CAG Devon: ten years of community-led sustainability in Devon

This year (2026) marks ten years since Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon was established to support community-led sustainability and grassroots climate action across Devon.

What began as a small network of groups in Mid Devon and Teignbridge has grown into a thriving, county-wide community focused on collaboration, shared learning and practical environmental action.

Supporting community sustainability projects across Devon

Managed by Resource Futures and funded by Devon County Council, CAG Devon exists to support and empower community groups to take action towards creating a more sustainable future. The network provides practical support (including small grant) as well as practical guidance, training, networking and skill sharing.

CAG Devon works with groups across the entirety of Devon, supporting the delivery of activity across several sustainability areas including waste reduction, reuse and repair, food resilience, rewilding and nature recovery, and sharing and borrowing initiatives.

Between them, CAG Devon groups deliver a wide range of local sustainability initiatives, ranging from repair cafés, community fridges and larders to composting workshops, clothes swaps, community gardens, beach cleans and biodiversity projects.

As well as supporting grassroots climate action, many groups collaborate with their respective town and parish councils on efforts such as sustainability planning, renewable energy initiatives and tree planting.

A growing network of Community Action Groups

CAG Devon continues to expand, with 65 community groups now part of the network and more joining each year.

Most CAG Devon members are volunteer-led community groups, with some developing into social enterprises. In 2025, new members included groups working on food surplus, repair and reuse, community growing, composting, biodiversity and nature restoration.

Sharing skills and collaborative learning remains central to CAG Devon’s approach. During 2025, the team delivered 21 events and training sessions; these helped CAG network members to build skills, confidence and resilience.

The CAG Devon team also delivers and supplies practical training for members: 2025 saw practical hands-on sessions such as PAT testing, bike maintenance and first aid join online workshops on volunteer retention, funding advice and social media. Each session looks to strengthen long term sustainability as well as the financial viability of these groups, helping to bolster the foundations upon which CAG members can grow their reach and impact.

SkillShare: growth through collaboration

SkillShares continue to be a cornerstone of the network. April 2025 saw an East Devon-focused SkillShare take place, with participants visiting the Blackdown Hills Eco Hub to explore biochar, and the Thelma Hulbert Gallery to learn about the role of arts in community action.

The network-wide SkillShare25 in Newton Abbot brought together 76 participants from across Devon to focus on ‘growing through collaboration’. This event saw practical workshops and open discussions designed to inspire new ideas, promote partnership and make positive grassroots action easier to achieve.

Together for Tomorrow: supporting grassroots climate action

One of the year’s major milestones for CAG Devon in 205 was the launch of ‘Together for Tomorrow’, a National Lottery-funded programme supporting grassroots climate action in Devon. The project helps communities develop practical local initiatives and transform libraries into sustainability hubs, strengthening access to information, skills and support.

2025 has been a year of growth, collaboration and shared learning for CAG Devon. As the network enters its tenth year, the CAG Devon team continues to work closely with communities and community spaces across the county to empower local action and drive positive environmental change in 2026 and beyond.

To mark this milestone, the CAG Devon team has launched a short film created at the 2025 SkillShare community event:

Featuring voices from across the network, the film highlights the impact of community sustainability projects and the power of people coming together to share skills, knowledge and lived experience.

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