Charities

With the start of the New Year comes the first days of new beginnings, new adventures and new experiences. This year, why not do something really special? When we say volunteering for Guide Dogs is life changing, we’re not just talking about the people we’ll support. You’ll gain new skills; build confidence you never knew you had and have amazing experiences that you genuinely couldn’t find anywhere else.

There are around 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. Guide Dogs, a UK-wide charity with a community team based in Exeter, supports people with a visual impairment...

At this time of year, charity shops across Britain see an influx of donations. As new toys and gifts have arrived in many homes over Christmas, they quickly become the new favourites as older ones are abandoned for the latest playthings. It can sometimes become a struggle to accommodate them all and more often than not, a rehoming exercise ensues.

It’s not just the children who might find an abundance of gifts under the tree either, grown-ups may also find their wardrobes and drawers in need of a ‘sort out’ as brand-new outfits, coats, shoes, boots, bags and accessories have...

Exminster public house The Royal Oak provided a festive community lunch for up to fifty guests as part of its year-long commitment to Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care.

The pub will be supporting Westbank throughout 2023 after choosing the local organisation as its Charity of the Year.

The pub closed its kitchen to the public to lay on a complimentary two-course lunch for some of Westbank’s regular users and volunteers - and the festive fare went down a treat.

Pauline Dinnis, who was driven to the venue by Westbank volunteer Mark, said: “I’m...

EGGHEADS from Devon helped raised more than £1,000 for a charity in the county at a Christmas quiz night held at an award-winning pub (December 2022).

The Swan in Bampton hosted the event in aid of the Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) and quizzers helped raise £1,032 for the good cause.

Chef-patron Paul Berry, who co-owns the gastropub with his wife and fellow award-winning chef Donna, says: “Our annual Christmas quiz night is always a bit special and this year we were raising funds for CHAT, which tackles homelessness in the area.

“Through quiz entry sales and a...