The Sid Vale Association (SVA) is a voluntary conservation charity. It is headquartered in the coastal town of Sidmouth in the English county of Devon. Following the government's restructuring of the legal framework for charities the SVA was registered as CIO No 1154749 on 26 November 2013.
It was the first Civic Society in Britain, founded in 1846[1] by John Carslake. It focuses on preserving and enhancing the civic fabric and the countryside of the Sid valley and encouraging public enjoyment of facilities in the valley. The Society owns over 50acres of the countryside surrounding Sidmouth and has done extensive work within and around the town especially around 'The Byes Walk' that runs from Sidford to Sidmouth. Some of the association's works were the development of 'Margaret's Meadow' and the preservation of 'Bluebell Wood' located on Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth.
It owns and runs Sidmouth Museum, located in Hope Cottage.
It administers the Keith Owen fund. Owen left a considerable sum of money to the town in 2008. Grants are made annually from the interest of the capital he left to encourage and support initiatives which enhance the area and promote leisure and pleasure facilities.[2]