Statement issued on: 1st November 2021
Devon Voluntary Action (DeVA) and Torbay Community Development Trust have joined forces to create a unique online one-stop website for all residents and communities across Devon to make connections, share knowledge and resources and provide comprehensive what’s on listings.
DeVA partners from across Teignbridge, Torridge, South Hams, West, Mid and North Devon are joining forces to launch Devon Connect with local landing pages to ensure people can see up to date information from their areas as Torbay Together does for Torbay residents.
Speaking on behalf of DeVA, Karen Nolan from Involve Mid-Devon said: “Many of the communities we work with tell us they lack good access to up to date information about services and support in their local area."
“Not only that, they tell us time and again that they want to know about and be part of the conversations, opportunities, events and social groups in their neighbourhoods. This platform will help to address that, in particular for anyone living in rural or isolated environments”.
Darran Hill from TTVS says, “We listened to feedback, and this new and innovative platform presents a truly exciting opportunity to connect all our communities and help people become involved.
“Since the pandemic began, we have seen a huge groundswell of interest in volunteering and in community groups coming together to make a real difference and effect positive change."
“This platform builds on this resurgence, giving people the ability to reach out instantly, make connections with like-minded groups and individuals, get support to start their own campaigns and most importantly, get noticed."
“Sitting behind this online platform is a strong and established partnership of organisations who are absolutely committed to supporting their communities reach their potential and offers us at DeVA new and exciting opportunity to work with Torbay Development Trust to achieve this.”
“This new platform cements those partnerships, allowing us to continue helping others to succeed; we are all excited to be behind this and hope it will be a real catalyst for change”.
Together, we are aiming to build the biggest, free to use, online information platform in Devon.
Devon Connect will launch in November, and DeVA is looking for community organisations to help shape it. For more information, email support@devonva.org.
ENDS
Notes to editor
- DeVA is a partnership of organisations that together represent the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector across Devon.
- Torbay Development Trust is an organisation that represents the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector across the Torbay area.
- DeVA and Torbay Development Trust are committed to empowering and supporting communities to create real change in their own neighbourhoods. Develop opportunities within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector and create connections amongst organisations with a coordinated approach to Information, Advice and Advocacy.
- In alphabetical order, the seven community and voluntary Sector support organisations involved are: Involve Mid Devon, NDVS, South Hams CVS, Teignbridge CVS, Torbay CDT, TTVS and West Devon CVS.
- The ‘Torbay Together’ platform which currently “helps local residents to find and share activities, information and skills in Torbay” will migrate to this new platform in February 2022.
- The software being used to support this platform is the same software that supports Torbay Together and is provided by Made Open - a design and technology company based in the South West.