Exeter shortlisted for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/29/2025 - 9:51pm

The University of Exeter is a finalist for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards 2026

The ATA Awards celebrate exceptional training, widening participation and employer partnerships, with this year’s awards seeing 650 nominations across 19 categories

Exeter has more than 4,000 apprentices enrolled on degree apprenticeship programmes and the largest portfolio of programmes of any Russell Group learning provider, as well as a dedicated Centre for Degree Partnerships where it works with more than 400 employer partners to increase...

Isca Academy Students Donate Hundreds of Books to Local Charities

Students at Isca Academy have donated hundreds of books to children’s charities as part of a non-uniform day.

Students brought in books they no longer needed, from childhood favourites to popular teenage reads, creating a collection suitable for readers of all ages.

The donations will go to Children’s Hospice Southwest and Atkinson’s Secure Children’s Home, so children can enjoy books and stories over the festive period.

Staff at the school, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, praised the students for their generosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to support...

A Very Merry Million: Exeter Man’s Scratchcard Win Meant an Extra Special Christmas

Christmas magic well and truly arrived in Exeter, where local business-owner Lee Dart (55) celebrated after winning a spectacular £1M top prize on The National Lottery’s ‘£30M Christmas Extravaganza’ Scratchcard.

Lee, who owns his own sign-making company, had popped into his local shop where he decided to treat himself to a festive Scratchcard. His tactic when it comes to picking Scratchcards was to select them completely at random, and this time it proved to work well for him. After scratching it there and then in the shop, it quickly dawned on him that this was not just any...

Taylor Wimpey Exeter donates over 3,000 winter essentials to homeless people and £10,000 to charity

Taylor Wimpey Exeter has donated 3,011 hats, gloves, scarves and socks to homelessness charity, CRASH, through collections from across the region.

As part of its Wrap Up Warm campaign, the leading homebuilder has donated over 14,000 much needed winter essentials to 24 homelessness centres in England, Scotland and Wales in support of its national charity partners - CRASH, St Mungo’s and CRISIS.

Taylor Wimpey Exeter collected the most winter essentials out of every Taylor Wimpey region, and came up with the most engaging video that showcased the collecting journey....

Join our Boxing Day Health Walk

Boxing Day Health Walk

Event Date: 
26/12/2025 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Venue: 
Westbank Community Health and Care, The Healthy Living Centre, Farm House Rise, Exminster, EX6 8AT

Join Westbank's walk leader for a Boxing Day Health Walk, meeting at Westbank’ s Healthy Living Centre in Exminster. Please contact our Health Walks Team for details and to book a place on 01392 824752 or healthwalks@westbank.org.uk

As a charity, we rely on donations. Donations can be made on the day, or in advance by Clicking Here By donating, you will help us to continue to deliver these services, or others like it, to more people in our community in need of our support.

Join Westbank for a Christmas Day Health Walk around Exeter quayside

Christmas Day Health Walk

Event Date: 
25/12/2025 - 10:30am to 11:30am
Venue: 
Exeter Quay

Join Westbank Community Health and Care's walk leader for a Christmas Day Health Walk along Exeter's Historic Quayside, followed by an optional hot drink at Crave. Please contact our Health Walks Team for details and to book a place on 01392 824752 or healthwalks@westbank.org.uk

As a charity, we rely on donations. Donations can be made on the day, or in advance by Clicking Here By donating, you will help us to continue to deliver these services, or others like it, to more people in our community in need of our support.

The toys and hampers were delivered to 50 local families

Westbank delivers 50 Christmas hampers to local families with the help of the business community

Businesses in and around Exeter have rallied to help the Exminster-based charity Westbank Community Health and Care to deliver 50 hampers to support local families this Christmas. A huge donation of children’s toys were a last minute addition to the food hampers - a special donation from Cars and Cuppas, which runs monthly events in Exeter.

Numerous organisations donated festive fare and their time to ensure Westbank’s hampers were packed full of goodies to bring some Christmas cheer to the local community. Volunteers from NatWest’s Exeter branch helped wrap gifts and prepare the...

Lifeways’ Exeter service retains ‘Good’ rating from Care Quality Commission 

A Lifeways supported living service in Exeter is celebrating after retaining its overall 'Good' rating from Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Lifeways Community Care (Exeter), which supports 10 people with learning disabilities and mental health needs to live independently in their own homes, was rated ‘Good’ following an assessment in October 2025.

Inspectors noted the service demonstrated elements of ‘outstanding’ practice, especially in “monitoring and improving outcomes” and “governance, management and sustainability”.

Generally, the service maintained its...

Italian international Varney settles in Devon with new contract

Exeter Chiefs and Italian international scrum-half Stephen Varney has signed a new contract with the club, kicking off an exciting start to the second half of Chiefs’ 2025/26 campaign.

Now an integral part of the game plan for both club and country, Varney has enjoyed an impressive start to his Chiefs career playing in eight out of 13 games so far this season.

Varney said: “I’m delighted to be re-signing with Chiefs. Although I’ve only been here for this season, it’s been a place I’ve really enjoyed from day one.

“The group of players, the staff, and the...

Premier League Darts 2026: Exeter loses hosting rights to Antwerp

Authored by Simon Wells
Posted: Tue, 12/23/2025 - 6:16pm

Westpoint Arena in Exeter has been omitted from the Premier League Darts line-up for 2026.

The series will head to Belgium for the first time next year, with Antwerp chosen to replace Exeter as one of the 17 host venues.

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is eager to broaden its horizons to reflect the sport’s growing popularity with audiences worldwide.

That point is evidenced by the ongoing 2026 World Darts Championship in London, which features numerous players from overseas.

The Netherlands, Germany, United States, Australia and India are...

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