As agreed in the Budget for 2026/2027, we will be continuing with the Community Ward Fund.
This year we have again allocated £90,000, to support our Ward Councillors and Community Partnerships in continuing to improve your ward in Torbay.
This fund has been made available to help with replacing, repairing, and improving council and community owned assets across the Bay.
The Community Ward Fund can be used to:
- replace or repair council assets, for example bins, benches, street signs, fencing, play equipment
- refurbish or replace community assets, for example community noticeboards
- contribute to community projects, for example Friends of Parks groups, Community groups
- contribute to community events or activities
The fund is £2,500 for each Councillor. A ward with two councillors will receive £5,000.
Ward Councillors, Community Partnerships, and Community Builders will work together with their local communities and SWISCo to gather ideas of projects and proposals that this fund could be used on.
We encourage you to contact your Ward Councillors and Community Partnership by the end of October 2026 to make suggestions for the allocation of the funds.
Timeline
- Beginning of July 2026 – Community Ward Fund Form distributed to Ward Councillors and Community Partnerships.
- By Friday 30 October 2026 – Completed forms with lists of all the projects or grants to be returned. Proposals will then be reviewed by Community Engagement and SWISCo.
Any payments to community groups, projects and partnerships will then be made.
What the Community Ward fund has funded
Below is a list by ward of the projects, groups, and events that this fund has provided for in 2025/26.
Barton with Watcombe
- Funding for children’s internet awareness courses at local schools
- Grant towards support groups for new mothers
- Funding towards local community coffee and carvery social events
Churston with Galmpton
- New play park equipment for Cherrybrook and Hookhills
- De-mossing and tree planting in Churston
Clifton with Maidenway
- Funding for children’s internet awareness courses at local schools
- Upkeep and repairs to parts of the Paignton Monastery
Cockington with Chelston
- Support for a creative workshop in Cockington
- Materials to redecorate 18 pieces of artwork on platform 2 of Torquay train station
- Highway and parking improvement works on Cliff Road
Collaton St. Mary
- Highway improvements in Pennine Drive
Ellacombe
- Grant for garden equipment for the Ellacombe Community Garden Friends Group
- Funding towards Running costs for the publication of the Ellacombe Community Magazine
Furzeham with Summercombe
- Mobile floodlights for St Mary’s Park youth football sessions
- New equipment and resources for the Fuel Youth youth club
Goodrington with Roselands
- Grant to set up an arts and crafts mental health workshop
- Contribution to a primary school trip to the Houses of Parliament
- Leaflet printing for a community road safety event
Kings Ash
- Funding for SWISCo to install a disability ramp on Pimm Road
- Parking bay re-lining in Foxhole
Preston
- Grant towards support groups for new mothers
- Camping equipment for the Torbay Scout Group
Roundham with Hyde
- High quality bunting to decorate Winner Street
Shiphay
- Funding towards the local community newsletter
- A grant towards the mid-summer community party
- Resources to attract local businesses to partake in the community Christmas event
St. Marychurch
- Funding towards maintenance of Christmas lights
- Small grants to local community groups
- Supplying materials to help local volunteers
St. Peters with St. Marys
- Funding for children’s internet awareness courses at local schools
- Pool hire for a disabled swimming group
- Running costs for Men’s Sheds charity
- Contribution towards the costs of local young people’s sailing lessons
- Replacing equipment at St Mary’s Park Bowling Green
Tormohun
- Building and installing planters around Torre
- Funding towards essential repairs at the Windmill Centre
- A grant to local community groups to attract partnerships and investment in Torre
Wellswood
- Grant towards support groups for new mothers
- Funding for the running costs of the Wellswood Community Partnership