Devon & Cornwall Food Action (DCFA) worked with Inspiring Futures students for a couple of years. One of the projects was to help find funding for DCFA’s ongoing charity work in the city.
Devon & Cornwall Food Action
DCFA is a local charity that works with food producers and supermarkets to redistribute surplus food to those in need. They supply a number of services, community organisations and groups. Through their various means testing schemes, produce is distributed to those that have been identified as being in desperate need to feed themselves and their families.
DCFA works through three key food hubs in Plymouth, Lostwithiel and Exeter, and is run almost entirely by volunteers. Although not an expensive charity to run, DCFA still needs to cover their rent, utilities, transfer of food supplies, admin and development, so funding is an ongoing challenge.
The students' project
The students supported DCFA by providing an independent and objective assessment of their needs and searched for solutions that could be used effectively and to add to DCFA’s own grant funding skills.
Jackie Young, Executive Administrator, DCFA said:
"The students’ contribution was twofold. They provided additional eyes and ears, and they identified several potential funding sources we had not previously found. As a result of their support, DCFA was able to:
- make over 20 separate applications, using their recommendations to guide suitability
- apply for over £150,000 of possible funding
- secure over £25,000 of funding to date
- maintain the services of DCFA for at least a further six months
- maintain the service to 93 local charities (over 3000 individuals)."