24 Jul Torbay Communities begins marking its tenth anniversary

Wow, where did those ten years go?

Back in April 2012, voluntary organisations and charities from across the Bay met up because their sector was being hit from every side – dwindling finances and a cost of living crisis, (or austerity as it was better known then).

The sector was creaking, and all involved knew that they had to work together for the common good. Thus, though they did not know it at the time, they coined a version of the phrase that still rings out in Brixham, Paignton, and Torquay—stronger together!

The themes they chose to tackle were all remarkably prescient and are echoed down the years remaining as relevant today (if not more so) as they ever have.

The plan, aptly titled’ Force for Change’, was agreed upon at that 2012 meeting in Parkfield in Paignton to form the Torbay Community Development Trust, which was to act in the interests of all charity and voluntary organisations in the Bay.

The event was organised by CVA Torbay, the Torbay Community Partnerships, and the Torbay Council and was attended by more than 100 voluntary groups. They discussed ways to respond to and manage funding cuts.

The existing VCS infrastructure organisation, known as CVA (Community and Voluntary Action) Torbay, ceased trading, and in the same month, it was agreed that community development activities would transfer out of the council, which is presumably why some still think we are the council. We are not; we are independent.

Launched, July 18th 2014

It took more than a year, but in July 2014, TCDT (or Torbay Communities as it is now known) was rolled out of a building in Temperance Street, Torquay with a handful of staff and a lot of enthusiasm.

Our overall aim was, and still is, to create stronger and more resilient communities across the Bay. We actively encourage local involvement and decision-making in improving the region and develop and support volunteering opportunities of the highest standards.

Our trustees were tasked with looking after 12 specialist areas that echo down the age: neighbourhood action, health and social care, culture and arts, environment and sustainability, support to children, young people and families, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Other specialisms included economy and business, support to older people, faith and belief, skills and employment, support for people with disabilities and sports and leisure. An expansive range of aspirations.

We hit the ground running. In that first year, we represented 732 groups and organisations from across the Bay. we undertook 90 funding searches for groups and wrote 48 funding applications which successfully raised £459,000 of grants for groups. We also held 168 meetings with volunteers.

That was also the year that we sealed the deal with the Big Lottery to bring the six-year (it actually turned into seven years because of COVID) six-million-pound Ageing Well project to Torbay – one of just 14 such schemes launched around the country.

The die was cast, and our direction was determined. It was to be all about community and initially all about vulnerable, lonely, and potentially isolated older people.

Asset-Based Community Development (or ABCD for short) was introduced to the Bay, a method that remains at the heart of all we do, initially through Community Builders employed in town centre neighbourhoods in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham (a far cry from our saturation coverage of all wards in the Bay that we enjoy today, but a good start).

Brixham, Paignton town centre and Chelston were chosen initially, and we worked with an impressive 746 residents during the year, who contributed 4,000 hours of support to their communities.

We also brought Timebanking to the Bay and exchanges between groups, organisations and local businesses began initially in Brixham, Paignton, Chelston and Watcombe and Hele and Barton. By the end of that first year, the chair of the trustees, Helen Harman (now chief officer for Age UK Torbay) noted in her annual report: ‘We have employed 12 people to deliver Ageing Well but also to grow our core services including, volunteering, supporting the local voluntary and community sector, seeking funding and encouraging collaboration between agencies. This will include supporting Community Partnerships and additionally, TRIP (Torbay Recovery Information Project) and EVE (Ethical Volunteering and Employment) both projects focusing on supporting and encouraging people in recovery from substance misuse.“

It was a great start, not without its challenges, but a platform to build on.