourselves as self-sufficient for core costs’ and had not received any grants in the previous year.

Since opening in July 2023, it had grown from an informal association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with full-time occupancy of a workshop at Newton Abbot Library where more than 50 members meet.

The committee voted in favour of awarding all four bids worth a total of £16,100.

Chair Cllr Louise Cooke said: ‘Our community is blessed to have these wonderful, selfless groups looking after its interests.

‘We are acutely aware that it is public money we are offering but believe most people would approve of its use in this way.

‘Our thanks go to all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep Newton Abbot a healthy, happy and caring place.’