We are a registered Community Benefit Society working to bring Bickleigh Mill back to life as a hub for community life, local enterprise, and sustainability.

Vision

Bickleigh Mill will be a community-owned place to meet, work and thrive. At its heart will be a welcoming café and a shop offering everyday essentials, local produce and crafts. Around this core, a family of sustainable enterprises will support local employment, creativity and rural entrepreneurship. The Mill’s heritage, river and landscape will be cared for and shared through education, interpretation and responsible management of water, biodiversity and energy. The site will be accessible, inclusive and financially resilient, balancing community benefit with long-term sustainability. Bickleigh Mill will be a hub for Mid-Devon – open to all who want to be part of it.

Purpose

To secure Bickleigh Mill for the community, forever – and to regenerate it as a place where people can live, work, belong and thrive.

Mission

We will buy and run Bickleigh Mill as a family of self-sustaining enterprises serving the community, and reinvesting in the Mill’s people and heritage.

Our values

Inclusivity

We welcome everyone and remove barriers so people of all abilities, backgrounds and means can take part, feel valued and belong fully.

Sustainability

We choose what’s good for the Mill, the ecosystem, and the community over the long term.

Honesty and transparency

We share information openly, explain the reasons behind our decisions, and tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable; trust will be earned by what we do, not just what we say.

Respect and fairness

We treat staff, volunteers and visitors with courtesy and respect, giving credit for what people contribute – and when a hard call must be made, we make it openly and explain why.

A Community Benefit Society a legal structure that provides a tried-and-tested framework for democratic ownership and decision-making, and ensures profits are reinvested for the benefit of the community.

Governance

The community benefit society was registered in October 2026 with three founding members, Pauline Dodsworth, James Vigne and Michael McAndrew. We expect to elect our first board of directors over the coming months who will be responsible for governance of the society.

Until we elect our first board of directors, our project is being guided by our steering group. Once the board of directors is up and running our steering group will hand over its responsibilities to them.

Get involved

You can get involved and help to turn this idea into a reality.