Seven inspiring social action projects across the UK have been awarded £700,000 to support unpaid family carers, including the Devon Carer’s Scheme - managed by Westbank Community Health. Westbank Community Health have been awarded £140,000 of funding to support carers through information social action, carer support groups, helplines and health and wellbeing checks. Matthew Byrne, Manager of Devon Carers, said: “Caring is social action at its most informal. This scheme enables us to build on the immense contribution that carers already make, and recognises that often they are the best...

After the Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI) Awards took place at the Met Office in Exeter, Devon businesses and schools celebrated at a buffet provided by the Met Office.

Winners on the night were Exeter’s Real Food Store, Twool, St Sidwell’s School and Bike Bank, and the Environmental Champion was Brian O’Brien from Devon Cliffs Holiday Park in Exmouth.

Photography by Andy Robinson

Planning an event – whether corporate or private – invariably always starts with the burning question “where will we host it?”.

In the New Year, event planners will have exclusive access to a very special venue in Uffculme, Devon – Bridwell House and Deer Park – which will be opening its doors for private hire for the first time in its 240-year history, allowing both businesses and private individuals exclusive use of its stunning residence and 100 acre parkland.

Home to Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Bridwell offers a wealth of flexible space to accommodate a host of events, from...

CosyDevon is on a mission to help residents across Devon save money on fuel bills and make their home warmer for years to come.

CosyDevon’s van will join Exmouth’s Christmas Cracker from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 6 December, in Rolle Street. David Stevenson, CosyDevon’s energy advisor, will be on hand to give people free energy advice and to help them apply for the scheme.

CosyDevon is an energy saving scheme launched in July 2014 by nine local authorities including East Devon District Council working in partnership with E.ON. It is investing up to £9 million in improving...

Devon and Cornwall Police has welcomed a new assessment from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary which shows the Force is performing strongly and serving communities to a high level.

The HMIC’s first Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy, (PEEL), report is overwhelmingly positive and singles out the Force as performing well in terms of reducing crime, achieving efficiency savings and operating with integrity.

It rates the Force as ‘Good’ in all areas assessed with further praise for preventing reoffending, tackling anti-social behaviour, secure financial...

The Exeter Northcott Theatre is delighted to welcome The Birmingham Stage Company with their production of George’s Marvellous Medicine for Christmas 2014.

This acclaimed adaptation of Roald Dahl by Birmingham Stage Company and David Wood, shows a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper. But when his grandmother drinks his special new potion, the most incredible things start to happen. And George's adventure has just begun!

Amongst the professional cast, nine girls from Exeter will take it in turns each week to play the...

Rob Baxter has called on his Exeter Chiefs side to fight “tooth and nail” to keep themselves firmly in the mix at the top end of this year’s Aviva Premiership.

The in-form Chiefs currently sit second in the standings after defending champions Northampton Saints reclaimed pole position with their victory at Saracens last Sunday.

For Baxter, though, seeing his team perched well within the top four is hugely rewarding after what has been an impressive campaign to date for the Devon club.

Not only are the Chiefs flying high in the league, but they top both their LV= and...

Fire crews were called into action shortly before 1.30pm on Saturday after reports of a blaze at a block of flats in Crediton.

Numerous calls were made to the fire service reporting smoke coming from a property in Town Park.

On arrival the incident commander confirmed there was a fire in the kitchen of the ground floor flat.

Crews had to force entry.

The adjacent properties were checked in the roof space to ensure the fire had not spread.

Crews used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.

Positive pressure...

Staff at Otter Nurseries were delighted to learn that readers of Primary Times have voted the garden centre’s grotto as the best place to celebrate Christmas with Santa in Devon.

Over the last few months families from across Devon have been voting en mass in the magazine’s highly regarded Reader Star Awards, designed to recognise favourable, local family friendly places and people.

Otter Nurseries Managing Director, Jacqui Taylor said: “We are over the moon to be chosen by the readers of Primary Times as the winners in their new Christmas/Santa Event category.

“Each...