community

On Wednesday 24th November, in one of the worst incidents since 2014, 27 migrants lost their lives trying to cross the Channel. The group, who were travelling from Calais to Dover, were crammed onto a small inflatable dinghy in their attempt to reach the UK.

To honour and remember all those who tragically lost their lives, Exeter STAR held a vigil at St. Petrock’s Church in Exeter the following Saturday evening (27th) which lasted 27 minutes; a minute for each person who died. Members of the Exeter community came together with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) for the event, with...

Following last year's success, Mecca Bingo Exeter is launching its second unique Everyone Deserves a Christmas appeal to help individuals and families in need this Christmas.

Mecca's renowned UK-wide Christmas appeal involves all 71 clubs across the country and aims to provide hampers to those most in need, allowing them to go through the Christmas season more comfortably. Last year, the original bingo brand partnered with 52 charities to raise an incredible total of £185,000 in cash and hamper donations, providing 3,800 hampers across the UK.

This Christmas, Mecca is...

New Art School, for aspiring young artists, moves into the old Coffee Pot, 1st floor in the Guildhall Shopping Centre. Meraki Art School is a brand-new creative initiative that opened its doors on 18th September 2021 with the launch of its two Saturday classes for young people aged 5-16, Meraki Create and Meraki Inspire. After just 10 weeks of running classes at Exeter Community Centre, Meraki Art school has moved into Exeter Guildhall shopping Centre, holding the first of its classes there on 20th November. Due to the popularity of the classes, they have extended their provision to run an...

With the high rate of positive coronavirus cases across Devon right now, there are growing numbers of people required to self-isolate.

For many fortunate enough to experience only minor symptoms and with people to help them, ten days self-isolating is OK. It's work round-able.

But for others, self-isolating can be very difficult, especially if they live alone, they’re unwell, or have other responsibilities outside the house.

Devon County Council is making small to medium-size grants available to local voluntary and community groups who can help people during...

Charities, councils and community groups are being urged to help support families to heat their homes this winter by applying for grants of up to £10,000.

The £500,000 fund has been provided by local electricity distributor Western Power Distribution (WPD) in a bid to tackle fuel poverty in the community. Applications are now open at www.westernpower.co.uk/community-matters-fund .

Alison Sleightholm, WPD’s Resources and External Affairs Director said: “As we enter a challenging winter, our fund will directly support community organisations who are working at the...

FoodCycle , the charity that fights food poverty and loneliness will be serving up free meals to the community through their Project, FoodCycle Exeter which will transition into a Cook & Collect service on 27th April.

Serving up free takeaway meals every Tuesday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm this vital service aims to provide food and conversation to local communities across the country. With the additional aim of reducing food waste, FoodCycle volunteers create nutritious meals from surplus food. The meals are open to all, and guests range from low-income families, people affected...

EXETER residents wishing to make a difference this year (2021) in the communities and neighbourhoods where they live are being invited to take up a role in care in the county.

Guardian Homecare, operating in Exeter and surrounding areas, has 100 carer positions available that are vital to its service users’ quality of life. Each position offers benefits, training and career advancement.

Manager, Catherine Porter explains: “Our services and the care our carers provide are essential to anyone who is elderly and vulnerable.

“It is important that people who need extra...

Loneliness-fighting Devon charity TRIP Community Transport has met over 4,000 requests for community support during the pandemic thanks in part to the Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) community fund. ECOE awarded TRIP £500 to cover staffing costs from its community fund, which is accepting new applications until 5pm Friday January 15th.

‘The grant from ECOE could not have come at a more important time for TRIP,’ says TRIP deputy manager Sharon Thorne. ‘The money has helped us keep the “doors open” and help the community during the current pandemic.’

‘All our...

Topsham based Darts Farm is working with Exeter Foodbank and seven-year-old schoolgirl Sienna Littley to provide 70 ‘Christmas Feast Boxes’ to families that need it most in the local community this festive season. Sienna, has raised a colossal £2,100 from selling her homemade ceramic Christmas decorations, and the team at Darts Farm have match funded this with some help from customer donations and supplier gifts to bring the total to an incredible £4,200.

Michael Dart, Director of Darts Farm, comments: “ We have been working closely with Exeter Foodbank all year, delivering 160...

Tesco is expanding its food donation programme to help Devon families eat more fresh fruit and vegetables over the winter. From 16 November, the supermarket will give any of the 500,000 families who use the weekly Healthy Start vouchers a £1 coupon to spend on fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables. Every time a customer hands over their vouchers at the checkout, they will automatically receive the money-off coupon to redeem off their next shop.

Marcus Rashford’s Child Poverty Task Force, of which Tesco is a member, is currently pressing the government to increase the value of the...