LOCAL people are working hard to save local services like Crediton Youth Centre and Crediton Hospital, to better Crediton by improving local amenities like the Town Square and Newcombes Meadow, and to explore new possibilities such as a local energy company.

But where is the money going to come from?

Local voluntary groups, and people with not-for-profit businesses, have a chance to get the latest information on funding opportunities, and how to run their groups in a more enterprising way, at a free event in the Boniface Centre on Tuesday, October 7.

Duncan Wood, chief officer of Involve, which supports voluntary and community groups throughout Mid Devon, said: "While old-fashioned fundraising and grant applications are as important as ever, other, more enterprising ways of running not-for-profit organisations are getting more attention, and this will be an important focus for the event."

The possibility of running local organisations not as charities, but as social enterprises, will be explored by keynote speaker Julie Hawker, the chief executive of one of Devon's most successful not-for-profit businesses, IT consultancy, Cosmic.

Crediton Community Bookshop is a social enterprise, and the day will be a chance to find out more about running groups in this way, as well as traditional grant funding.

The free morning event will run from 10am and ends with lunch and networking.

People wishing to attend are asked to email: [email protected]">[email protected] or call John Skrine on 07814 387090.

John Skrine offers free support and advice to local voluntary and community organisations on behalf of Involve.

He is also in Crediton Library in Belle Parade every Thursday from 12.30pm – 2pm.