Background and Overview of Services
The Community Council of Devon (CCD) is an independent charitable company founded in 1961. Its 900 members includes the principal statutory bodies and voluntary organisations in the county, and many other local organisations.
We have a voluntary governing body, our [ Board of Trustees ], in part elected by our full members at general meetings and in part appointed by bodies as designated in our company articles. CCD incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1999.
What We Do
The Community Council of Devon is the Rural Community Council for Devon.
CCD works to a Business Plan with the current [ plan ] covering the period 2005-2010. Our main areas of work at present are covered by the following themes: community structure, community planning and community regeneration, with two cross-cutting themes: social inclusion and influencing.
Our vision is of active rural communities shaping their own futures with improved opportunity and quality of life for all. Our mission is that we strive to make this happen through our direct work with communities, our local knowledge, networks, professional services, and our influencing role.
CCD attaches great importance to its independent existence as a non-political countywide voluntary body. Our values are listed on page 5 of our business plan (link above).
To view our Customer Service Committment Policy click [ Here ]
Becoming a Member
Membership of CCD is open to all – whether voluntary organisations, community groups, charities, individuals or statutory bodies. If you or your organisation wishes to know more about membership, please follow this link. [ CCD Membership ]
National and Regional Bodies
CCD is one of a network of 38 Rural Community Councils (RCCs) that exist in each county of England, all sharing the aim of promoting any charitable purposes for the benefit of rural communities. RCCs maintain close relations with national and local government. We are represented at a national level by [ ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) ], and in the region by SWAN (the South West network of RCCs). The ACRE website will provide links to the other 37 RCC names, contact details and websites.
Finance
Financial support for work of the organisation comes from Government Office for the South West (previously Countryside Agency), Devon’s District Councils, Dartmoor National Park, Trusts and Foundations, and through agency and management fees, consultancy and research. Projects are funded through the above, UK government and European Union programmes, Devon County Council, Learning and Skills Council, SWAN and the private sector.
Representation of voluntary sector and rural issues
Examples include representation at European Objective 2 committees, LEADER projects, voluntary sector forums, Local and county level strategic partnerships, Local Area Agreement, issue based groups. We comment where possible on local and central government plans.
Developing the Voluntary Sector
CCD is an active member of the Devon Forum, a county network developing partnership in the voluntary and community sector. CCD is also the financial accountable body for Devon Consortium, delivering the ChangeUp programme for development of voluntary sector infrastructure.
Innovation in recent years
This includes: rural community enterprise (incl national model NVQ), credit unions, children’s play development, community shops, Devon Community Foundation, research into rural women, the relationship between Agriculture and Community, rural community - based learning, social inclusion and rural housing.
Community development
Partnership building, funding advice, legal frameworks, short term budget holder and project manager, support of Development Trusts, community regeneration schemes, and community consultation such as Parish Plans.
