24 March 2025
Totnes Community groups can apply for a 2025 Totnes Town Council Community Grant from 24 March 2025. A total funding pot of £30,000 is available to support projects that make positive changes in the town. Submissions can be made via the council’s website at www.totnestowncouncil.gov.uk/your-community/community-grants/ and community organisations have until 5pm on 5 May 2025 to submit their application.
Cllr Emily Price, Mayor of Totnes, said: “We’re incredibly fortunate in Totnes to have dedicated community groups supporting a wide range of residents, including our most vulnerable. I’m proud that the Town Council can offer vital financial support to sustain this invaluable work that truly strengthens our community.”
To apply for a grant, community organisations need to complete the simple form on the council’s website, which asks for details on how the funds will be spent. Projects that help meet the objectives set out in the Town Council’s 2024-29 Strategy will be prioritised. The grants are funded by a portion of the Council Tax that is collected from Totnes residents. Councillors will allocate the available funding at the Full Council meeting on Monday 10 June 2024 and successful applicants will be informed after this date.
In 2024-5, Totnes Town Council allocated grants worth over £57,000 to a diverse range of community groups including, Totnes Skatepark, Bridgetown Alive, South Hams Citizens Advice, Totnes Caring, Caring Town, Totnes Carnival, and Totnes Rural Area Youth Engagement Project.
Cllr Price continued: “In recent years, we’ve faced overwhelming demand for funding, which unfortunately meant having to prioritize applications and not always being able to provide groups with their full requested amounts. To help address this and support community groups in their vital work, we’re actively sharing information about other potential funding sources. For example, each week, we update our website with the latest local and national grant opportunities—visit totnestowncouncil.gov.uk/your-community/funding-opportunities/ and check back regularly for new listings.
“South Hams District Council is also a valuable resource for funding. Through the Sustainable Communities Fund, each Ward Councillor has £2,000 available for community projects, with an additional £2,000 through the Climate Change and Biodiversity Fund. In Totnes, our three Ward Councillors—Cllr John Birch, Cllr Georgina Allen, and Cllr Anna Presswell—can help distribute these funds. Learn more and apply here: southhams.gov.uk/communities/community-grants-and-funding.”
Grants awarded by Totnes Town Council are public money, collected as part of the town precept (Council Tax) and the Council is accountable to local people for all expenditure. Therefore, very stringent criteria to each application.
Who can apply
• Not-for-profit, constituted organisations.
• Registered charities.
• Social enterprises, including CICs.
• Unincorporated clubs and associations.
• Schools, where the support is outside of statutory provision and is directed at addressing hardship faced by families with children at the school
All applicants must
• Be governed by an active management committee of at least 3 unrelated people, such as Trustees and Directors.
• Have a bank account in the name of the organisation with at least 2 unrelated signatories.
• Have a Governing document, such as a Constitution, set of rules, Memorandum and Articles of Association.
• Have up-to-date annual Accounts.
• Have Safeguarding and Equality Policies in place, which are up-to-date and comply with latest legislation
Totnes Town Council 2025 Community Grant timeline
24 March – Grant application process opens
5 May – Grant applications close.
19 May – Council Matters Committee considers grant applications and makes a recommendation to Full Council on allocations.
2 June – Full Council considers grant application recommendations.
3 June – Applicants informed.
2024 Totnes Town Council Grants
The following projects were awarded a Totnes Town Council Grant in June 2024:
- Bridgetown Alive – Sky Rise Festival 2024 – awarded £1,700 (50% of amount requested)
- Totnes Rural Area Youth Engagement Project – Totnes Youth Leisure Night and Bridgetown Youth Group – awarded £8,750 (100% of amount requested)
- Totnes Carnival – Totnes Carnival Summer/Winter programme – awarded £2,377.50 (75% of amount requested)
- SASHA – Running costs – awarded £1,143.48 (100% of amount requested)
- South Hams Community Action – Volunteer recruitment support for groups in Totnes – awarded £750 (25% of amount requested subject to further information)
- Totnes Caring – Community intergenerational projects – awarded £2,446.50 (75% of amount requested)
- St Mary’s Church – St Mary’s servery and community space – awarded £1,000 (50% of the amount requested
- SPACE Youth Services – Totnes Summer Programme – awarded £1,000 (100% of amount requested)
- Food in Community – Improving Food Security for Totnes residents – awarded £5,031 (75% of amount requested)
- Totnes Skate Park – Totnes Skate Park fundraising project – awarded £8,000 (100% of the amount requested)
- Leechwell Garden Association – Sustaining Leechwell Garden – awarded £2,000 (50% of amount requested)
- Fusion – Warm Spaces Bouncy Fun (Oct 24-Feb 25) – awarded £1,461 (75% of amount requested)
- Jamming Station – Family Chill Café – awarded £1,000 (35% of amount requested)
- Citizens Advice South Hams – Totnes outreach and partnership with Totnes Caring – awarded £4,413 (50% of amount requested)
- Bike Hub – Earn a Bike Project – awarded £1,475 (100% of amount requested – to be taken from Earmarked Reserves)
In January 2025, town councillors agreed further grants of
- £3,500 to support Citizens Advice South Hams to continue their vital outreach and support work in the town, helping residents to manage bills and other issues more effectively
- £1,500 for Caring Town Totnes, to be distributed to other community groups who are specifically helping support residents experiencing fuel poverty and food insecurity, such as the Food Bank
- £10,000 for Totnes Caring to support the continuation of their patient transport service for Totnes residents
Find out more and apply
If you’d like to find out more, please email: reception@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01803 862147. To apply for a grant and to find out more about the criteria, go to www.totnestowncouncil.gov.uk/your-community/community-grants/
– Ends
Note to Editors
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