HUNDREDS of businesses and community groups in Teignbridge have received lasting benefits thanks to government funding.

Teignbridge Council invested about £620,000 from two government funds: The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to help boost local businesses, jobs, skills, tourism, and rural services.

In total, the funding helped 229 businesses and 6 community groups.

More than £109,000 went to town centre projects in Buckfastleigh, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh.

These projects improved Culver Green Play Park, supported a community cinema in Buckfastleigh Town Hall, and helped create a new ceramics skills hub at Make SW in Bovey Tracey.

The projects are already proving to be very popular. Chudleigh’s new play park had nearly 2,500 visits in its first few weeks and about 200 people have taken part in Make SW workshops.

The council also invested £90,000 in work to help tackle violence against women and girls.

This helped secure another £100,000 from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon and Cornwall to continue the Let’s Talk Safer Families project into 2026-27.

The funding also helped promote tourism through Visit South Devon giving local tourism businesses advice, information and support to grow.

The Devon Business and IP Centre also gave businesses workshops, mentoring and specialist advice.

This support helped 176 businesses and helped 131 entrepreneurs get ready to start or grow a business and reached more than 4,100 people.

A farming technology programme, Agri-Tech, helped 19 farms look at new and greener ways of working including improving wildlife habitats, testing soil, improving irrigation, and using new technology.

A £50,000 investment into an employment hub at Newton Abbot Library helped residents who face barriers to work.

It supported 86 people and of these, 12 moved into work, 33 moved into education or training, and 26 gained basic skills qualifications.

The council invested £195,067 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund in rural community buildings and other local facilities.

Projects included: improvements to Broadhempston Village Play Park; making Bovey Tracey Swimming Pool more accessible; footpath improvements at National Trust’s Parke to make it accessible to all; and the first phase of the build for the new Widecombe Community Hall, providing a weather-tight building.

This work improved 802 square metres of green space and 150 metres of footpaths and helped Broadhempston’s play park attract 16,500 visitors in its first quarter.

All funding managed by Teignbridge was committed by 31 March 2026. A small amount left over was used to extend employment support.

Many projects will keep helping local people after the funding ends and will support local growth, healthier communities, stronger town centres, and better opportunities.

Councillor David Palethorpe, Teignbridge District Council Executive Member for Assets, Economic Development and Major Projects, said: ‘We are proud of what this funding has achieved. It has helped businesses grow, supported communities, improved local facilities and created opportunities for people across Teignbridge.

‘These projects are making a real and lasting difference. They include new community facilities, stronger town centres, employment support and help for businesses. Beating our targets shows the hard work of our partners, community groups and Council officers.’