Exciting Opportunities for CAG’s Network

CAG Devon Small Grants 

Firstly, our CAG Devon Small Grants Scheme is open for applications, offering grants of up to £300 to support your group’s objectives. The application process is designed to be “light-touch” for CAG Devon members, providing a simple and accessible means to undertake activities aligned with your group’s goals. If you’re unsure about your idea, you can book a 30-minute online slot on 24th or 25th January for a commitment-free chat. The deadline for applications is set for Sunday, 11th February. If successful, funds must be spent in the next 6 months. We look forward to hearing your ideas!

PAT Testing Training 

We are also excited to offer PAT Testing training, a highly sought-after skill among repair cafes looking to enhance their repair capabilities and competence. These courses, conducted with Parker-Bell near Exeter Airport, will take place on 2nd, 9th, and 16th February. Attendance requires completion of one hour’s online pre-learning, and a maximum of two individuals from each group can participate. This opportunity is free to our CAG Devon members so please book on here.

Social Media 1-1

For those seeking support in social media, we have 1-1 sessions available to our members. Our project officer, Leah, manages the CAG Devon social media pages and has previous experience managing social media and communications for small businesses. She also has experience from her climate change communications internship. You can now a book face-to-face meeting with Leah where she can give you bespoke support with your social media channels and pages. Whether it’s setting up a page or wanting help with scheduling posts or growing your audience, Leah will try her best to help you! You can also use these sessions to update your groups information on the CAG Devon website. All support is absolutely free. Please just drop her an email with your availability and requirements and she will respond shortly to get you booked in. Her email is leah.nudds@resourcefutures.co.uk.

Repair Café Collaborate

Next, mark your calendars for our Repair Café Collaborate on Tuesday, 30th January, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. In this online event we’ll be hearing from Nigel from Ashburton Repair Café and Vernon from Abbotskerswell Repair Workshop to share their stories of establishing permanent workshop spaces. Gain valuable insights and tips on securing dedicated venues for repair and reuse and connect with other repair cafes across Devon. This is available for any repair café, CAG member or not! Sign up here.

Wild About Devon Community Forum

CAG Devon is also delighted to be working with Wild about Devon and Devon Wildlife Trust to deliver a day of inspiration at The Ockment Centre, in Okehampton, on Sat 3rd Feb. Find out more about the new Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy and engage in thought-provoking discussions that will ignite positive change. We will be delving into ways you can actively contribute to wildlife conservation. We’ll hear about the support available for community groups, and connect with the DWT ‘Wilder Community’ Group, who will share their impactful journey. And following Lucy’s (Sustainable Bradninch) great presentation at the SkillShare23, she will be showcasing their work in fostering biodiversity and resilience. We’d love to see you there, sign up here!

New CAG member resources

Last but not least, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Iridescent Ideas (II), a Plymouth-based award-winning social enterprise. II has crafted a range of online short courses and resources on group organisation, governance, vision-setting, and more. As a CAG Devon member, you can access these materials for free. Contact us for the exclusive CAG Devon code, and after selecting your desired courses, sign up and enter the code in the box on the right hand side at ‘checkout’. Please do not share this code outside your organisation. We have initiated a six-month trial period to assess the usage of these great materials.

We hope you make the most of these opportunities and share them within your group. Even if you cannot attend an event or training yourself, someone else in your group might be eager to. Explore the small grants scheme, secure your slots for training sessions, and delve into the wealth of resources provided by II. Don’t forget to check out our latest newsletter and add your events to our diary.

Here’s to a year of growth, learning, and collaborative success!