christmas

Don’t make Christmas presents a gift for thieves, warns insurance expert

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 12/20/2022 - 9:56pm

Homeowners in the South West are being urged to think twice about where they store their Christmas gifts this year.

“People should not be hiding presents in garages and sheds, even if it is only temporary or overnight,” said William McCarter, of rural insurance broker Lycetts.

“It has never been a good idea to store valuable items in outbuildings, but with the cost-of-living crisis and inflated prices, burglars are more determined to exploit any opportunity they can.”

McCarter stressed the importance of carefully checking household insurance policies and of not...

Mortgage broker turns into Santa to help Exeter families in need

Thanks to The Mortgage Quarter's annual gift appeal and the generosity of the local community, Exeter families in need are set to receive a bumper load of gifts in time for Christmas.

Since 2019, The Mortgage Quarter has run a Christmas toy appeal for a local charity, but this year the company decided to go large and widen the scope. Working in partnership with Exeter CoLab , the donations will benefit seven Exeter-based charities supporting children, domestic abuse survivors, families in temporary accommodation and Ukrainian refugees.

Despite the size of the ask, the local...

Expert advice on handling Christmas as a divorced or separated parent

Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Mon, 12/19/2022 - 12:52am

Handling Christmas can be challenging at the best of times, but if you are dealing with it as a divorced or separated parent, it can be especially testing. Self-help separation website, Splitting Up advises parents to be as flexible as possible with holiday arrangements, but what else can you do to manage what can often be a difficult time of year for divorced or separated parents?

Plan early

If you are already divorced, then you may have a Child Arrangement order in place that includes plans for Christmas and other holidays. This may mean you have the children with you...

Jurassic Fibre supports Hospiscare with Christmas trees recycling scheme

Jurassic Fibre supports Hospiscare with Christmas trees recycling scheme

Authored by Program
Posted: Thu, 12/15/2022 - 12:44pm

Award-winning ultra-fast broadband provider, Jurassic Fibre , has today announced that they have pledged their support once again to Hospiscare this Christmas.

The Exeter-based telecoms company, who are on a mission to deliver their full fibre-to-the premises broadband to 500,000 homes and businesses in the South West, will be supporting Hospiscare’s Christmas Tree Recycling fundraiser, for the second year in a row, with a team of volunteers.

The yearly fundraiser aims to collect unwanted Christmas trees from residents in Exeter, Mid and East Devon to recycle in exchange...

Advice on how to ensure toys are safe this Christmas

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 12/09/2022 - 11:34pm

To help ensure that the toys you are buying this Christmas are safe Trading Standards has released two short videos.

The videos, about toy safety and buying electrical goods , feature Holly Traynor from the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service and she gives her top tips and advice on what to look for and what to avoid.

Trading Standards advises that if you are buying new products, you should ensure they display a CE mark, proof that the product has passed EU safety regulations, or the UKCA mark, which is the UK equivalent.

All toys, including ‘free...

Music and magic at Castle Drogo this Christmas following completion of major restoration project

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 12/09/2022 - 9:33pm

On select dates throughout December, visitors to Castle Drogo on Dartmoor will get to experience a 1920s Christmas party inspired by the festive traditions of the former owner, Julius Drewe and his family.

Open every Friday to Sunday up to 18 Dec and then daily from 19 to 23 December, this is the first Christmas at the castle since the National Trust reached the end of a 9-year conservation project to make it watertight earlier this year.

   In the Entrance Hall, guests will be greeted by a 14ft tree, which reaches the top of the impressive Lutyens-designed ceilings. An...

Snow garden

Ready steady snow!

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Thu, 12/08/2022 - 4:26pm

Sidmouth's illuminated trail Connaught@Christmas is getting ready for opening night on Friday December 9 – and snow has arrived right on time!

In fact, it’s not real snow but biodegradable, environmentally friendly snow that looks just like the real thing. And with temperatures set to be chilly for the next few days, it really does set the scene for the start of this festive event. This is where visitors will find Father Christmas, ready for a friendly chat.

The whole site is lit with just LED technology this year to help make the event as environmentally friendly as...

Exeter Northcott Theatre donates Christmas panto tickets to local charity

Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI), a charity based in Exeter, has been given 40 free Christmas pantomime tickets by Exeter Northcott Theatre to distribute to local families.

ECI’s Devon Family Resource project, which supports families with children aged 0-18 facing challenges and hardships, will distribute the Robin Hood panto tickets amongst the families it works with.

ECI helps people facing poverty, inequality and homelessness to get their lives back on track by involving them in community projects to improve their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, increase...

Police ‘Lift Legend’ Christmas campaign returns with free soft drinks for designated drivers

Devon & Cornwall Police launches its Lift Legend Christmas drink drive campaign today, with over 90 licenced premises set to offer soft drinks to those who give free lifts home to friends and family after a night out.

The initiative runs from Thursday 1 December 2022 to Sunday 1 January 2023 and is a modern approach to the annual Christmas campaign.

On the purchase of their first soft drink, drivers will be able to receive a voucher to have their second free of charge at participating venues.

During the month-long operation officers will be raising awareness...

Exeter homelessness charity’s “Coldplay” Christmas film goes live

The first high profile Christmas campaign produced for the city’s homelessness charity will launch across the social media network today, in a five-week fundraising bid to help support people without a home in Exeter.

Coldplay support

Global superstars, Coldplay , have given consent for St Petrock’s to use the haunting and bittersweet Christmas Lights as the film’s soundtrack.

The campaign goes live today (Monday), thanks to the help of digital advertising experts at AB Brand and Marketing , who are not charging St Petrock’s for their time.

The video,...

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