CALVERT DEVON

Aim: Thanks to everyones amazing support we have now raised enough money to keep the centre going

2025 UPDATE following the 2024 emergency appeal campaign. 

Calvert Exmoor is now Calvert Devon. A new name for the same incredible adventures!

We are thrilled to announce that Calvert Exmoor has a new name – Calvert Devon! This exciting change reflects our growth since 2024, new activities, and upgraded accommodation, marking a fresh chapter in our journey. While our name is evolving, our mission continues thanks to this excellent breathtaking appeal: to provide adventure without limits for every ability and everybody.

Alongside our new name, we’ve introduced the brand-new lodges overlooking the reservoir (available from June), as outlined in the spending plans from this campaign. The five pods will provide low-cost bunkhouse accommodation for use by mainstream schools for educational activity trips and other able-bodied groups to generate a substantial new income stream

 Discover our new website: calvertdevon.org.uk

2024

We are overjoyed and deeply grateful. After three weeks of tireless campaigning and unwavering support from thousands of incredible people like you, we have made it!

With your help, we’ve raised more than £500,000. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Against all the odds, we’ve succeeded in saving Calvert Exmoor, thanks to your generosity and belief in our centre.

Every donation, share, and interaction with our social media posts has made a difference. Whether you are one of our many individual supporters, a business, or a Trust or Foundation, your contribution has been vital. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this campaign a success.

We are boldly planning to diversify our income streams and secure a sustainable financial future. We are fully committed to making the necessary changes to strengthen our charity for the long term. With these new strategies, we are confident that we can continue to provide the exceptional experiences that so many of you know and love at Calvert Exmoor.

We have decided to leave the fundraiser open for now. As a charity, continuous donations enable us to thrive. For those who wish to continue supporting us with additional donations, you can do so on the Crowdfunder or donate directly through our website. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps us deliver life-changing experiences.

From the bottom of our hearts, a thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. We couldn’t have done it without you!

ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN TEXT

We faced an immediate and critical financial crisis. Without raising £500,000 by August 31st 2024, our doors would have closed forever.

For almost 30 years, our centre has been a vital source of transformative outdoor adventures for individuals and families with disabilities.

We've offered life-changing experiences through accessible activities like horse riding, zip-lining, climbing and canoeing. Our mission has always been to foster independence and build confidence, and we've proudly provided these opportunities to so many incredible people.

The Situation We Face

The current economic climate has presented us with severe challenges meaning we are now at a crisis point.

• Decline in Tourism: The South West tourism sector has been hit especially hard this year by weather issues and increased competition from overseas travel.
• Inflationary Pressures: The costs of running our centre have risen sharply due to inflation. Essentials like food, fuel, maintenance, and wages have all become more expensive, putting a strain on our finances.

How your donations will help

To overcome these challenges and secure our future, we have launched a Crowdfunder campaign with a target of £500,000. This desperately needed money will be used to:

• £200,000 - Keep Our Doors Open & Keep Our Horses Safe: We need cash now to enable us to stay operational over the winter months. We have a fantastic number of bookings for 2025 already, but without this money now, the centre will close and our excited guests will miss out on their opportunity to flourish through their upcoming breaks. With 14 horses in our care, one of our top priorities is ensuring that these cherished animals can stay on site and remain cared for by our dedicated and passionate equestrian team of staff, volunteers and community members.  If Calvert Exmoor closes, our horses will be considered assets and no longer remain in our care, making their future uncertain.
• £150,000 - Enhance Our Centre & Business Model: to provide us with the confidence and funds to invest into re-structuring how we operate; to continue and develop our fundraising team;  to develop new markets and activities to enhance the range of activities and guest experience; to instal solar panels on the equestrian centre roof to substantially reduce our energy costs and to establish partnering arrangements with other organisations to maximise the use of or excellent facilities and site. Most importantly it buys us the time to put into effect and further develop these plans as part of our diversification strategy so that we are not dependent on guest revenue and fundraising alone. This will enable us to generate much more income to support our core charitable activity.
• £150,000 - Explore New Opportunities: to invest in 5 pods to provide low-cost bunkhouse accommodation for use by mainstream schools for educational activity trips and other able-bodied groups to generate a substantial new income stream

Please note that these individual amounts are estimated. They are also not independent of each other and need to be handled as a total sum of £500,000 to help now and in the future. 

Ultimately, £500,000 buys us the time to put into effect and further develop plans as part of our diversification strategy so that we are not dependent on guest revenue and fundraising alone. This will enable us to generate much more income to support our core charitable activity. Without reaching the total amount, staff redundancies would need to take place, breaks would be cancelled, and the future of the centre would continue to crumble, leaving no choice but to close the doors for good.

In the past 18 months, Calvert Exmoor has made remarkable strides, thanks to the incredible support of our dedicated community of staff, volunteers and donors. We’ve successfully launched a new website, introduced exciting new activities like rafting and outdoor crate-stacking, and upgraded our facilities with cutting-edge accessibility equipment and a new community sensory room. 

This is a community effort. Calvert Exmoor enables people from all over the UK and in the local North Devon community to access invaluable experiences. We have always believed that it's what you CAN do that counts!

Please join us in this mission. Together, we can ensure that Calvert Exmoor continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for those who need it most.

To support our campaign even further, please donate or get in touch. 

Thank you for your continued support.

The Calvert Exmoor Team

[email protected]