Welcome to our news and events page, where we are proud to showcase all that is happening in aid of Totnes Caring around the local community, please note that this is in addition to all the regular events we offer as listed on our website:
Forthcoming Dates for your diary:
Our ART GROUP is delighted to announce their EXHIBITION which is at St Mary’s Church from September untilmid December.
The group meets weekly at the Compassionate Care Day Centre in Totnes to create art together using inspiration from a different theme each week
They have collected some of their favourite pieces to curate a mini art exhibition at St Mary’s Church, Totnes which has recently undergone its Uplift Project so this is a wonderful opportunity to see recently renovated Church and the amazing new space it offers our community.
If you would like to find out more about the group or to join them, please contact Vanessa on 01803 262280 or email her at vanessa.mallin@totnes.caring.org.uk
We are delighted to announce another collaboration with Soundart radio:
Join Totnes Caring, artist Alice Armstrong and writer Lucy Lepchani for a series of creative workshops to make a collective radio drama for broadcast on your local community station, Soundart Radio. Our theme is the Autumn Equinox and we will be working as a group using text, images, instruments and sound recordings to build our own Autumn themed story.
Fun, friendly and creative these workshops are suitable for everyone, with no writing experience required.
If this is of interest we still have spaces for this Wednesday – please call us and ask for Vanessa to get more details.
Dates & times:
Wednesday 9th, 16th & 23rd September from 2-4pm
RECENT EVENTS:
VOUNTEER FAIR at the Civic Hall Saturday 12th September 
This was a wonderful day in September, highlighting approximately 30 local charities who were able to come together and showcase what they do, and reach out to the public on whom we rely so heavily for our fantastic teams of volunteers.
There were lots of different organisations represented, so it was a great opportunity to find out more about the many different volunteering opportunities available locally, and it was lovely to see some of you there!
Teignbridge Trotters Totnes 10k & Fun Run – held on 2nd August this was the 3rd year by the wonderful and well respected team at the Teignbridge Trotters and what a fantastic community event this was! The Totnes 10K was completely sold out, with around 600 runners, alongside 156 runners taking part in the Fun Run.
A huge thank you to all our fantastic Totnes Caring volunteers, who were absolute stars throughout the day. The Bag Drop was run with impressive precision, while our team at the incredibly busy Water Station kept runners refreshed on another very hot day, as well as helping to hand out the medals.
Totnes & District Show, Sunday 26th July
This is a wonderful one day agricultural show which is now
over 100 years old and is always the most fabulous day.
We were delighted to greet lots of supporters there both old and new, and as ever a huge thank you to our Judy, Ian & Rose who came and helped us on the day, and for the support of Peter & Sue Bethel & Richard O’Connell for making it possible for us to have a stand at the Show.
What a fantastic day at Tractorfest!
We were delighted to have a stand at this increasingly popular annual even in Ashprington, and a huge thank you to everyone who helped make it such a wonderful community event.
It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the impressive display of tractors, meeting friends, and supporting local organisations. There was a real sense of community spirit throughout the day, and it was wonderful to see families of all ages having such a great time.
Events like Tractorfest are a wonderful reminder of what makes our local community so special.
Well done to everyone involved in organising another brilliant day – we hope to see you all again next year!
Totnes Caring Quiz Night a Great Success!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Quiz Night at the Dartmouth Inn on Thursday 18th June.
We were delighted to welcome more than 60 participants, with 13 teams taking part in an evening of friendly competition, laughter and fundraising. Thanks to the generosity of those attending and our wonderful raffle prize donors, we raised over £560 to support the work of Totnes Caring.
Congratulations to our winning team, Mermaids Are Us, who took home a case of prosecco and the winners’ cup, and well done to QuizTeamer Aguilera, who received the wooden spoon in great spirits!
Our sincere thanks go to the Dartmouth Inn for hosting the event, Quizmaster Martin Billis for keeping everyone entertained, and the many local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the evening. We couldn’t do it without you!
We were delighted to share a stand with Rowcroft hospice at the River Dart Country Park’s 50th anniversary Picnic in the Park last Sunday. In addition to arranging some duck races we offered a lucky dip and helped the Rowcroft’s Name a Bear!
Elizabethan Market, Totnes
Totnes Caring will be manning a stall at the first Elizabethan Market on Tuesday 5th May, and we would be delighted to see you there.
This promises to be a lovely community event, beginning with an opening ceremony and procession, followed by dancing from local schoolchildren. There is always such a wonderful atmosphere when the community comes together, and we are really looking forward to being part of the day.
Do come along and visit our stall to find out more about the support we offer locally, have a chat with the team, and learn how you can get involved with Totnes Caring as a volunteer or supporter. We would love to say hello 😊
VOLUNTEERS – We Need You!
We simply could not do what we do without our amazing volunteers….their time, energy, and enthusiasm are at the heart of everything we achieve, and without them, we would be unable to support the people who rely on our charity.
As we continue to grow, we are looking for more volunteers to join us across a range of roles from befriending and shopping, to driving and supporting our group activities. Whatever time you can offer, it truly makes a difference.
If you have friends, family, or colleagues who might be interested, please do share this message with them.
Volunteering really is a win–win: not only do you help others, but you gain a sense of purpose, connection, and the simple joy of making someone’s day a little brighter.
Thank you in advance for your support 🙂
HUGE THANKS to the local Chapter of the Masonic Order of the Royal Arch who have very generously donated £500 to Totnes Caring. As long standing supporters of Totnes Caring we greatly appreciate their amazing contribution which makes a real difference, helping us to support people within our community to stay connected through groups and activities, and in turn live more independently.
May we extend a big thank you to TheTotnes Ukele Kollective and all the wonderful groups who played at the Sea Shanty Shout event at the Barrel House and through their generosity raised £135 for Totnes Caring – this is very much appreciated and will all go towards supporting those in our community to feel both connected and included, cared for and considered.
The Totnes Ukulele Kollective (TUKE) are a not-for-profit community group playing out of the Barrel House Ballroom on Monday evenings. Each year they chose charities we raise money for through the joy of music, either busking (can next be seen on 04 Apr at Totnes Market) or at related events like the recent Sea Shanty Shout. The Shout raised £270 for Totnes Caring and Stepping Stones Food in the Community, with four acts performing including The Sea Gals, All Hands on Deck, Seaweed in the Fruit Locker and Shanty O’lele.
If you’d like to join TUKE gather on a Monday evening at the Barrel House Ballroom.’
Great New Arts Space and Local Supporter:
We are delighted to be supported by Centre, a bright, welcoming café and arts space over Greenlife with whom we hope to explore ways of working together in the future.
A Collaboration with Soundart Radio
We are thrilled to announce that Soundart Radio will once again be running a creative writing and broadcast session for a selection of our clients this March. This will be a joint venture with some of the youngsters from Park School at Dartington which will add a lovely dimension.
Feedback from previous participants was that this was a truly wonderful, and for some a life-changing experience. Anyone who is interested, please contact us as soon as possible to reserve your place at the meeting in March when Alice will explain more and start to lead the project. We are awaiting a definite date but believe it will be either 10 or 17 March for the workshop and week beginning 23 March for the broadcast.
And some news from previous events:
Christmas Day Lunch in Ashprington Hall – hosted by some of the ladies of the village who cooked up a feast for 35 people and celebrated the day in style! They had kindly decided that any profit would be donated to Totnes Caring and we are delighted to say they raised a wonderful £340!
Friday 19th December – Devonly Voices Winter Concert
Devonly Voices raised an exceptional £550 for Totnes Caring at their concert in St John’s Church which proved an uplifting evening greatly enjoyed by all.
Saturday 13th December – Dartington Village Hall
Huge sale of all manner of goods, plus in the Art section Imogen Taylor-Noble will once again be very kindly selling our Christmas cards on her stall of unique ceramics.
Saturday 6th December – NKUKU Christmas Fair
Clearly Sip Thyme were a big hit at this wonderful occasion as they raised £150 from the sale of their cocktail sets which is very gratefully received. Thank you Debra and Jane.
Sip Thyme is a local Cocktail Demo business, who have kindly offered to donate profits from sales of gift packs of homemade liqueurs to Totnes Caring. Watch this space for more details!
Saturday 6th December – Christmas Pottery Sale, the Ceramic Studio, Dartington
Beautiful handmade ceramics where they will also be selling some of Christmas Cards which we are very grateful for.
4th December – Christmas Bazaar at Quayside, Totnes
A total of £64 was raised, an especial thank you to the volunteers who helped to make this a fun and successful occasion.
We are delighted to have been offered a stall at this popular event. Please do come along to enjoy the occasion, get into the Christmas spirit and support everyone on the day.
Saturday 29th November – St John’s Church Christmas Fair
A total of £ 84 was raised, well done Claire and a huge thanks to all who attended.
Claire Allford who runs our Art Club and creates absolute wonders with the group has had them all busily decorating shells with decoupage and also creating some beautiful lanterns from jam jars amongst other things. Many of these items and more will be on sale at the bazaar where she is kindly running a stall with the proceeds coming to the charity.
Update:
We are delighted to report that the staff and patients at Catherine House Surgery raised in excess of £420 for Totnes Caring. Thank you to everyone who took part and supported them as this is a wonderful result.
What a feat!!
with a QR code to our JustGiving page, you can also sponsor her here too: Totnes Caring Ltd – JustGiving
make sure to give her a wave 
and encouragement!
We now have our very own fundraising pack! You can download it here 🙂 Totnes Caring Fundraising Pack
Check out Totnes Library website for a list of things they have going on during January, including IT support, book talk groups and much more! https://www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/totneslibrary
Totnes Town Council have a warm spaces initiative that we are part of, which has a calendar of free warm spaces in and around Totnes – check out https://www.totnestowncouncil.gov.uk/your-community/cost-of-living-partnership/warm-welcomes/
The wonderful Food in Community have a list of ‘pay what you feel’ and food initiatives throughout each week – Check out https://foodincommunity.org/ to find out what’s happening