Sustainable Tiverton’s Crowdfunder challenge
7.30pm tonight (7th July) starts the clock on Sustainable Tiverton‘s 24hr #BacktheFuture Crowdfunder Challenge. The target: to raise £2k from at least 30 donors in 24hrs. The prize: an additional £2-5K awarded to them from Devon County Council/Crowdfunder. The end goal: a Sustainability Hub in Tiverton for all the community to come together to take local action against the climate emergency.
Sustainable Tiverton have been planning and working towards a Sustainability Hub since the start of 2021. A physical and visual presence right in the centre of Tiverton would not only provide current projects with a base to work from, but also be a place for everyone to share ideas, learn new skills and get involved. It would support people in the community to take action, enable volunteer-led projects to get started, and provide a base for agencies and businesses promoting sustainability and resilience.
Sustainable Tiverton, CAG Devon’s founding group, already undertakes an impressive array of waste-busting and biodiversity activities, including:
- ReROOTed – running a surplus food community lunch/takeaway, a Community Fridge and surplus food distribution
- Tiverton Tree Team – planting thousands of saplings and, during lockdown, setting up tree nurseries in lots of Tiverton homes, ready to plant out in the Autumn,
- Give or Take Reuse shops – “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure”
- Plastic Free Tiverton – working with local businesses, schools, community groups and residents to change behaviours and reduce plastics use
- Repair Cafe – monthly repair events, where skilled volunteers repair broken household items, giving new life to them and diverting them from landfill.
- Bee group – managing several hives, and teaching others about beekeeping and the importance of bees.
- Soils group – sharing their knowledge about soils and composting.
The Crowdfunder Challenge is bringing out the fundraising creativity in Tiverton. During the 24hr challenge, there’ll be a sponsored virtual “row down the Exe” (94kms) in the High Street, a raffle of wonderful goodies at Reapers healthfood store, cake sale at the Market and many other activities.
It is hoped that the Sustainability Hub will have a central location with easy access to all. Sustainable Tiverton have been in discussions with Mid Devon District Council, together with other potential tenants exploring options for a site.
Sustainable Tiverton is one of only three projects across the whole of Devon shortlisted for this challenge. You can watch them make their pitch at the #BacktheFuture event, and you can donate from 7.30pm. In the words of that large seller of allsorts, “every little helps”.
Wishing Sustainable Tiverton every success.
