CARA was founded in 1971 when it was known as Croyde Ratepayers’ Association. It helped open up and signposted many of the best walks in the Parish ( Georgeham, Darracott, North Buckland, Putsborough ,Pickwell, Cross, Forda and Croyde). Thanks to Jennifer & Keith Howes for sharing the newspaper cutting they found in a chimney!
CARA has helped the community achieve a great deal over the years- and still does- but you may not be aware of the scope of its interaction in the Community.
CARA’s Mission Statement is: “To stimulate public interest, to ensure that the villages of the Georgeham Parish, and the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are protected, preserved and improved for the benefit of the whole community for generations to come”.
And NOW!
Since the success of the appeal to correct a major planning error in 2020-21 that placed a significant section of the natural landscape at risk of development without the usual planning checks and balances, CARA has continued to work hard to help protect the AONB and support the Neighbourhood plan where key underlying principles are involved. It has conducted traffic and residential surveys, and obtained professional help & advice when appropriate…but what you may not know is how much it does to support the local community!
CARA, its committee and members regularly work with or provide support to other Community groups such as the Village Halls, Parish Council, Community Lunch Group, CLT, Surf Life Saving Club, parish church and businesses .
Our community is precious- and pretty awesome!
CARA helped towards building the footpath in Newberry Road, Georgeham to improve the safety issues there and has been the catalyst for providing and assisting with funding/ linking up 7- yes seven- AED defibrillator’s in Croyde. These are all registered on https://www.thecircuit.uk/ and the Southwest Ambulance Service provides an annual training session with our amazing local first responders to keep our skills current!
After the successful Court Case, there was an agreement reached with Parkdean to match-fund monies left over, and a Grant process was agreed which has helped to:
Refurbish the Village Green in Croyde
fund the Access for All changing facilities at RUDA
fund the purchase of adaptive surf boards for the Wave Project
fund the new Surf Life Saving Club building in Croyde.
fund and expand the defibrillator provision in the Parish.
Community!
To raise much needed funds- and bring the Community together- CARA has organised social events such as the very popular Jazz Café nights, Soul Intention, Elvis Nights at Unison, …even Ferret racing in the past! The next date for your diary is TODAY April 19th for Bingo!!
We also have a Community Choir- led by John McDonald & Sandra McKay- a great way to lift your spirits! Choir is on a Monday night in St Mary’s Church from 7-8.30pm!
The Georgeham & Croyde Caring Community Group formed in Lockdown is now a subgroup of CARA and this has enabled the group to continue to operate and support the local Community. Regular events include:
- Monthly Community Tea (Croyde)
- Community Lunch (Georgeham)
- Weekly coffee morning / book sale with Georgeham Village Hall
In conjunction with Croyde Village Hall we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation with a Big Lunch in the hall- and show-cased local talent with Crydda’s Got Talent !
The Group also co-ordinates Village WhatsApp groups that have mobilised help when it’s needed! This has included collection prescriptions for folk, lifts to appointments, a Food box scheme during the pandemic and supporting the local Foodbank, putting in water butts for the Village Hall, building benches for the Green, looking after the Planters on the Green, clearing the stream, even making meals for people when they are needed!
We are always keen to support each other – so if you have any ideas- please let us know. And more importantly- if you want to make a difference and help to protect our AONB and Community- please think about joining CARA and adding your skills to the Committee – every little helps!
