Impact
Over the past three years, the CAG Devon network has seen a steady increase in activity, driven by the growing number of community groups joining the network. With expanded geographic reach and broader eligibility, through additional funding through Devon Climate Emergency and Public Health, groups are now engaging in a wider range of sustainability initiatives – including those focused on nature and biodiversity.
Here’s what the CAG Devon network achieved in 2024–25:
- 1,219 events held, attracting 78,774 attendees
(up from 833 events and 44,732 attendees in 2023–24) - 44,909 volunteer hours contributed, valued at £657,912
(up from 24,620 hours, valued at £381,477 in 2023–24) - 167 tonnes of waste prevented
(compared to 111 tonnes in 2023–24 and 84 tonnes in 2022–23) - 107 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill
(up from 68 tonnes in 2023–24 and 51 tonnes in 2022–23) - 463 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided
(an increase from 361 tonnes in 2023–24 and 297 tonnes in 2022–23)
By the end of March 2025, the network had grown to 51 active groups, expanding from 38 in 2023–24. This growth has helped extend the network’s impact across the entire county of Devon. In conclusion CAG Devon has seen another year of growth on many fronts. The network continues to go from strength to strength, with an additional 17 members. Some groups have launched and consolidated new activities.
Read our full 2024/25 Impact Report here!
How we measure our impact
To measure the impact the CAG Devon project is having, we use the Resource Community Impacts Tool (ResourceCIT). This is an online tool for community groups and funders to estimate the impact they are having on reducing waste, carbon, energy use and saving costs for individuals and the community.
Our community groups submit data from the activities they carry out; we are then able to generate individual reports on each group’s achievements and calculate the impact we have had collectively across the CAG Devon network.
Going forwards we are also exploring how to capture some of the social impacts of being involved in a CAG Devon group. In 2022 we gathered some volunteers stories about giving their time in CAG Devon groups. This was part of a pilot research project. You can find out more here and read the seven stories.
For a third year we asked volunteers in the groups’ wider membership to share their thoughts and experiences of volunteering, including their motivations, needs and any wider impact. As a result of volunteering, 88% of respondents reported that they feel better connected to their community, 76% have enjoyed themselves or had fun, 73% have met new friends, 41% have increased their knowledge, skills or confidence and 32% have changed their own behaviours around repair, reuse, waste reduction or climate issues.
These findings highlight the powerful ripple effects of community-led sustainability work—not just for the planet, but for people too. As we continue to grow and evolve, we’re committed to deepening our understanding of these social impacts and ensuring that volunteering with CAG Devon remains a rewarding and inclusive experience for all.
