Dawlish pupils are winners on “Minibeast Trail”

Forty-two schoolchildren from Gatehouse School, Dawlish went on the “Minibeast Trail” on the Riviera Line which links Exeter, Newton Abbot and Paignton.

Two of them won prizes for coming up with the most interesting “Minibeast” names.

Earlier in the year, children from the school had made the “Minibeasts”, which include butterflies, dragonflies, bees, ladybirds and snails, from recycled plastic. The “Minibeasts” were then put on planters at Teignmouth, Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Paignton stations and the “Minibeast Trail” was launched.

On a recent trip, a...

Last call for views on county division boundaries

There are just a few weeks left for local people to tell the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England where they think the county’s new electoral division boundaries should be drawn across Devon.

The Commission is carrying out an electoral review of Devon which means re-drawing electoral division boundaries across the county. The Commission is asking local people for their views on new division arrangements before it draws up recommendations. The Commission will consider all views put to it during the consultation and aims to publish draft recommendations for...

New measures to tackle online child abuse

An unprecedented package of measures to eradicate online child abuse will be announced today by the Prime Minister at the UK government’s #WeProtect Children Online summit in London.

Delegations from more than 50 countries, 26 leading technology companies and 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are taking part in the 2 day summit at Lancaster House, the first of its kind in the world.

Speaking at the summit, the PM will announce a new joint National Crime Agency (NCA)/Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) specialist unit to tackle the worst cases of child...

Young pay price of borrowing

One in ten (nine per cent) young people in the South West say they have borrowed money from companies, according to a shocking new report released today by Action for Children.

The charity’s report, Paying the Price, has uncovered a worrying level of borrowing amongst young people.

Out of the 1,052 12 to 18-year-olds surveyed, in the South West a third (38 per cent) of those that said they have borrowed have done so with pay day loan providers. High street lenders including store cards are also becoming a port of call, with 13 per cent of young people) saying they use them...

Charity plays Santa to young cancer patients

Every young UK cancer patient spending this Christmas in hospital can look forward to receiving some very special gifts.

Playing Santa for the eighth year, The Laura Crane Cancer Trust will ensure that no 13-24-year old sufferer on a ward is forgotten.

And the 2014 effort will be the biggest yet with 500 presents set to be delivered, including gift boxes to the youth cancer unit at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter.

Volunteers for the small national charity based in Huddersfield will choose, buy and wrap gifts, then send them to 39 hospitals across the...

Exeter's Nicola Oakey wins place on Homebase Garden Academy

Nicola Oakey, (24) has beaten over 1,300 candidates for a place on the ground-breaking Homebase Garden Academy training programme.

Now in its second year, this pioneering scheme will run for 12 months and offers young people a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop their gardening skills, in addition to working alongside award-winning gardener designer Adam Frost.

Over the next year, Nicola will spend time learning from Adam about garden planning and design; working with top garden suppliers to develop her product knowledge covering planting and landscaping; and learn...

Electric Friday hits Exeter

People are being invited to ‘charge around’ Exeter as Electric Friday hits the city.

Exeter City Council has joined up with sponsors Westerly Exeter BMW to encourage more people to use electric cars.

On Friday (12 December), shoppers using the City Councils car parks will be able to find out more about Electric Cars, and charging facilities provided by the Council as well as an opportunity to see the new BMW i3 and i8, provided by charge point sponsors Westerly Exeter BMW.

The Chargepoints located at Matford Park and Ride, Mary Arches, John Lewis, Guildhall,...

Age UK launches search to find Digital Champion 2015

Actress June Whitfield has joined Age UK in a nationwide search to find the Charity’s Digital Champion of the Year for 2015, with the aim of inspiring the 4.8 million older people who have never been online, to give it a try.

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that in Devon, there are 126,000 people who have never logged on.

Age UK is looking for an older person whose life has been changed for the better by learning to use digital technology, whether it’s finding long lost family members on Facebook, buying and selling on eBay, listening to music or...

Exeter Business Improvement District proposal launched

Over 50 business representatives were present at the launch of the Exeter BID proposal document which was revealed at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum on Monday (8 December).

Those attending the event learnt more about the BID and what will be included within the BID Business Plan which will go out to all voters in January 2015.

The business plan identified three main priorities: marketing and events, welcome and safe as well as looking after businesses.

Further ideas within the plan include making Exeter a clean and safe city which could include gaining Purple Flag...

New Premier Inn starts recruiting staff

The new seafront hotel for Exmouth, Premier Inn, has started recruiting for staff and is looking for local people to fill the equivalent of 23 posts following the successful recruitment of a manager and assistant manager.

Following the sale of the former Elizabeth Hall to Whitbread plc as part of the regeneration of Exmouth seafront the 60-bed hotel is being built and will open on 2 March 2015.

The hotel is looking for chefs, reception and housekeeping staff. Premier Inn offer three weeks’ paid training prior to the hotel opening. All pay will exceed the national minimum...

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