Social Action
Active Citizenship takes many forms - from membership of community groups and projects, to serving in local governance roles. Exeter CVS plays a pivotal role in joining up active citizens with the organisations, agencies and community groups that need them.
Each of our Social Action projects and events has its own page, which you can contribute to:
- Community Involvement opportunities
A comprehensive directory of ways to get involved in local projects, initiatives, or community leadership roles.
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Social Action Showcase - 15 March 2012
An event hosted at the Innovation Centre in Exeter University by Exeter CVS and the British Council, bringing together active citizens from around the world to showcase and network social action projects. If you are part of this project and would like to submit material to these pages, use our article submission form. -
Community First Panel
Do you live in the Trees area or Rifford Road area of Wonford? Would you like to help make a difference to your area? Join the Community First Panel. If you are interested in joining this group, please send your name, address and contact details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you would like to share news about the project on this page, use the article submission form > -
Inspiring Citizens Networking Event Feb 2011
In February 2011 Exeter CVS's Take Part team was joined by local active citizens, representatives of statutory agencies, community groups and businesses with a social responsibility agenda for a free networking event at Exeter Conference Centre. The event included presentations, workshops and live research exploring the future of Active Citizenship in Exeter, and how we can work together to make the Big Society a sustainable reality. -
Big Society Regional Conference Nov 2010
In November 2010 Exeter CVS worked with Creating Excellence to host a regional conference in Taunton exploring how the Big Society could be developed by local authorities and the Voluntary and Community Sector in the South West. If you would like to share material about the day please use our article submission form > -
Mental Health
Exeter CVS works to offer those who have personal or professional experience with mental health issues to get involved with their communities and improve service provision. -
Active Citizenship: Carers
We work closely with carers and service providers to provide a range of services, initiatives and training opportunities to support carers, focusing on the practicalities and emotional needs of caring. Please visit www.thecarer.co.uk for further information.
- Take Part – Active Learning for Active Citizenship
Exeter CVS led a national Active Citizenship pathfinder project from 2009-2011.
Conference Report
In addition to keynote speeches from the Office for Civil Society, Localis, Urban Forum and Wiltshire there were case study presentations from local community groups including Exeter CVS Speaking Up learners.
You can download resources from the conference here:
Inspiring Citizens Networking Event Report
An illustrated report will follow shortly, in the meantime you can:
Be Involved Devon
Be Involved Devon (BID) is a Devon-wide service helping people have a say about mental health and wellbeing services. BID is for anyone in Devon with an interest in shaping mental health and wellbeing services. Visit www.beinvolveddevon.org.uk for more information.About Community First
The government has made funding available over the next 4 years for community projects in Wonford (Trees and Rifford Road areas). Local people are needed to give their time and skills towards the projects they identify.
To get access to the fund the community needs to:
- Start a Community First Panel
- Create a Community First Plan
- Identify or develop groups and projects to deliver on the Plan
- Only fund those activities that benefit the area
- Represent the views and wishes of people in the area
- Look for match funding from local people, businesses and local councillors
The Community First Panel needs to:
- Consist of a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people
- Be made up of people who live in the ward or be an existing group/organisation based or working within in the ward
- Have members who are 18 years and over
- Be willing to take on Community First Panel responsibilities (as set out above)
- Agree a set of group rules, called a Terms of Reference, which set out how your Community First Panel will operate
- Consist of members who have a clear financial record
Devon Carers Link
Devon Carers Link is a network managed by Carers+ (a consortium of Exeter CVS, Westbank and East Devon Volunteer Support Agency). The Link is the gateway for carers and service providers to access a range of services, initiatives and training opportunities, focusing on the practical and emotional needs of caring.
First Step Project
The First Step Project works with people who are recovering from mental health problems to find them meaningful volunteer work and personal development learning, as a part of their overall recovery plan.
Big Society Conference Videos
You can watch more video footage of all the presentations on the Youtube playlist at www.youtube.com/exetercvs:
- Toby Blume of Urban Forum
- Barry Maginn of Localis
- Gloucester Neighbourhood Project
- Speaking Up learners
- Somali Womens Group
- Young Advisors
- Ann Watt of Office for Civil Society
- Jane Scott of Wiltshire Council
About the Event
At a time of change and uncertainty Exeter CVS and the British Council brought together active citizens from around the globe, to show how small practical steps can make BIG social change...
Interactive workshops and taster sessions included:
- Fishbowl: A practical demonstration of a technique successfully used in project meetings and training, to encourage positive dialogue for change among diverse groups.
- New Publicity: Delegates joined in the early development of a newsletter campaign for local social action projects in Exeter, aimed at delivering fresh information to specific communities not currently ‘in the loop’.
- Keeping the Connection: A multimedia presentation explored how free technology can be used to make and keep international connections, without regular travel or expensive telecomms.
- Waste Not Want Not: A bring and swap ‘freecycle’ event ran throughout the day.
What is the Big Society?
The government's Big Society policy ideas aim to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a big society that will take power away from politicians and give it to people.
Making a difference - creating change - in your community and overseas
A LOCAL AND GLOBAL SOCIAL ACTION SHOWCASE: 15 March 2012, 10:00-15:30, Innovation Centre, University of Exeter
This event was aimed at those:
- Interested in volunteering, or developing a voluntary initiative, at home or abroad... they met our Volunteer Access Worker to find out how active citizens can get the training, support and funding to make a difference doing something you enjoy.
- Considering setting up a social enterprise or charity with an international connection... We explored how local initiatives can establish realistic, equitable trade arrangements with communities in other countries. Hear from local projects who have extended the benefits of their work to communities overseas.
Keen to connect with active citizens from other countries... Delegates networked with social activists from England, Eastern Europe, South East Asia and Africa who have made big changes in their communities. Meet others looking to develop new social action projects, both here and abroad.
CLICK HERE to download the flyer [PDF 988KB]
Green Campus Presentation
You can view the students' slideshow presentation online here:
British Council Presentation
You can download the British Council's Powerpoint presentation here:
The Awra Amba & Negede Woyto: Contrasting Ethiopian Communities
Mel Smith and Clive Chilvers (Exeter Active Citizens)
This workshop introduced two of the communities visited by a group of Exeter Active Citizens as part of a British Council funded visit to Ethiopia in March 2011. The aim was to explore how the Awra Amba, a unique community in Northern Ethiopia, whose philosophy is based upon humanist values, including gender equality, democratic decision making and equal labour division, compares with the reality of a contrasting community, the Negede Woyto people of Bahir Dar. The Negede Woyto remain socially excluded and are perceived as an inferior group in both the Christian and Muslim Amhara societies.
Feedback from the event
Quotes about the event
- I have found the event to be very thought provoking. The conversations have led to new learning and ways of thinking. It has opened my mind to new ideas. Now to find the words to communicate the active citizens message.
- Very inspiring and mind broadening particularly the multi-national input.
- Extremely useful: a) for my research on active citizenship b) (unexpectedly) for making useful contracts which will reinvigorate my community composting project. C) to find out about good local & international projects.
- It has inspired me to start my community project and become more active
- Good experiences and knowledge from the events. Leadership & vision from Ethiopian ‘tent’.
- Very! Great networking opportunity (professional, active citizens, our demographic) and showcasing.
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