Photo by Louis Hansel

Movement with Communities – Our Work in North Devon

We are committed to working with partners, to achieve positive impact for people’s lives, in local places where multiple inequalities exist. We can do this by connecting, advocating and enabling people to move more.

Working Together to Achieve Systemic Change

By working together, we can overcome more challenges and find new ways to help people in the community be active.

Our Partnerships team are our community-based leads in designated localities across the county. They work together with local and national partners, organisations, groups, volunteers and activity providers. The community-based leads for North Devon are Neil Blackburn and Hannah Shackleton. You can contact Neil and Hannah by emailing:

Neil.Blackburn@activedevon.org

Hannah.Shackleton@activedevon.org

You can also read their bios on our Meet the Team page.

Our Work in North Devon

  • In Northern Devon there is a diverse range of communities, from market towns, coastal towns and rural villages. Across this area there are pockets of quite high deprivation both urban and rural. We prioritise working in these communities and work alongside the Local Care Partnership and community stakeholders to identify priority groups and reduce inequalities. Health inequalities include, childhood obesity mental health, isolation, long-term conditions within the ageing population.
  • Through co designed activity opportunities and to continue to work with local communities and stakeholders to build resilience, we’re building on the recent success that programmes like Connecting Actively to Nature and the Together Fund have had in Northern Devon.
  • We are also hoping to increase our work focused on healthy ageing in North Devon, especially supporting more falls prevention classes and nature connection through wellbeing walks.

Who We’re Working with to Achieve Impact in North Devon

  • One Northern Devon
  • One Ilfracombe
  • One Atlantic
  • Torrington 100
  • One Barnstaple
  • One South Molton
  • Live Well in Braunton
  • One Holsworthy
  • Bideford College
  • Ilfracombe Academy
  • Holsworthy Community College
  • Petroc
  • Torridge District Council
  • The NHS
  • Devon and Cornwall Police
  • Local Care Partnership
    Healthy Ageing in Northern Devon (HAND)

Opportunities to Connect

We bring people together to collaborate and create impact. Here’s some opportunities for you to connect in North Devon:

Physical Activity Providers Hub

Our Physical Activity Provider Hub contains a range of resources from us and our trusted partners. This support is aimed to help you to build a resilient offer, reach new audiences and meet local community needs, both now and into the future.

Promoting and Delivering Your Activities

Devon Connect is a free online community hub for residents and communities across Devon (currently not including Plymouth). As a local group or organisation, you can make connections and share knowledge, information and resources.

More information on Devon Connect can be found in our Resources to Help You Achieve Best Practice blog.

Insight

“In North Devon, 25.6% of adults volunteered to support sport and physical activity, the highest level in Devon.” Source: Active Lives Adult Survey 2021-22 Report