Covid-19 Buckfastleigh Response

The Buckfastleigh Helpline has been discontinued. The Food Bank remains active and can be contacted on 01364 643120.

COVID-19 Assistance Available

COVID Winter Grant Scheme - Assistance with winter fuel bills for those affected by COVID-19 is available through the Citizens Advice Bureau. These funds can only be distributed up until 31st March, so apply now if you are struggling with your bills.  Further information on the Winter Grant Scheme is here.

You can find a list of services available to those who are struggling because of COVID-19 and lockdown here.

Financial hardship may be facing many residents in Teignbridge as a result of COVID-19.  To tackle this problem, Teignbridge launched jointly with Devon County Council a Covid-19 Hardship Fund designed to support local people in financial difficulties with funds to cover basic costs.
This may be as a result of:

  • Reduction in income either through self-employment, being furloughed, reduced hours or made redundant
  •  Increase of costs such as transport costs, utility bills, child care or other expenditure
  • An urgent need to purchase essential items such as white goods

Support from the Hardship Fund will only be given if no alternative source of funding is available and the Fund will make payments directly to creditors. Payments will normally be up to £200 other than in exceptional circumstances.

The Hardship Fund will support individuals or households but not businesses which are entitled to apply for support from other schemes. To qualify an individual must be:

  • Resident in Teignbridge for three months prior to the application
  • Financially impacted by the COVID19 pandemic
  • Unable to receive funding from other sources
  • Without savings or £500 disposable income

Examples of payments that can be made are:

  • Costs of utility or essential mobile phone bills
  • Transport costs
  • Household costs such as essential shopping not met through Foodbanks
  • Purchase of white goods or other essential items

More details are on the Teignbridge District Council website, where applications should be made.  Households without internet access can call on 01626 215 512 (Mon-Thurs 8.30am - 5pm, Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm)
Applicants can expect a response within 7 days.

Need advice on money, employment, benefits etc?

Even though the weekly session in town is not currently happening, Citizens Advice Teignbridge is still operating and can help you with your concerns online or over the phone.  More details on Citizens Advice here.

Proposed New Housing Developments

Here you can read a current summary of the major housing developments in our town that are either currently being considered by Dartmoor National Park planners or are proposed.

New Town Ranger and Deputy Mayor

A new Town Ranger, Gary Quest, has been appointed.  Read about Gary here.

Councillor Erin Kohler-Ockmore has been appointed as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Chair of the Town Council following the recent resignation of Pam Barrett.

Register now to vote by post!

In May, there will be county council elections and you may not feel comfortable going out to vote.  Register here to vote by post .

Council-backed lending for home repairs & improvements

Lendology CIC (formerly Wessex Resolutions CIC) is a Social Enterprise working in partnership with Teignbridge District Council since 2008.  They lend council funds to homeowners to fund home repairs, improvements, adaptations and energy efficiency measures.  Read more about the scheme here.

Coronavirus COVID-19

Unfortunately, now that Devon  is under Tier 3, the Town Hall will remain closed to all but essential services from Monday 4th January.  Those with January bookings have been emailed and bookings put on hold.
 
Essential services include Education support & Library services which will continue to operate from the Town Hall. Libraries Unlimited will continue with their Choose & Collect services - please contact them directly for more information.  Formal support groups (up to 15 people - space permitting) & supervised activities provided for children under 18/formal parent and toddler groups (up to 15 people - space permitting) are exempt from the restrictions and are permitted to continue.

The Town Council office can still be reached by leaving a message on the office answerphone - 01364 642576 - or phoning the Town Clerk on 07904 033616.  Click here for information on hiring the Town Hall. 

Meetings of the Town Council are still being held remotely.  You can read the protocol for remote meetings here.  You can read the key messages from the last Town Council meeting on 20th January here.   The next Town Council meeting will be on Wednesday, 3rd February 7 - 9 pm.

Buckfastleigh Youth Strategy

Young Devon was commissioned by the Town Council in 2018 to formulate a Youth Strategy and mission statement to meet the gaps in youth provision left by the withdrawal of services and funding. Following consultation with all the youth activity providers in the town, this new strategy has now been adopted and the Council looks forward to working in partnership with all our youth groups.   You can read the full Youth Strategy here.

New Recycling/Re-Use Initiative

Pre-used (and safety tested) vacuum cleaners, flat screen TVs and lamps can now be purchased at the Brunel Road Recycling Centre.  Read more about this new recycling project here.