Funding boost to improve Castle Circus and Torquay streets

A dedicated group of community volunteers helping to tidy the streets of South Devon has received police funding to expand its work across Torquay.

Turning Heads, whose volunteers are a familiar sight in high-vis tabards, has been awarded £3,950 from Devon & Cornwall Police to support its latest street cleaning project. The funding will be used to improve areas around Castle Circus and other parts of the town.

The group successfully applied for the money through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) fund, which redistributes cash and assets seized from criminals to support community initiatives. The funding will go towards new tools and clothing for volunteers.

Torquay Inspector Rob Harvey said: “Turning Heads is a great example of a community group taking pride in the place they live. Their new project around street cleanliness is a fantastic way of supporting the wider work that the Community Safety Partnership does in bringing visual change as well as the elements that can’t always be so easily seen.

“We work alongside partners such as Torbay Council and know that SWISCo staff work very hard to deal with waste and recycling, highways, street cleaning and grounds maintenance. But Turning Heads provide extra pairs of hands to keep the area looking good.

“POCA funding is a great source of these initiatives, and we welcome similar applications from other community groups who can make a difference locally.”

Turning Heads has been working alongside its clients and volunteers to renovate and improve unloved community spaces for more than four years, with projects in Hele, Ilsham and, most recently, Torre.

Alan Tilley from Turning Heads said: “Our project for this year is to tackle the problem of street litter and weeds. We want to set up a weekly group that goes out and spends time clearing up the litter on the streets of Torquay and tackling the untidiness of weeds.

“We tackle roadsides that are unloved, untidy and unsightly and will throw ourselves into any projects that come our way. The more we do, the more we are asked to do. Our commitment to changing the community and making an impact is infectious.

“We want to have a visible presence and use this project to give our clients and volunteers a meaningful project to get involved in but we also want to use it to empower and engage local communities, helping to create positive change. Plus, it gives people taking part a real purpose.”

The group believes clean streets play a vital role in improving public health, safety and community wellbeing, while also supporting local economies and reflecting how well an area is cared for.

Community groups interested in applying for POCA funding can contact their local neighbourhood policing team by visiting a Public Enquiry Office in Torquay, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge or Kingsbridge, typically open Monday to Saturday.

Residents can also meet local officers at community events, including a session at The Medway Centre in Torquay from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday 24 March.