New panel members needed for our Countryside Fund

We’re looking for people to join the judging panel for applications to our Blackdown Hills Countryside Fund.

Yarcombe fields and hedgerows. Photo: Liam Marsh

The purpose of the Blackdown Hills Countryside Fund is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Blackdown Hills AONB, while supporting local communities. The Fund provides funding to local people, community groups and local organisations to deliver projects that benefit the natural, cultural and built heritage of the area and its communities.

As a panel member, you would be responsible for reviewing grant applications and contributing your local knowledge and expertise to help with the decision-making process (e.g. knowledge of the applicant, advice on the funding context, other similar organisations/initiatives operating locally).

The Blackdown Hills Countryside Fund is administered by an independent charity, Devon Community Foundation. They work on our behalf to collect donations, manage applications from groups wishing to apply for funding, and chair our grants panel.

The purpose of the grants panel is to make decisions on the award of grants and to help promote the fund in order to maximise the benefit to the community.

The panel is made up of ‘community champions’ with knowledge of, or who have contributed to the local community, charitable or voluntary sector, members of the local business community or public sector organisations and residents who have knowledge and/or experience of life in the area and the needs of the community.If you feel that you would be a suitable candidate for joining our grants panel and would like to discuss this further, please contact Jackie Vaughan: jackie.vaughan@devon.gov.uk