AGE Concern Crediton and District, which supports the older people of Crediton and surrounding areas has been awarded £44,000 from one of the UK’s largest charitable funders, The Garfield Weston Foundation, to enable it to purchase a minibus.

The Garfield Weston Foundation says small community charities are rising to the challenge of facing unprecedented demand for their services by being proactive and innovative.

The Foundation has more then doubled its £5 million capital fund to more than £11 million so it can support more than 150 charities and community organisations across the UK.

The Weston Anniversary Fund was launched last year to provide funding to charities to improve their existing facilities or provide new ones as part of the Foundation’s 60th year.

The Trustees took the decision to more than double the fund after receiving more than 2,300 applications, with more than 60 per cent from charities that have never applied to them before.

Bev Whaley, Chief Executive of Age Concern Crediton said: "The charity promotes a positive attitude towards ageing and encourages older people to live their lives with dignity and independence in their own homes for as long as possible.

"We are a small independent and local charity based in Deep Lane that provides activities, which stimulate mental, social and physical welfare for guests.

"The centre also provides guests with transport and hot meals.

"The problem which we are faced with is that of a diminishing supply of voluntary drivers and vehicles to pick up our guests from their homes.

"A logical solution to the problem would be to have a minibus with wheelchair access of our own which we could also use as a community resource.

"Thanks to the Weston Anniversary Fund grant we have been able to purchase our own minibus which arrives in March.

"All we require now is a driver/s (this can be a job share) for approximately 20 hours per week.

If you can spare two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon each week-day, please contact Bev Whaley on telephone 01363 775008 or email: [email protected] .

Age Concern Crediton chairman of trustees, John Musty, confirmed that the application was made to The Garfield Weston Foundation to buy the minibus after reading about the charity in the “Crediton Courier”.

A client, who is supported by the charity said: "The services which Age Concern Crediton provide are very important to people like myself.

"It makes a big impact on our quality of life, reduces the feeling of loneliness and social isolation.

"It is important to our well-being to be occupied and to meet new people."

The Garfield Weston Foundation’s Director, Philippa Charles, explained: “What really impressed our Trustees is the amount of volunteering and community involvement that’s going on across the UK.

"We heard about so many amazing projects involving local people who are helping their communities thrive - regardless of cuts, Brexit debates and other challenges.

"The response from charities to this new fund clearly demonstrates the voluntary sector is proactive and energetic; far from the complacency it is sometimes accused of.

"Yet we can also see the level of need that exists in our local communities and how much the services charities provide are so desperately needed.

"The impact of these grants will be significant, with benefits for many people lasting years.”

From community centres providing services for isolated older people to organisations tackling youth and gang crime, the funding from the Weston Anniversary Fund will help charities from across the UK provide more and better services in their communities.

A recent survey by the Foundation found that two-thirds (66 per cent) of small charities expect their income to stay the same or decline this year, yet more than half (55 per cent) expect to be delivering more services.