The 14th Community of Dragons sows business seeds

From a former abattoir turned into a photographic darkroom, to the rebirth of  Newton Abbot’s old covered market, it’s apparent the Totnes way of building resilient local business is spreading.

The 14th Local Entrepreneur Forum’s Community of Dragons event attracted more than 100 people to hear five companies pitch their big ambitions.  They were all connected in some way to food and land and wellbeing, particularly for young care leavers.

Gathering Ground and Jam and Bread both tackle the problems care leavers face, but in very different ways.

The statistics are shocking.

One in three care leavers become homeless within two years of leaving care  ( source: Barnardos), said Lucy Reynolds from Gathering Ground, which offers nature-based support.

Vicki from Jam and Bread – a sandwich shop in Paignton which teaches young people bread making and retailing skills – said that while nationally 39% of care leavers are NEETS – not in education, employment or training – here in South Devon it’s a staggering 50%.

Food In Community and CROP both work to supply, save and sell local produce to  keep the farming economy healthy and put money from customers back into the pockets of local growers and caterers, rather than the big supermarkets.

FIC has set up a food hub (see Pulse article here) and is training staff, explained operations director Claire Davis.

It’s hoping  that Project Beetroot will raise £100,000 in total to pay for ongoing costs before it begins to generate income.

CROP has ambitious plans to transform Newton’s old pannier market into a street food hub, catering facilities for hire and space for local producers to sell. Operations director Jay Jacoby told the Pulse that CROP is in the final stages of negotiating the lease with owners Teignbridge District Council. The 16,000 square foot market hall near the Alexandra Cinema is a stunning building, Jay said, and they already have a list of 100 local traders keen to get involved.

CROP was in talks with Dartington Trust to take over the Cider Press Centre but nothing came of it. “It was a mutual realisation that our visions didn’t align,” Jay said.

If all goes to plan the NOM – Newton Old Market – could be up  and running later this year.

There are also exciting developments afoot at Contact, a community darkroom and co-working space in Bridgetown opposite The Albert Inn, down past the penguin sign.

Four film makers and photographers – Jacob, Milo, Ella and Finnegan – run workshops with school pupils teaching them the art of taking and printing photographs on that once-vanishing medium – film. Yet, like vinyl, it’s a medium that’s having a moment back in the sun (or not, as it’s film….)

“Darkrooms are the antidote to the throwaway culture we live in,” Jacob told the audience at the Royal Seven Stars last week.

The space also has a gallery for exhibitions of work created at Contact, which also holds residencies for visitors from all over the  world – and from locals too of course. Dragons can offer cash, expertise and connections and these businesses have already made successful introductions through the LEF event.

As one pitcher said: “To grow a seed that’s been planted, we just need water.”