EX5-Alive, the community hub based at Cranbrook Education Campus, (CEC) part of the Ted Wragg Trust, has been awarded £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 Connections 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 process.

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.”