Local News

DEVONIANS are being encouraged by a care provider in the county to spread some festive cheer this Christmas among any elderly and vulnerable neighbours or relatives they might have (December 2018).

Christmas can be a bleak time for anyone living alone and Guardian Homecare, which provides care in south Devon and has offices in Exeter, is asking people to check on relatives and neighbours.

Katie Jewell, Regional Manager for the care provider, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family, but there are some people out there, our service users included,...

To celebrate winning a Gold award in the 2018 Devon Tourism Awards, The Donkey Sanctuary are offering visitors the chance to pick up a free goody bag worth £50 at their Sidmouth centre. Every day, between Wednesday 26 December and Sunday 6 January, a Golden Carrot will be hung from the Christmas tree in the main reception area. The first person to find the carrot and take it to the gift shop wins the day’s goody bag. The international animal welfare charity won the Gold award in the ‘Large Attraction of the Year’ category at the prestigious 2018 Devon Tourism Awards in November. The Donkey...

Police Mutual, the not-for-profit financial services provider, revealed that it had provided just under £2.1m in 2017 towards wellbeing initiatives which help improve the lives of its 200,000 Police family members across the country with Devon one of the areas which benefitted. “Wellbeing is at the heart of what makes life happy and satisfying. We know that one of the easiest ways to improve wellbeing is to be part of a supportive community, because a strong support network helps make individuals more resilient, content and fulfilled. The wellbeing initiatives we run – from financial...

You don’t need to pay to have your council tax valuation band reviewed, Exeter City Council has pointed out. The local authority said that anyone could apply to the Valuation Office Agency if they felt the property they were living in was in the wrong council tax band. However, appeals to the government department may also see the banding go up rather than down! The advice from the City Council comes after an elderly resident was contacted by a company offering to appeal against their council tax banding in return for an £80 fee. Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for People, said: “Whilst...