The focus of the project is currently on the subways at Penn Inn roundabout where the themes of water, air, earth and fire are being used as a focus for the art installations in the four subways. The tunnels have been repainted and have been resprayed by graffiti artists. Large photo panels and ceramics reflecting each of the themes have been installed in the tunnels. The water tunnel includes a number of information panels reminding visitors of the connection that Penn Inn has with water – prior to the construction of the roundabout, the site was a very popular community paddling pool. One of the subways is intended to offer interaction and playfulness. The Air tunnel has many thought-provoking questions to ponder on your day’s journey, a selfie opportunity to become a bird, a treasure hunt to find iron age bronze animals as well as some fun, fairground mirrors.

In addition to the work at Penn Inn, the subway by the River Lemon at Asda has been resprayed and further works will be taking place on this subway in the coming months.

The Project is funded by Arts Council England and Teignbridge District Council.

Newton Abbot Community Interest Company would like to acknowledge the contribution of Newton Abbot Town Council in delivering the Project, their help in installing the artworks has been invaluable.
Emily Farrell from Newton Abbot CIC commenting that “it’s been really exciting to see the transformation of the subways through our ‘tunnels of love’ project. We hope that everyone will enjoy the beautiful art installations, as well as feeling more safe and secure when walking through the subways. We’d like to thank everyone who has made the project possible”.

Kate Green artist commented that ” What we have created in these four subways is unique. We usually expect murals in these spaces and what the Tunnels of Love project has done is to also use photography and pottery workshops to not only create unusual artworks, but to involve local people in the creation of the public art around them. The local community will see artworks made by someone they know, rather than by anonymous artists. The subway artwork is made by them and belongs to them “.

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• Over 60 local projects have been awarded ‘Spaces and Places’ grants between £5k and
£25k to bring communities together and help tackle isolation
• The Courtenay Centre based in Newton Abbot receives a grant of £22,650 with the
support of Asda Newton Abbot
• Investment comes after research shows ‘cost of living’ crisis impacting on time spent
together in communities.
• Research shows families struggling with rising costs are scaling back plans and spending
less time within their communities

Asda’s charity, Asda Foundation, announced £750k of investment in 60 local community groups
and charities across the UK, with the aim of transforming community spaces and places to meet
after customers said the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their social and community
interaction.
Over 60 ‘Spaces and Places’ grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000, have been awarded by the
Asda Foundation to help community groups improve their community spaces and to help bring
communities together and combat isolation.
One of the 60 project to be a beneficiary is The Courtenay Centre who has secured a £22,650
worth of funding from Asda Foundation with the support of Asda Newton Abbot to pay for
significant improvements to the Courtenay Centre in Newton Abbot. Planned works include
repairing the leaking roof, upgrades to digital equipment, improvements to accessibility and
redecorating works.
Asda’s Spaces & Places programme is informed by work undertaken by the University of
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. The supermarket has funded a Prince of
Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship looking at the impact of supermarkets on challenges
faced by communities. Early outputs from the research indicates the cost of meeting spaces is a
key barrier to communities coming together, and that ‘trusted, neutral and accessible’ space for
local groups to meet and interact has a positive impact on communities.
Further research from Asda shows that 1 in 4 people feel that the cost of living has impacted
connections to their local community and is already limiting social their social and leisure
activities. The research shows that families are scaling back their plans to reduce costs and are,
spending more time at home with families and spending less time within their communities.
Alexandra Preston, Senior Manager Asda Foundation, says: “We know our communities are
having a tough time right now with the rising cost of living, which is further increasing
inequalities and the isolation experienced during the pandemic. Small grass roots organisations
play a vital role in making positive change and improving people’s lives every day. They
understand the needs in their community and are constantly adapting to meet those needs.
“Community groups and our wider research is clearly telling us that having safe, inclusive spaces
to meet, learn, celebrate and come together builds connection and resilience in their
community. The challenge for many of these groups is having the affordable space to bring
people together to deliver this fantastic work – that’s why we’re investing £750k in breathing
new life into community spaces across the UK and here in Newton Abbot at The Courtenay
Centre”
Jane Entwistle, Community Champion Asda Newton Abbot, says: “We have been working
together with The Courtenay Centre to put forward an application to the Asda Foundation to
help secure funding to repair their leaking roof along with other significant improvements
including accessibility and digital equipment. I was so ecstatic to receive the news that we’d
been successful and I’ve now been to surprise Newton Abbot Centre Association with a cheque
for £22,650 from Asda Foundation. The Courtenay Centre is an amazing local project and I’m so
proud to have been part of it.”
John Addy, Treasurer of the Newton Abbot Centre Association commented that “the grant
from the Asda Foundation is fantastic news for anyone already using the Courtenay Centre, or
anyone looking for room hire for a group in central Newton Abbot. We’d like to take this
opportunity to thank the Asda Foundation for supporting the community of Newton Abbot.
The Centre Association is a Registered Charity and as such we rely on grants and donations to
make improvements. With the increasing cost of living, it is becoming increasingly challenging
to run a community centre. This grant will allow us to make some much-needed improvements
to the facilities at the Centre. The Association is very grateful to Newton Abbot Community
Interest Company for all their support, both in terms of this grant application and in the day-today running of the Courtenay Centre”
If you would like to find out more about the groups on offer at the Courtenay Centre, you can
visit our website at www.courtenaycentre.org.uk or pop into the Centre.

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Lynn McElheron, Chair of Newton Abbot Community Interest Company, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have received this funding for the benefit of the Buckland community in Newton Abbot. This will enable both organisations to expand our work in this community over the next four years.’ Also thrilled with the award is Rosemary Whitbread, Chair of Buckland Support. She said: ‘We are so grateful for the grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. We’ve been working tirelessly in the community to support households, particularly those have been impacted by Covid-19. This funding provides a real opportunity to extend our support for this fantastic community.’

Those in need of advice or support can visit the Buckland Hub every Tuesday from 10am – 12noon. A weekly Wednesday coffee morning runs from 10.30am – 12.00pm for anyone feeling isolated or lonely. Other groups include a weekly seated exercise class for older people and toddler sessions. Future plans include a family-friendly lunch club open to everyone on the estate.

For more information visit the Buckland Centre Facebook page or call 01626 206690. ‘We’re here to offer support to anyone of any age in the Buckland community and we look forward to seeing more faces thanks to this wonderful award,’ said Lynn McElheron.

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Newton Abbot Community Interest Company recently marked National Tree Week by continuing the planting work the CIC has been carrying out at Penn Inn roundabout. In total seven trees were planted including Birch, Copper Beech, Buddleja (Butterfly Bushes) and Magnolia trees

Following completion of the flyover at Penn Inn the CIC took on responsibility for the planting and maintenance of the green area in the centre of the roundabout. With the help of many local volunteers and the crucial support of Plant World a large bed was laid out and many shrubs, trees and spring bulbs planted. CIC Vice Chair John Pike commented that “The CIC was keen to play its part in National Tree Week by planting the additional trees at Penn Inn. With the help of our volunteer team, we are keen to continue our efforts to maintain and improve the greenspace there.”.

Those wanting to find out more about the trees in Newton Abbot can look for the Newton’s Trees Facebook page where information is shared about the trees in Newton Abbot. The Facebook page also has details of future events and activities

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The Centre offers a range of activities open to all including a coffee morning, bingo and a variety of exercise classes, as well as providing a home for the Newton Abbot Children’s Centre, the Mayflower Club, the Oliver Brown Dance Academy and the Base Youth Club. Rooms are also available for private hire for parties, meetings and private functions.

Emily Farrell the CIC’s Business Manager commented that “we are keen to ensure that the Centre continues to offer a good range of activities for the local people, but we rely on income from lettings and grant funding to keep the Centre open. We hope that these improvements will lead to an increase the number of lettings at the Centre. The income we receive from lettings is all invested in improving the quality of the facilities and developing the range of community activities on offer at the Centre”.

To find out more information you can visit the Centre’s website at www.bucklandcentre.org or call the Centre on (01626) 206690.

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Emma is keen to encourage more young people to come along to the Club, which relies on fund-raising and grants to keep it open. Emma commented that “we have recently spent a lot of time and money revamping the equipment and the range of activities at The Base, so if you haven’t been along for a while then please come back and visit us”. Weekly activities include sports, cooking, arts and crafts and music. The Club recently received a grant from the Teign Housing Community Chest Fund towards the cost of new equipment which will make a big difference in the variety of activities the Club is able to provide.

The Club is managed by Newton Abbot Community Interest Company for the benefit of the local community. It is based at The Buckland Centre, Gilbert Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4HS and is open from 6.00pm on a Friday evening in term time.

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As well as planting numerous trees, shrubs and bulbs, the wildflower area is being restored and new benches are being installed. Lynn McElheron Chair of Newton Abbot CIC commented that “we have been so thankful for the support of Ray Brown at Plant World, and the dedicated team of volunteers who have worked in all weathers to plant and maintain the greenspace. We hope that the improvements will bring much enjoyment for local people for many years to come”.

The CIC is continuing to maintain the space, and is now looking at other planting projects elsewhere in the town.

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We’ve been talking to the Fairways community which is part of Hele Park on the western edge of Newton Abbot. They asked us if we could pay for a new noticeboard so they could advertise forthcoming events and community activities. A small step in terms of providing facilities, but an important one as the area has no community building from which to run events and activities.

Pictured (L-R) are Sally Simpson, local resident, Cllr Jackie Hook; CIC Director, Emily Farrell; CIC Business & Community Development Manager and John Pike; CIC Director.

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Supporting our community in Newton Abbot – Newton Abbot Community Interest Company

Our core purpose is to support the people who live and work in the town inspiring other organisations to make changes and improvements within the town.

Newton Abbot Community Interest Company is based in the town of Newton Abbot in Devon. The CIC supports the community through three broad strands of work:

• direct delivery of projects,
• supporting others to deliver projects and
• inspiring organisations to make changes and improvements.

The CIC was created following the publication of the Newton Abbot & District Community Plan in 2008. The document and the consultation involved in creating it, has shaped much of our work over the years. We’ve recently celebrated our 10th Birthday, and over the last 10 years we’ve been involved in a wide variety of community work within the town.

Project delivery

One of our recent project successes was to be part of the Remembrance weekend marking the centenary of the end of World War One. We worked with local Schoolchildren.

We helped to craft poppies from a variety of materials. We then placed them under a local flyover for Remembrance weekend.

This was part of a wider project we’ve been carrying out to reinstate the landscaping on a local roundabout since a flyover was built over the top of it, leaving the roundabout in a state of disrepair.

We’ve been working with local volunteers to plant shrubs, trees and wildflower areas on the inside of the roundabout. The roundabout provides a key walkway between the town centre and a large residential community, so it is a key corridor in the town’s green infrastructure. The project has led to a wider conversation about what else we could do to improve the area, and we are now exploring a public art project.

Supporting others
Our greatest success in our supporting others’ ideas has been through a Partnership Agreement with a local Community Association to support them in the management of a local community centre.

What began as a cry for help has now grown into the CIC taking care of the management and administration of the building and the services it offers. As a result of our involvement, Buckland & Milber Community Centre has developed from a facility which was not financially sustainable, into a thriving community venue offering a range of clubs and activities, as well as rooms for hire. We are hugely proud of our involvement in the Centre. It has been a steep learning curve for those involved but one which we hope will stand us in good stead as we look to future project opportunities.

Working with others to encourage change
Over the years the CIC has worked closely with other organisations to encourage change and improvements within the town. The team were heavily involved in the consultation and writing of the Newton Abbot Neighbourhood Plan. Having a Neighbourhood Plan is important for Newton Abbot due to the high levels of housing development outlined in the Local Plan. This work has led to an on-going role for the CIC to lobby for the provision of adequate infrastructure within new residential developments.

Who are we?
Newton Abbot Community Interest Company employs three members of part-time staff:

• a Business & Community Development Manager
• an Administrator, and
• a Youth Worker.

The CIC has seven Directors who are actively involved in the day-to-day work. We work closely with our local Town, District and County Councils and are well-established within our community. We rely entirely on grant funding for any project and/or core funding costs. The aim is to secure the financial sustainability of the CIC through our involvement in the management of local community facilities.

As the CIC celebrates its 10th Birthday we recognise that a successful social enterprise takes huge amounts of time, resources and dedication to maximise its impact. We’re not there yet but we’d like to think we are heading in the right direction.

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