A new voice is set to rally the unemployed, students, and retired in the Westcountry in a bid to get them focused on improving their community.
Unite, the largest union in the country, has appointed Brett Sparkes to bring together groups not covered by traditional trade union membership and mobilise them to stage local campaigns, such as saving a library from closure.
The 40-year-old said there was a vast wealth of activism which he hoped to tap into.
"Across the South West, communities feel like they don't have a voice," he said.
"Unite community membership is going to help change that.
"We think it's time that people who don't have a job for whatever reason are now going to have access to the benefits of trade union membership.
"That means members will have access to all kinds of training and education to enhance their skills. But most importantly, it will allow communities to come together and get organised to create positive change."
SW community co-ordinator Mr Sparkes said: "There is a lot of work to be done in the South West, as there is a high level of social need and deprivation," he said.
"It is the region with the highest proportion of people being helped by food banks, where one out of 120 children relies on supplies from food banks."
Unite regional secretary for the south west, Laurence Faircloth said: "We need to mobilise right across the South West to improve lives and take a stand against the austerity policies of the coalition."