Community Wealth Building

The project

Turning Heads is a community interest company that is helping to build a community that values and empowers togetherness across Torbay. The organisation works with vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the local area, including families, children, and people with learning disabilities.

The challenge

Torbay is the most deprived local authority in the South West and one in three people live in places that are in the top 20% most deprived in England.

With increasing demand for their services, Turning Heads wanted to expand the scope of their social enterprise so that they could do more to tackle inequalities and food poverty across Torbay.

The solution

In August 2022, Turning Heads was awarded £10,000 in funding from the Torbay Social Enterprise Grant (TSEG); a scheme set up to support the development Torbay’s social enterprise sector and to strengthen the local economy through Community Wealth Building which is championed by TDA.

Turning Heads used the money to secure local premises and launched several new initiatives to help the local community, including:

• Affordable recipe boxes which are delivered across Torbay to vulnerable people
• A ‘Social supermarket’ that provides food to the public at a fraction of the cost
• Learning space and lessons to promote family cooking and healthy eating
• Cooked meal services
• Rental space for other voluntary groups and social enterprise groups to utilise

They were also able to create five new jobs for local people with disabilities, helping to stimulate the local economy further and providing additional incomes for local people.

CEO of Turning Heads, Alan Tilley, said: ‘’The Torbay Social Enterprise Grant Funding has been crucial in growing Turning Heads CIC; both in terms of staff numbers and our service offer to the local community.  As a Community Interest Company, we rely on grant funding to be able to continue to deliver affordable or free services to those who need it most. The cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated the need for access to affordable food and Turning Heads are committed to supporting the community through a range of services and resources, whether that is through our free family cooking sessions, recipe box deliveries or the newly opened social supermarket.’’

The Project

Maker Arts is a community interest company that offers a creative approach to learning that benefits young people in Torbay who are struggling to engage in mainstream education. Based in Paignton, Maker Arts specialise in developing young people’s social, emotional and mental health by offering a rich and varied arts-based learning environment.

Working with small groups of students aged 11 to 18, Maker Arts offer courses in mindfulness, employability, art and science, which are designed to develop confidence, facilitate well-being, foster aspirations and, ultimately, encourage students back into the classroom.

The Challenge

Maker Arts applied for funding to support and expand the scope of their social enterprise so that they could do more to support young people in Torbay who are struggling with mainstream education.

The Solution

In 2022, Maker Arts was awarded £5,000 from the Torbay Social Enterprise Grant. This was used to refurbish local premises and to purchase new equipment and resources that have allowed Maker Arts to diversify their offering to young people. Maker Arts also used the grant to employ a new member of staff; helping them to build their capacity.

Thanks to the funding, Maker Arts have been able to expand their reach. They are now working with a local secondary school and are looking forward to working with more institutions across Torbay.

Director of Maker Arts, Sue Parsons, said: ‘‘The Torbay Social Enterprise Grant Funding has been central in developing our premises and services at Maker Arts CIC. Thanks to the funding, we have been able to continue to support young people to grow in confidence and raise their aspirations.’’

The Project 

Sound Communities is a Social Enterprise based in Paignton which helps marginalised young people to engage, create and consult using radio, music and creative media production. Their pioneering work aims to develop creativity, improve mental health, inspire confidence, raise aspirations, increase skills and foster agency in young people. 

Sound Communities supports young people across Torbay and South Devon through alternative provision, community outreach, partnership referrals, volunteering and work experience to develop self-esteem and creativity. 

The organisation also works with young people to create digital media content and platforms that give them the opportunity to be heard and learn new skills. Their main production arms include Ocean Youth Radio; Oceanside Records, a Rap/Hip-Hop record label; and Ocean Digital. 

The Challenge 

With growing demand for their services, Sound Communities applied for Torbay Social Enterprise Grant funding to expand the scope of their rap and hip-hop record label, Ocean Records. With the funding, they hoped to amplify the voices of marginalised young people in Torbay.  

The Solution 

In 2022, Sound Communities was awarded £7,950 from the Torbay Social Enterprise Grant Fund. This funding was used to part-fund a Delivery Lead role to develop the record label arm of the business, Ocean Records, into a sustainable, youth-led social enterprise. 

Thanks to the funding, Sound Communities has been able to focus their business model on becoming more self-sustaining and less reliant on external funding. Meanwhile, they continue to recruit and train young people in production skills and market services; and enable them to produce engaging and relevant content.  

Sound Communities continues to pioneer their work across South Devon and were recently recognised for their efforts locally through the Torbay Business Awards where they won the Commissioner’s Business Community Champion Award in June. 

Director of Sound Communities, Kate Rudman, said: ‘‘The Torbay Social Enterprise Grant has had a huge impact on our ability to support Oceanside Records. The funding has allowed us to develop an action plan, engage more young people to get involved, produce and release more music and music videos, and set up regular performances and open mic nights.’’