Two popular community projects in Axminster will receive nearly £10,000 from East Devon District Council, and £2,000 from Devon County Council, in crowdfunding campaigns worth more than £25,000.

The decision was made by East Devon District Council's Community Grants Panel and by Devon County Council to give grants to both the Community Waffle House and Pippins Community Centre, to enable them to reach their crowdfunding targets and make their projects happen.

Waffle on the move

The Community Waffle House recently raised £18,040 from 127 supporters in 52 days, which included £5,885 from Crowdfund East Devon, and £1,000 from Devon County Council's Community Chest.

The money will go towards its major move to the first floor of the revamped Trinity House building in Axminster town centre.

The Waffle House opened in West Street as a non-profit-making community interest company last year and has been a huge success, with every penny made going to help the needy of Axminster, especially the isolated and lonely.

It is now moving to premises five times the size, taking over the whole of the first floor of Axminster's landmark Trinity House, which has undergone major refurbishment since closing as a department store.

As well as serving its signature Belgian waffles, the new Waffle House will include a work space specifically aimed at those who would like a comfy, warm and inviting space away from the office or home to catch up with their business needs and to function as a place to have board meetings and games nights, and a play area for children.

Serving the community

The Pippins Community Centre in Axminster houses more than 40 community groups and initiatives under normal circumstances, each doing amazing work in the community.

The building, on the corner of Lyme Road and Stoney Lane, needed to be made watertight, windproof, safe and warm for the future, whilst making sure room hire prices stayed affordable, so volunteers behind the centre decided to run a crowdfunding campaign.

Through crowdfunding, they managed to raise nearly £8,000 towards the project from 42 supporters, which included £3,500 from Crowdfund East Devon and £1,000 from Devon County Council's Community Chest.

Councillor Jack Rowland, chair of the East Devon District Council's Community Grants Panel, said: "The panel was delighted to grant £5885 to the Waffle project and £3500 to the Pippins Centre both based in Axminster as they reached their crowdfund targets to develop and improve their facilities.

"They are a tremendous asset for Axminster and the surrounding area and, on behalf, of the panel, I wish them every success for the future in their endeavours to help their community as evidenced by what they have achieved to date."

Rev Kay d'Albertanson, centre director at Pippins Community Centre, said: "Work has already begun on our beautiful building and the Pippins Operations Team are delighted at the response to our first ever crowdfunding campaign.

"This money helps us to future-proof Pippins for our local community so a massive thank you to all those people who have supported us, we are overwhelmed at your generosity."

Waffle director Timothy Whiteway commented: "East Devon District Council have come alongside us right from the beginning and supported us in so many ways. The simple fact is that we just wouldn't be able to serve our community without the tremendous support from EDDC – they have been amazing!"

East Devon District Council ward members for Axminster, Cllrs Ian Hall, Sarah Jackson and Andrew Moulding, jointly said: "We are delighted that these two fantastic community projects will receive crowd-funding grants from East Devon District Council and Devon County Council. This is excellent news for not only Axminster, but also the wider Axe Valley as these two organisations are so important in the support they give to the people in the area.

"Partnership working has been vital to support the Crowdfunding initiative, so these invaluable services that give so much, for so many, can continue in the future. We would like to thank all those generous public crowd-funding supporters who have helped bring these two excellent projects to fruition."

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet member for communities, added: "Both Pippins Community Centre and Waffle House will be vital in helping communities reconnect once the pandemic is over. They are places where people can meet, make friends, catch-up and get support. I'm pleased that we are able to help fund their ongoing activities."

East Devon District Council still has £70,000 of funding available to local community projects through Crowdfund East Devon. Click here to find out more.

If you are interested and would like crowdfunding training, email [email protected]