£5,000 for unexpected refurbishment costs

(November 2025)

The Downderry & Seaton Community Shop Committee requested support from DaSRA for the refurbishment of our community shop. A budget was in place to cover the planned works, however, during the strip-out process, additional issues were uncovered with the shop walls and ceilings that needed to be addressed to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all users.

Community Road Signs

(June 2025)

DaSRA’s community idea came to life through a collaboration with St Nicolas School, Neighbourhood Watch and Cornwall Council. Together, we launched the local “20 is Plenty” speed awareness campaign, uniting the village behind safer streets.

Pupils from St Nicolas CofE Primary School created their own “20 is Plenty” designs, bringing colour, creativity and a powerful message to the project.​

We’re delighted to share that the winning designs are now installed on three official 20mph signs throughout the village, helping make our roads safer and brighter for everyone.​

This project was proudly funded by Cornwall Council, showing what’s possible when a community comes together for a great cause.

£10,000 for Essential Refurbishment Works

(May 2025)

Downderry & Seaton Village received a grant of £10,000 from DaSRA to support essential refurbishment works, helping maintain and improve vital community facilities for local residents.

£3,000 for urgent repair works, enabling the building to remain safe

(December 2024)

The former Downderry Methodist Church has been a landmark of village life for more than a century. When the Saltash Methodist Circuit announced in 2023 that services would cease, the building faced imminent closure.

A dedicated Steering Group of local residents stepped in to safeguard the future of this much‑loved space, working to transform it into a community‑owned and community‑run Health & Wellbeing Hub.

DaSRA’s Community Fund awarded £3,000 to carry out urgent repair works, enabling the building to remain safe, usable, and ready to host a growing programme of community activities.

£2,000 for the purchase of a new Community Bus

(December 2023)

The charity that runs the service operates a well‑established replacement cycle, aiming to renew its 15‑seat minibus every five years. However, the 2020 pandemic significantly disrupted fundraising and activity. With the current vehicle now ten years old, a new minibus was ordered for delivery in early 2024. As the trustees approached the final stages of fundraising, they successfully secured match‑funding contributions from Deviock Parish Council and DaSRA’s Community Fund.

DaSRA awarded £2,000 to support the purchase of the new Community Bus, helping ensure this essential service continues to keep our villages connected for years to come.

£2,000 to support purchase of land in Seaton

(November 2021)

When it emerged that 4.5 acres of woodland in Seaton were being auctioned with the potential for “low‑impact income generation,” there was real concern that the land could be bought by a developer and lost to the community. In response, Deviock Parish Council launched a crowdfunding appeal to bring the woodland into public ownership and protect it as a wildlife habitat.

The Management Committee of DaSRA assessed the situation and agreed that the risk of the site being sold for development met the Fund’s criteria for support.

As the auction deadline approached, the fundraising total was still just short of the required amount. Within hours of the deadline, DaSRA awarded £2,000 from the Community Fund, enabling the Parish Council to submit a successful bid.

The woodland is now safely in public ownership under the management of Deviock Parish Council, ensuring it remains a protected natural space for residents, wildlife, and future generations.