Put #DevonFirst to help rebuild county
If you love Devon, show your support by getting involved with a new charity-led campaign for the county, writes Lucy Johnson
A CAMPAIGN encouraging people who live in Devon to put their county first as it begins its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.
As Devon’s dramatic coastline, copious woodlands, rugged granite tors, seaside resorts and salty fishing towns navigate their slow and cautious route out of weeks of lockdown, the charity LOVE Devon is urging the county’s communities to put #DevonFirst.
Originally launched in 2017, LOVE Devon is the trading and fundraising arm of Devon Communities Together, which works with a very broad range of people, from rural and coastal communities through to more urban centres.
The charity supports them to tackle a wide range of challenges that may be facing their communities, in areas including affordable housing, entrepreneurship, rural isolation and loneliness, sport and play, community buildings, health and mental wellbeing, and responding to climate change.
Nora Corkery, acting chief executive of Devon Communities Together, said: “Funds are stretched and resources are set to get tighter as the recession deepens. Yet the need for support has never been greater. Those who donate to LOVE Devon will be helping our team of community project workers to make a real difference to people living in the county.”
The projects include supporting older and vulnerable people who are struggling more than ever before with loneliness and isolation, or who perhaps worried about physically reintegrating into their local communities, as lockdown restrictions are gradually lifted.
The charity will also be working with a number of village halls across Devon as they reopen their doors and try and adjust to new ways of operating to remain at the heart of their communities; working with young people facing challenges around unemployment and new ways of working; and supporting communities to develop and adapt their community emergency plans and increase their resilience.
Ms Corkery added: “With the support from those who live in Devon, we can do all this and more and help rebuild Devon.”
In order to get involved, the charity is asking people to set up a regular donation, for which they will receive a welcome pack including a reusable shopping bag.
Donations can be set up online at the website www.devoncommunities.org.uk/ donate. LOVE Devon is also encouraging people to use the hashtags #DevonFirst and #RebuildDevon where possible.
Shortly after the entire country was placed into lockdown on March 23, Devon
Communities Together responded by launching a coronavirus helpline to provide vital support for Devon’s precious network of parish and town councils, village halls and community buildings.
It came as the charity had received many enquiries, ranging from help with leading a community response to village hall closure and employment advice.
A joint statement published at the time by the Devon County Council, the Devon Association of Local Councils (DALC) and all of Devon’s district, city, borough, town and parish councils, said: “Now more than ever, your role is vital in helping people through this coronavirus pandemic and DALC, Devon Communities Together, Devon County Council, along with all the district, city and borough councils in Devon will be with you every step of the way.
“We are committed to working together to give you the support you need to ensure that Devon’s communities get through this [Covid-19] outbreak. We have pledged to doing everything in our power to help you directly and to support our communities to find ways to respond quickly and positively for everyone’s benefit.
“We are in this together, we will get through this together.”