EX5-Alive, the community hub based at Cranbrook Education Campus, (CEC) part of our Trust, has been awarded an amazing £102,258 from the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of The National Lottery. 

The hub worked in partnership with Inspiring Communities CIC to secure the funding. Inspiring connections CIC aims to support groups and individuals who are working within their local communities to deliver much-needed volunteer-led and co-produced support, which in turn will benefit community members to feel as if they are active participants in theirs and others’ daily lives.  

The funding will be used to develop a resident-led social entity which will deliver community initiatives to increase a sense of connection. The project will nurture and guide existing and new resident groups through capacity building, facilitating access to information, strengthening opportunities and developing a wider community engagement processes.

The aim of the EX5-Alive community hub is to support the people of Cranbrook to be happier, healthier and more connected to their community. It offers a cradle to career model and they work with a wide range of external partners, including the Live and Move Sport England fund (Move More Cranbrook), Exeter Foodbank, Action for Children, Parental Minds, Cranbrook Medical for social prescribing and Reach Academy in Feltham.  

The newly funded project will complement EX5-Alive’s aim of engaging Cranbrook residents in shaping their future. The community will connect through community-led activities where residents' voices are heard, represented and community action delivered.

If you would like to know more, be part of this exciting new project or have something amazing to offer then please contact community@ex5alive.com or visit www.ex5alive.com to see what they have been doing in and around the Cranbrook community.

 The Cranbrook Action Group said:

“We are so pleased to be sharing this fantastic news! Well done team EX5 Alive and especially Aynsley Jones. A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes to achieve this result. Time to celebrate. It's good to see the Cranbrook Community being recognised in this way.”

 Sharon Thorne, Director at Inspiring Connections South West CIC said:

“I am delighted, over the moon and thrilled that EX5-Alive has been awarded over £100k by the National Lottery Community Fund! This fantastic opportunity for Cranbrook means we will have an independent organisation owned and governed by Cranbrook residents. Your voice, your choice in what happens within your community.”

Stephen Farmer, Head of Campus at Cranbrook Education Campus said:

“Born from a collaborative discussion with colleagues at the Reach Foundation through the Cradle to Career network, the EX5 Alive Community Hub has grown into a thriving centre of support, facilitating over 13,000 connections in just 18 months. This Lottery funding will enable EX5 Alive to continue expanding its impact, providing vital services to both new and existing residents of Cranbrook and East Devon.”

West Exe School, part of our Trust, welcomed Steve Race MP for a visit to see the school in action on Friday the 4th of October.

Mr Race was elected as the MP for the Exeter constituency at the last general election, prior to that he had worked for Ben Bradshaw MP.  He stated during the election campaign that one of his priorities was fighting for the best start in life for Exeter’s children.

Headteacher Julie Fossey and Deputy Headteacher for Community and Education Joe Bispham, welcomed Mr Race to West Exe School and they had a meeting to discuss how the school is developing their community relationships. 

The school’s head prefects, Stanley and Ella and two other prefects Mia and Harry, then acted as Mr Race’s tour guides. They showed him all around the school site whilst discussing topics from how social media impacts young people to cooking.

Mr Race spoke to the students about the curriculum and their thoughts on it and in turn they informed him about everything that is on offer at West Exe School.  He was particularly interested to hear about the school’s literary canon offer, where by the time they leave students will have read 25 thought-provoking and hopefully, life changing books during tutor time that will bring depth, colour and culture to their lives.

He also heard all about the school’s electives programme, which takes place once a week as part of their curriculum. Students select courses that interest them and then have the opportunity to learn different skills which will help them in their career and employment journey.

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Steve Race MP to West Exe School; we always had a warm relationship with his predecessor, Ben, and look forward to seeing more of Mr Race in the future. I am so proud of the prefects that showed him around; he mentioned how impressed he was with them and how articulate and passionate they were about their school community.”  

Steve Race MP said:

“Thanks to the West Exe staff and particularly the four student prefects who took the time to show me around the school. The students were exceptionally articulate and knowledgeable about the school, and clearly enjoyed their time learning. I’m absolutely convinced that all of them will go on to great things. Ensuring that every young person in Exeter had the opportunity to reach their potential is really important to me, and we’re fortunate to have brilliant schools and teaching staff in the city, like at West Exe, to help make that possible.”