Devon County Council announces library grants and addresses SEND deficit

Devon County Council has launched two grant programmes totaling £300,000 to transform local libraries into more inclusive community spaces. The Re-imagined Library Spaces Fund offers up to £20,000 per project for building improvements, while the Enhanced Library Offers Fund provides up to £1,000 for smaller activities and events aimed at promoting community engagement and inclusion.

Separately, the council is addressing significant financial challenges regarding special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) funding. A £191 million government grant will be used to repay approximately 90 per cent of Devon County Council’s accumulated overspend. Despite this influx of cash, officials warned that the SEND deficit for the current financial year is projected to reach approximately £88 million by April. Councillor Denise Bickley noted that Devon remains among the lowest-funded councils in terms of per-pupil education funding compared to other regions.