University of Exeter appoints new Chair of governing body

The University of Exeter has announced that Quentin Woodley is to be the new Chair of Council, the University’s governing body, and Pro-Chancellor with effect from 1 August 2022.

An experienced board chair with a background in finance, investment and strategy, Quentin was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, the international strategy consulting firm, for many years. In addition, he has formerly served as Vice Pro Chancellor (Deputy Chair of Council) at the University of Leeds. He currently chairs the boards of several large defined benefit pension schemes.

He...

Jay Blades joins forces with literacy charity to inspire adults to learn to read

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 11:12pm

Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades is taking part in a new BBC documentary which will follow his journey as he faces up to the challenge of learning to read as an adult with charity Read Easy UK.

Jay concealed his inability to read until he was in his 30s, after he struggled to learn to read as a child. Jay is not alone - a quarter of all children in England leave primary school (1), like Blades, unable to read to the expected level. Nearly seven million adults in the UK have very poor literacy skills (2). Many are too ashamed or embarrassed to come forward and ask for help....

Devon Air Ambulance tasked to 1,900 incidents in 2021

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 10:49pm

Mission statistics for 2021 reveal just how vital the response of the Devon Air Ambulance medical emergency service is to the people of Devon, as they experience their busiest year ever.

Throughout another challenging year for many public services and charities, the crew at Devon Air Ambulance has been tasked to attend over 1900 incidents across Devon and were also called to assist across our borders in neighbouring counties of Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and one mission to Hampshire.

Of those 1900 missions, 844 were to help patients with medical emergencies (those...

6 out-of-the-box birthday present ideas

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 9:13pm

Finding the perfect birthday present is a tricky business. Whenever someone you love is having a birthday – no matter whether it’s a partner, parent, friend, sibling or even a cherished work colleague – you want to show them how much you appreciate them by getting them something special.

Rather than settle for a bottle of wine, socks, or novelty mug, try to find a present that’s unique to them, and which speaks to your relationship.

Here are just a few out-of-the-box birthday present ideas to get you started.

A special cake

What is a birthday without a birthday...

Co-op and Cruse launch new partnership to empower local people in the South West to support the bereaved

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 8:22pm

A new partnership from Co-op and Cruse Bereavement Support is aiming to help people talk about death and grief more openly, as the nation continues to emerge from the devastating effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

YouGov research* out today reveals that four in ten adults living in the South West (48%) who have not experienced a bereavement admit to being unprepared in knowing how to help a bereaved friend or relative and almost a fifth (17%) have actively gone out of their way to avoid someone who is grieving because they don’t know what to say to them.

More than four...

Paul and Donna Berry from The Swan.

The Swan reaches number 25 in Gastropub top 50

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 4:54pm

STAFF at The Swan in Bampton are celebrating this week after being named for the sixth year running as one of the top 50 gastropubs in the country (January 2022).

The multi-award-winning mid-Devon pub polled in at number 25 in the 2022 ‘Estrella Damm’ Top 50 Gastropub Awards.

Chef-patron Paul Berry, who co-owns The Swan with his wife and fellow award-winning chef Donna, said: “We can’t believe we have made the Gastropub top 50 list for the sixth year running and we have come in at number 25, especially after such a rollercoaster two years.

“We’re so proud and would...

Food Charity appeals for retired volunteers

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 3:49pm

FoodCycle , the charity that aims to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community, is in urgent need of volunteers. This month, FoodCycle will invest in a national recruitment campaign to try to entice more people to join them.

While volunteer roles are open to anyone who has some time to spare, the current drive will particularly target retired members of the community.

Alex Hatherly, South West Regional Manager explains why:

“Only around 3% of our FoodCycle volunteers are retired yet we’ve found with the combination of...

Five men holding pasties

Local businesses sink their teeth into competition with Men’s Walk launch stunt

Authored by SofyR
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 1:05pm

Men’s Walk will return on Saturday 12 March to raise vital funds for Hospiscare. The popular fundraising event offers two ways to take part this year in order to raise vital funds for families living with a terminal illness. Participants can choose to walk a route of their choice in their local area or join the event at Double Locks in Exeter.

As the fundraiser is renowned for its triple perks – a pint, a pasty and the rugby – the charity chose to celebrate the event launch with a pasty eat-athon. Five key representatives of these well-loved elements competed to earn the glory of...

College helping students keep their New Year resolutions

Authored by Joe Cooper
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 10:30am

New year…New You: Lose weight, do more exercise and cut back on spending, are three of the top New Year resolutions.

But with most falling by the wayside within seven weeks, a Devon college is hoping it can help buck the trend well into 2022.

South Devon College has hundreds of health courses on offer to lure people away from the biscuit tin and swap chocolates for chin ups.

“We have a course to suit anyone who wants to teach fitness, get fitter, or work in the industry,” said Daniel Gaze, Head of Sport, Adventure and Protective Services at South Devon College....

Business support programme launched in Devon

Authored by Program
Posted: Tue, 01/25/2022 - 9:55am

A new business support programme has been launched offering a range of business training and support services for the self-employed and small to medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

Up to 600 businesses will be supported through the Heart of the South West Growth Hub’s new programme – Thrive.

The programme is part funded by the ERDF and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with match funding from the Growth Hub and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The programme aims to stimulate...

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