
Creative Communities Ilfracombe is a not-for-profit community interest company and a social enterprise.
January 2025 - Scrapstore update
Scrapstore and Reuse/Redistribute plans
This year we are launching a new project to run alongside the Scrapstore plans.
We have started a " Declutter, Destash and Donate" project - using Facebook as a way of connecting with people and local groups/organisations.
The goal is this: to collect preloved, used and surplus items and redistribute them to those who need them.
We are abe to collect and store items as well as receive donations - we can also deliver items or have them available for collection.
Our storage unit is at Hele Business Park.
Library of Things
The next plan is to set up a Library of Things, where people can become a member and then borrow useful items for a small fee. This could include garden tools and equipment, DIY items, kitchen gadgets as well as hobby and leisure items.
A Library of Things is a fantastic way of sharing resources, reducing waste and freeing up space in sheds, garages, cupboards etc. It also helps people to save money and gives people access to items they could not afford to buy.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024 UPDATE
We finally have an office/workspace!
Creative Communities Ilfracombe CIC has been awarded funding from the Local Councillors' Community Fund and the Devon County Council Growing Communities Fund.
This will be used to rent an office space in the Luma Work Hub at the Ilfracombe Centre for 4 months, as well as a storage container for 3 months.
We are very grateful for this funding and the opportunity to develop our plans to set up a Scrapstore and Creative Reuse Centre in Ilfracombe. Having a dedicated work area and storage means we can accept donations of textiles, surplus crafting items/stationery, clean waste items etc, as well as creating packs for the social enterprise so that we can generate some income.
We will continue to seek more funding to enable us to continue renting the office space and hope to find a more permanent home for the Scrapstore at some stage.
Ilfracombe Community Action Group
Creative Communities Ilfracombe CIC is developing its plans to reduce waste, promote positive change and support local community action.
We are delighted to announce that we have been accepted as a member of Devon CAG and we look forward to this next stage of our journey.
We will be setting up the Ilfracombe Local Community Action Group and offering memberships to anyone who is interested in getting involved. This is our opportunity to make positive changes and to take action as a community - we hope you will join us.
Update - wellbeing packs
With thanks to the Co-op Local Cause Fund, we have been able to collate further wellbeing packs and will be distributing these in January 2025. The packs have been much appreciated by the recipients and we will continue to collate and distribute them locally.
Using funding from the Co-op Local Cause Fund, we have collated wellbeing packs - here are photos of the contents of the packs we prepared for local teens. These will be distributed via Delta Ilfracombe in September 2024.







Co-op Local Community Cause 2024
We are excited to have been selected as one of the Co-op Local Community Causes this year!
It's a great way for people to support us when they shop and the funding we receive enables us to collate and distribute wellbeing packs within the local community. So far we have distributed over 70 packs!
We are planning the next round of wellbeing packs - watch this space!
Funding updates
We are very grateful for the funding we have been awarded by:
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Ilfracombe Councillors Local Community Grants
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TDK Lambda
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Ilfracombe Town Council
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Ilfracombe Art and Craft Society
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Tesco Local Community Grant (via Easyfunding).
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Recovery Devon
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Fullabrook CIC
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Devon County Council Growing Communities Fund
Thank you for your support!
Recovery Devon Development Fund
Funding awarded for the Creativity for Wellbeing project - July 2023
We are delighted to have been selected as one of the projects to receive funding from Recovery Devon. The award of £500 will enable us to run another Creativity for Wellbeing group in Ilfracombe.
Part of the funding will be used to trial a new project aimed at connecting people who find it hard to attend a face to face session.





Latest news - we have been accepted on the EBAY FOR CHANGE programme! This enables us to run an eBay shop as a social enterprise.
At CREATIVE COMMUNITIES ILFRACOMBE CIC, we like to move with the times. As a social enterprise we need to find ways of funding what we do, so we are going to be selling hand selected crafting packs and resources online via EBay.
The packs will comprise a mixture of vintage, preloved and new fabrics, textiles and trimmings and will be competitively priced.
Good value for you and good news for the environment.
Our eBay trading name is Thriftycraftsdevon
Creativity for Wellbeing - Ilfracombe Library
Creative Communities Ilfracombe launched its first Creativity for Wellbeing drop in sessions at Ilfracombe Library on Fridays.
We meet as an informal social group, with the aim of relaxing, learning new things and being creative. The sessions offer the chance to do some mindful crafting or to have a natter while crafting.
The sessions are free to attend, thanks to grant funding from the School for Social Entrepreneurs which covered purchase of stock and equipment.
We also use recycled materials where possible and participants have kindly donated items for the group to use.

Fun Festive Workshops at Ilfracombe Library 2022
Coastal Garden Festival - May 2022 - Ilfracombe
Creative Communities Ilfracombe were delighted to be involved with the first Coastal Garden Festival, held at Mullacott Equestrian Centre in May.
It was great fun to support parents and children with creative activities using reclaimed resources from Exeter Scrapstore. The smiling faces and looks of concentration were wonderful!
