ENVIRONMENTAL groups and those representing the arts, culture and interests of young and older people in Newton Abbot could be awarded up to £500 each to kickstart new schemes.

‘Seed money’ to help grow fresh community initiatives is being offered by the Town Council as it continues in its mission to improve the quality of life for residents.

A simple application process has been promised with opportunities to request a share of the funding running through to next February.

The new grant is being launched as the 25-year Newton Abbot and District Community Plan, published in 2008 and which prompted the creation of the Newton’s Place museum and community space project, is being updated.

Now the Town Council wants to know how else organisations and service providers would set about changing the town for the better, albeit not on the same scale as Newton’s Place.

Community Outreach Worker Kate Green said: ‘We’re roughly half way through the lifespan of the Community Plan now so it’s time to go back to the people and find out what should come next.

‘I’ve spent several months going out to groups asking what they want and we’ve broken the brief down to four topics which are young people, older people, the environment, arts and culture.

‘We’d like to hear from groups about how we might be able to award them up to £500 to help their ideas grow.

‘It won’t be a complicated application process but groups must be established in order to qualify.

‘We know there are people in Newton Abbot who are passionate about improving the quality of life.

‘Now the Town Council is offering to help them nurture and develop their ideas and we hope there will be plenty of takers.’

Deadlines for submission of applications are in four rounds – June 1, October 5, December 1 and February 1 2023.

For details and application forms email [email protected]