Passionate about helping people by running practical projects that respond directly to need.

Exeter Community Initiatives believes individuals experiencing vulnerability in their life can fulfil their potential through the right opportunities. Our vision is for our communities to be mutually supportive, economically and socially vibrant - and we contribute to this by identifying unmet need and developing projects WITH, not FOR people.

Why the community needs this charity

In 1993, churches in Exeter took the initiative to respond to the visible homelessness problem, which led to the creation of ECI. Today, we continue to develop projects that benefit our local communities. Starting with homelessness, then offenders, we now have a focus on children and families and throughout, community development has played a central role. In 2009/10 for every £1 given, we created a financial return of nearly £25, achieving benefits for our community and the local economy.

Results and outcomes

Since 1993 we have created 20 new projects and supported 7 to become independent, whilst 6 remain currently with us.Over the years we have supported: 182 offenders with housing and other needs; 266 volunteers to engage in practical support; 300 children experiencing disadvantage; 410 other local community groups, initiatives or networks to develop; 839 households to get tenancies; 2500 homeless people with food, clothing, nursing support, advice, training and help with housing.

Latest activities and projects

Exeter Parenting Coordination

The Strengthening Families programme is here for all families with young people aged between 10 and 14 years of age to help prepare them for their teenage years. This 7 week evidence-based programme is aimed at reducing alcohol and drug use, behavioural problems in adolescence and strengthening the parent/carer child relationship. read more

Homelessness Collaboration

It aims to achieve this through: sharing information and promoting best practice committing to working together in the most effective and efficient way discussing issues of mutual concern feeding into other forums and strategies informing both local and national policy developing practical ways of meeting need through new projects or areas of work developing joint working to minimise duplication of effort and competition and making the best use of resources read more

Harvest

Harvest is a city-wide project, encouraging people to engage in food-growing activities in their local community. Harvest will organise events and skill-sharing opportunities related to food and growing, encouraging participants and the wider public to celebrate local food and their own achievements. This is a community-led project, and once established, it is hoped that community members will continue to run and develop the activities. read more

Flying Start Children's Centre

Flying Start Children's Centre works closely with local groups and agencies to ensure that a full range of support services are available to children aged 0-5 across St David's, St James, Newtown, St Leonard's and Duryard. read more

Community Hubs

Our aims are: to offer one-to-one support to community hub groups to adopt an entrepreneurial approach and develop sustainable funding practices to support community hub groups in developing and delivering new services and activities to support community buildings to engage in the Hallmark Quality Assurance Scheme to set up a Network of Community and Residents Associations' in Exeter so that these groups can share learning and experiences.  read more

Beacon Heath Community Project

We have run a variety of different activities over the 2 years we have run the project. We are currently running the following activities: The Art and Crafts Group Community Orchard Group Story of our Lives The Beacon Newsletter  read more