Charities

Exeter Community Groups Saved from "Friendship Tax" by New UK Charity Initiative

Local community groups in Exeter and the local area, are being thrown a lifeline as a new British non-profit, GatherUK, launches to combat the rising "cost of connection" imposed by global tech giants. As major international event platforms hike their annual organiser fees to nearly £300 per year, many local hobby groups, walking clubs, and support circles are facing the threat of closure. In response, local organiser Steve Podbury has founded GatherUK.org —a "digital town square" designed to keep local communities alive without the corporate price tag. "We are seeing a 'Silicon Valley...

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Steven Chown, Chief Executive Exeter Community Initiatives

Exeter charity seeks new Chief Executive

Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI) is looking to appoint a new Chief Executive.

The successful candidate will succeed current Chief Executive, Steven Chown, who is stepping down this coming winter after nearly six years.

The charity, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, helps people facing poverty, inequality and homelessness to get their lives back on track by involving them in community projects to improve their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, increase their sense of belonging and provide skills to help them succeed in life.

Projects include...

Berry Recruitment Group raises £2,500 for MIND

Staff from Berry Recruitment Group (BRG) raised almost £2,500 for the mental health charity MIND – by travelling 421 miles.

The mileage is the distance between the group’s Cornwall and Darlington branches and staff were encouraged to cover that distance in any way they liked.

They walked, ran and cycled and the group – headquartered in St Albans, Herts, with branches in Truro and Exeter - donated a pound for every mile covered.

In the end a distance of 2,431 miles was achieved – almost six times as far as the target; meaning £2,431 was raised during Mental...

Exeter children’s charity shop celebrates grand reopening

Jelly, a charity shop in Exeter selling low cost, preloved children’s clothes, toys and books, has celebrated its grand reopening after refurbishment.

Part of local charity, Exeter Community Initiatives, the Jelly shop was officially opened by Jelly Bear. The fun packed day included a set from Exeter-based singer, Hannah Ruby, goodie bags for the first 50 customers, face painting, cakes and a giant raffle! Prizes included craft kits, panto tickets, cinema tickets, a voucher for an Exeter City FC child’s full strip, a meal for two, books, tickets to Exeter’s Underground Passages...

Two volunteers stand by a fundraising stall with Guide Dogs merchandise in the background. They are

Guide Dogs searching for volunteer help in Exeter

The local branch of sight loss charity Guide Dogs is urgently appealing for a volunteer assistant treasurer to join the Exeter fundraising group. This role is vital for the group to continue, as it involves banking money raised from collections to help raise much-needed funds.

No specific expertise is required, and full training is given. This role will work alongside the current long-serving volunteer who is stepping down very soon.

Guide Dogs relies on donations to keep its vital services running, and activity is just picking up again after the impact of the pandemic...

Rachel and Mark Stewart with Miss Daisy the converted London taxi

Rachel is driving Miss Daisy for charity

A Devon woman with incurable cancer is taking part in a rally across Europe in a converted London taxi called Daisy to raise money for charity.

Rachel Stewart and husband Mark will drive their distinctive white cab in the Motoscape Road Trip to Prague, going through 12 countries in seven days.

They’re doing it in aid of Exeter-based FORCE Cancer Charity and national organisation Make 2nds Count.

The rally is for “bangers” worth £500 or less or classic vehicles that are 20 years old or more.

It starts on Saturday September 3 from St Omer in France and...

Ukraine charity concert will collect vital funds to protect the country’s rich cultural heritage

A charity concert with a message of peace will raise vital funds to protect Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage.

Teacher and international star of stage and screen Nataliia Polovynka has been preserving the country’s songs, rituals, and other performative material for decades. In 2010 she founded the Word and Voice Theatre Centre, which is now a shelter for displaced Ukrainians and victims of war, collecting funds to purchase and supply war reporters, hospitals and the army with essential equipment, and organizing regular cultural and relief events for the many new residents of Lviv...

Michelmores team at powderham castle after completing the relay

Michelmores relay delivers trophy to Powderham Castle for September's 5k Charity Run

A team from Michelmores has taken part in a relay to celebrate the return of their 5k Charity Run, taking place on Thursday 8 September 2022.

The annual charity run took a short hiatus during the pandemic but returns for 2022, at a new venue. In its first 20 years, the Michelmores 5k Charity Run took place in the centre of Exeter, starting at the Cathedral Green and running around the city. This year, participants will be running through the glorious parkland of Powderham Castle in Kenton.

Managing Partner, Tim Richards said: 'We're very pleased to bring back the...

Volunteers Making a Difference to Bereaved Youngsters in Exeter

Balloons, a charity based in Exeter that provides bereavement support to young people were delighted to be awarded a grant of £1,950 from the Morrisons Foundation.

Thanks to the donation, the charity will be able to train a new group of volunteer Grief Support Workers.

Nicola Clarke, CEO of Balloons said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from Morrisons Foundation. The funding will enable us to train more volunteers, to support bereaved children and young people.”

Through the pandemic the charity saw a decline in the number of volunteers in their team,...

Generous Devon shoppers thanked for food donations

Tesco shoppers in Devon have been given a big thank-you after providing nearly 30,000 meals to support local food banks and frontline charities.

The 29,966 collected across the county between June 30 and July 2 was part of a total of 1.3 million meals donated by generous Tesco shoppers across the UK in large stores, with an additional 20 percent top-up added by Tesco.

The items of long-life food donated during the Tesco Food Collection have been shared with food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network, as well as frontline charities supplied with food by FareShare, to help...

Volunteers needed for Return Journey of the Chatty Bus

A Devon health and wellbeing charity is seeking ‘chatty’ volunteers to come on board once a week to provide friendly conversation, information and support to local people on the number 57 bus between Exmouth and Exeter. The Chatty Bus, organised by Westbank Community Health and Care, relaunched on Thursday, 28th July as part of an initiative to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Westbank’s Chatty Bus route initially began in November 2019 but was put on hold because of Covid restrictions. The route is being relaunched with new funding from Devon County Council’s Connecting...

Charities

Exeter Community Groups Saved from "Friendship Tax" by New UK Charity Initiative

Exeter charity seeks new Chief Executive

Berry Recruitment Group raises £2,500 for MIND

Exeter children’s charity shop celebrates grand reopening

Guide Dogs searching for volunteer help in Exeter

Rachel is driving Miss Daisy for charity

Ukraine charity concert will collect vital funds to protect the country’s rich cultural heritage

Michelmores relay delivers trophy to Powderham Castle for September's 5k Charity Run

Volunteers Making a Difference to Bereaved Youngsters in Exeter

Generous Devon shoppers thanked for food donations

Volunteers needed for Return Journey of the Chatty Bus

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