GRASSROOTS sport, community arts and cultural projects, festivals, children’s play areas, support groups and community transport are among the beneficiaries of more than £390,000 county council funding awarded over the last year.

In total 474 local groups have received funding from Devon County Council’s (DCC) Locality Budget, enabling predominately volunteer-run clubs, groups and projects to repair community assets, purchase key essentials, provide services and host community events to help improve the lives of local people in every corner of Devon.

Over the course of last year each of DCC’s 60 councillors had £8,000 a year to help them respond to local needs - they use their local knowledge to ensure their share is used where it will be of the most benefit.

Since April almost £22,000 has been allocated across 27 grassroots sports activities across Devon.

These include training facilities at Shamwickshire Rovers Youth FC, Stoke Fleming Cricket Club and Bideford rugby club Under 12’s, an instructor for children’s canoe sessions in Kingsbridge, solar panels in Ottery bowling club, a portable defibrillator at an over 50s football club in Exminster and new flooring for a North Devon gymnastics club.

More than £20,000 has been awarded to projects and activities related to Devon’s heritage and environment.

Arts and cultural events such as the Windrush Caribbean Cricket Festival, Crediton based Folklore Library and Archive and woodland seating in Mid Devon and heritage craft skills sessions in Exeter are among the projects to receive funding.

Activities for children at South Molton Carnival and equipment for the Plough Arts Centre Bideford have also been supported, plus many others.

In each case funding has been nominated by local councillors to benefit local communities and support Devon County Council’s objectives and priorities through improving health and wellbeing, helping communities to be safe, supporting young people, supporting the economy, tackling inequality or responding to the climate crises.