SUPPORT and funding advice is now available for voluntary and community organisations in Crediton and the surrounding district. Made possible by a successful bid to the BIG Lottery Funds Awards for All scheme by Tiverton-based organisation, Involve, the work will be carried out mainly by Crediton resident, John Skrine. Involve helps voluntary and community groups throughout Mid Devon to survive and thrive, explained chief officer, Duncan Wood, and we are delighted that John will be offering help to people, for a year at least, face-to-face in the Crediton area. John will be working 16 hours a week providing open sessions in Crediton Library, Belle Parade, every Thursday from 12.30pm to 2pm and one-to-one consultations in response to calls to 07814 387090. Crediton is a vibrant town with many established groups and charities and more than its share of innovative organisations tackling new issues and common needs facing our communities in a new way, continued Duncan. As a town it is quick to respond to new needs and is creative and committed to celebrating what is great about the town, its history and achievements. This charitable and artistic activity takes planning, resourcing and management. All of this is unique to each group or cause, can be difficult and often diverts energy from what the group is trying to achieve. Funding, setting up, registering, ensuring safety, recruiting and retaining volunteers are part of a long list of issues that all have their challenges. Involve has extensive experience with its partners in providing solutions and access to a wide range of professionals, with the newest member John Skrine being dedicated to support groups and organisations in Crediton and the surrounding area. John, who is an active volunteer as Chair of the core group of Sustainable Crediton, Secretary of the Community Bookshop and lead volunteer for Plough and Share Credit Union in Crediton, has worked in the voluntary sector for more than 20 years. He came to Devon to work for the National Lottery Charities Board (now BIG Lottery Fund) in 1996. Ill be giving one-to-one advice and sign-posting on all aspects of developing and running voluntary projects, said John. I will advise on grant applications, of course, but theres much more to getting funded than filling in a form. Recent research by County body Devon Voluntary Action shows that Devon people do more than most for their fellow citizens, its 3,768 registered charities being more than twice the national County average. The majority of these are very small organisations, nearly 30 per cent of them below the new 5,000 annual income threshold for registering as a charity. This total does not, of course, include the huge number of voluntary groups - estimated to be 6,000 - that are not registered with the Charity Commission. County Councillor Nick Way (Crediton Rural) said: I know from my work in the area just how much voluntary activity is going on and how much more is needed with all the changes that are going on at County level particularly. So this initiative from Involve is very timely, in my view. For free advice, those seeking help can also email: [email protected]">[email protected] . Involve has been supporting Mid Devon groups for nearly 30 years. Its development teams comprise of experienced, accredited advisors. Involve can draw resources from across Devon to provide a huge range of support, free of charge, to groups in and around Crediton. It would draw these specialists from its network Devon Voluntary Action. Visit the website: http://www.DevonVA.org">www.DevonVA.org . This project is provided through funding from Crediton Town Council and the Big Lottery small grants provider, Awards for All.