Devon’s nicest businesses and who they gave help to in 2021

It has been another challenging year for businesses, but despite the problems caused by Covid there were many firms and individuals who gave time, money, and heart to helping others. So, at Christmas, what better time to celebrate some of the selfless Devon businesses that were kind and generous in 2021?

Co-op Funeral Care, Barton Bouquets

Staff from Co-op Funeralcare homes across the Torquay Care Centre organised a wreath-making masterclass for friends and families of the funeral home teams. The event, hosted in partnership with florist Nina Weatherby from Barton Bouquets in Torquay, raised £122 for long-standing charity partner Mind.

The festive team-building event offered attendees the chance to create their own Christmas wreath, while contributing to the cause by paying an entry fee. Guests were able to follow professional guidance of florist Nina Weatherby, while enjoying mince pies and listening to Christmas music.

Taylor Wimpey Taylor Wimpey Exeter donated cash towards parkrun events at Cranbrook Country Park

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the community, construction firm Taylor Wimpey Exeter donated a further £750 towards parkrun events at Cranbrook Country Park.

The social running event was set up in 2019 by Matt Rowett, the founder of the Cranbrook Running Club and a resident at Taylor Wimpey’s Cranbrook development.

The initiative originally began as a 2km running event for children, but due to its popularity Matt launched a 5km parkrun for adults.

Since its inception nationally in 2004, parkrun has amassed over 250,000 runners each week and works to encourage regular exercise in inclusive environments around the country.

The adult and junior parkruns are held each weekend at Cranbrook Country Park and attract runners from across the region.

Taylor Wimpey Exeter also spent November helping to support celebrations across its region, with £930 donated to support the Exeter Hindu Cultural Centre’s Diwali celebrations, and £500 to support the Double Locks Pub’s fireworks display.

Exeter’s Diwali celebrations took place at St Matthew’s Hall in Topsham. Taylor Wimpey’s donation covered the cost of the hall hire, part of the catering and the DJ.

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South Devon holiday letting agency Coast & Country Cottages invited primary schoolchildren to design their company Christmas cards – and gave away more than £1,400 in prizes.

The competition, which saw hundreds of entries, was judged by a panel of artists from Brixham Art Society, including chairman Julia Lee, Lyn Anderson and Ernie Lee. The winning design from each school was printed as cards and sent to the agency’s holiday property owners, suppliers and contacts.

All 11 schools involved were awarded £100 of national book tokens to spend on expanding their libraries, whilst the children with winning designs received a voucher, in addition to Christmas cards of their own creation, to give to family and friends.

Linden Homes Wickwar community fireworks display was supported by Linden Homes

A fireworks display for the Wickwar community took place in November and helped raise funds for Holy Trinity Church, thanks to the support of Linden Homes, building locally at Saxon Gate.

Rev Canon David Russell, from Wickwar Parochial Church Council, said: “We had a

fantastic sell-out event at the weekend and it was wonderful to see so many members of the community enjoying the festivities. Unfortunately, we had to postpone last year’s celebration due to the restrictions so it was amazing to have a waiting list for tickets before they even went on sale.”

Network Rail, Barclays Bank and others Network Rail volunteers helped spruce up Barnstaple station

Passengers travelling to and from Barnstaple will now enjoy a cleaner and brighter looking station after volunteers from Network Rail helped smarten up the station and platform.

Volunteers joined with the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP) and the Tarka Rail Association to organise a clean-up of Barnstaple station ensuring passengers are welcomed with an attractive community garden and improved environment.

Colleagues from the three organisations were joined by volunteers from Barclays Bank and the Veterans Charity, with more than 20 people teaming up to give the station a welcome makeover.

Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Ecclesiastical Insurance Group

A charity based in Devon will receive a £10,000 windfall as part of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group’s annual Movement for Good awards.

Transition Network is one of 301 charities chosen by a panel of judges that will benefit from the money. The fund allowed the charity, which creates community-led change for a sustainable future, to kick-start its project Train the Trainers – an online course programme giving the charity’s trainers more skills to better engage with the community and support the climate crisis.

Each of the £10,000 awards are designed to help charities make a difference in their communities. Applications were assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.

Buckfast Abbey The newly refurbished Schiller Hall sits alongside the extended conference centre facilities at Devon’s Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey launched its largest festival to help children cope with the stresses of daily life. Starting in October, the Take 5 Festival – a virtual event created by the Abbey’s education department – built on the success of 2020’s inaugural, week-long event, which saw schools from as far as Cumbria, Yorkshire and Kent involved.

This year, the festival – set in the tranquil atmosphere of the Abbey’s grounds – was extended to two weeks.

Thomas Westcott Thomas Westcott’s charity golf day raised more than £7,000 to help people living with multiple sclerosis

A charity golf day raised more than £7,000 to help people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The annual event, organised by Thomas Westcott Chartered Accountants, saw nearly 100 people in 23 teams compete at Teignmouth Golf Course in aid of the South West MS Therapy Centre.

The charity, based in Clyst Heath, Exeter, offers a range of therapies for people with MS, a condition that affects the brain and nerves.

The fast-growing South West accountancy firm has been supporting the centre for 15 years through its golf day, which includes a charity auction. The total raised at this year’s event was the highest so far.

South West Water South West Water supported Exeter Athletic RFC

An U13’s rugby team can smarten up after matches thanks to new match dinner shirts from funding awarded by South West Water.

Exeter Athletic RFC is an amateur rugby club based in Clyst St Mary which formed in 2018 from the merger of Exeter-based clubs Wessex RFC and Exeter Youth RFC.

The funding came as part of South West Water’s Neighbourhood Fund to support community groups and initiatives which will improve the lives of residents in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset by inspiring physical activities, enhancing education, health and wellbeing and delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Tavistock businesses Various groups helped fund a Tovertafel for Tavistock Library

Various groups helped fund a Tovertafel for Tavistock Library, an interactive table providing fun activities for older people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia related illnesses.

The Tovertafel is described as an “innovative healthcare technology that enables care professionals to provide the best care to their clients in a user-friendly way”. As an interactive device, the Tovertafel projects games and activities which older people living with dementia can enjoy with carers or families.

Thanks to Tavistock Dementia Alliance, Home Instead Tavistock and Tamar Valley, Tavistock Memory Café, Tavistock Lions, Tavistock Town Council, Tesco’s Bags for Help and the National Lottery, older people throughout the area and their carers or families can enjoy the Tovertafel for free in the library.

Royal Resorts Royal Resorts’ Stowford Village in North Devon (Image: royaleresorts.co.uk)

The Devon based holiday provider gave a charity that provides respite to those with life-limiting conditions a much-needed boost.

Royale Resorts’ Stowford Village removed all service charges from one of its luxury homes, used by Barnstaple-based charity Everything Ellie – saving the owners £3,500 a year.

Since its launch in 2019, the six-person contained home has provided respite to parents and families with life-limiting conditions by offering free short stays all year round.

Bandvulc Ivybridge Youth for Christ’s Elis Norton with a donation from Bandvulc

When Devon tyre company Bandvulc, now owned by Continental Tyres, looked to mark its 50th anniversary it gave away a series of £250 grants to charities and community groups that shared the same Devon postcode: PL21.

Tony Mailling, operations director said: “We decided to give 20 good causes £250 each. We’ve had a great response from it, and it’s been really interesting to find out about the different charities and groups from our local.”

Charities and community groups which received the grants range from the Ivybridge Foodbank to crafting groups and a sustainability project which is building woodlands. Also benefiting was a mum-and-toddler group, two primary schools, the Rotary Club, sports clubs and the Ivybridge branch of the Royal British Legion.

The original plan was to hand out 20 grants, but two additional groups applied so in total 22 groups received a Bandvulc donation. Youth football organisation Manstow FC used the contribution to support development of club facilities in Ivybridge.

Here’s a full list of recipients: Ivybridge Foodbank, The Ivybridge Crafters, Makers Mews, Manstow Youth Football Club, Moorvision, YEM (Yealm to Moor), Ivybridge Rugby Club, Ivybridge and District Community Transport Association, Wavy Rainbow, Rotary Club of Ivybridge, Friends of Erme Primary School, Ivybridge Royal British Legion, Friends of Manor Primary, Sweeney Toddlers, Filham Bike and Skate Track, PL:21 Transition Town Initiative, So Social Ivybridge, Ivybridge Cricket Club, Ivybridge Youth for Christ, Emotional Logic Centre, Beacon Moor Music and Bridge Board Riders.

Devon Hampers Devon Hampers is partnering with Children’s Hospice South West

Devon Hampers, winner of Best Luxury Hampers Award in 2019, chose to support a children’s charity during a special anniversary year.

Lifton-based Devon Hampers is partnering with Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) and will donate 5% from the sale of its hampers, when purchased using a specific code, to the charity celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Devon Hampers specialise in selecting, packing and sending the best tasting products from the South West for people to enjoy across the country.

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