Nine local community organisations are to receive funding grants as part of this year's Community Investment Fund awards.

The fund is part of the annual Adult Social Care Precept and aims to increase partnerships with the community and voluntary sector to improve the health and wellbeing of Torbay residents.

This year’s awards have been run in collaboration with Torbay Community Development Trust and Torbay Voluntary Sector Health and Wellbeing Network, who shortlisted the nine projects that were able to demonstrate support for one or more of the priorities set out in the Adult Social Care three-year plan:

• Support adults experiencing financial hardship or risk of homelessness
• Support our communities to maintain and promote good mental health
• Support digital access and inclusion
• Support strengths-based development in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and our neighbourhoods
• Support the local community by developing new, or expanding existing volunteering opportunities
• Support potential and actual victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Collaborative working and community partnership were also key requirements in the selection of this year’s award recipients, with a strong emphasis on continuing projects and initiatives that were put in place in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The nine local organisations to receive a share of this year’s community investment funding are:

• Devon Clinic CIC awarded £9,366 for its single-parents’ stress management programme
• Heart of Torbay awarded £15,000 for the Pure Heart mental health support/coaching and peer support programme   
• The Ladies’ Lounge awarded £15,000 for support services for vulnerable and abused women 
• Local Spark – Community Supported Enterprise awarded £14,800 to support Social Enterprise/Community Businesses providing or planning to provide support services for adults
• Paignton Memory Café awarded £4,975 for its support and activities for people with dementia 
• Sound Communities awarded £13,069 for its radio and music programme for at risk young adults
• Step One Charity awarded £5,000 for its BeWell@StepOne accredited on-line programme for adults with mental health issues
• Thrive awarded £10,000 to support its drop-in centre for those with mental health, homelessness, and substance misuse issues
• Turning Heads awarded £7,800 for activities and support services at the Windmill Centre, Torquay.

Cllr Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council said; “We would like to thank everyone for their time and effort spent in applying for an award. The nine organisations that have been chosen were selected based on the invaluable work they continue to deliver to residents across Torbay, providing a lifeline to those residents whom they reach out to and support.”

Cllr Darren Cowell, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Torbay Council, said; “Our community and voluntary sectors have gone above and beyond in their response to the Covid-19 emergency. Their commitment and creativity in responding so well in supporting our local people in very challenging circumstances has been invaluable. We hope this funding will enable these organisations to continue to deliver these much needed services.”

Simon Sherbersky, Strategic Director for Torbay Community Development Trust said; “It was very difficult to make the final choices as so many organisations in the Bay are doing fantastic work helping build communities and supporting the most vulnerable. The nine that were chosen are fully deserving of these awards and the funds will allow them to continue delivering services to those that need them the most.”

Some organisations that were not selected for this year’s CIF award will automatically be referred to the Community Grant Fund (CGF), which awards grants of up to £300 for smaller scale projects. Recipients of the CGF awards will be notified and announced in due course.