Devon County Council

Action for Children launches new digital Family Hub service in Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/18/2024 - 4:50pm

More families in Devon will be able to access help and support following the launch of a dedicated Family Hub Advice Line and website , run by the charity Action for Children on behalf of Devon County Council.

Family Hubs are a new way of bringing together all the help a family may need in one place. It’s part of a transition in Devon from children’s centres, which supported families of children aged 0-8 with a referral from a GP or other professional, to family hubs - which are open to all families with children aged up to 19, or 25 for young people with special educational...

New leader and deputy at County Hall

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 05/07/2024 - 3:41pm

Devon County Council's deputy leader is set to become the new leader of the authority.

James McInnes has been chosen by the ruling Conservative group to replace John Hart. Long-standing Cabinet member Andrea Davis will become deputy leader.

The changes are set to be ratified at the council's annual meeting on Thursday 23 May.

Mr Hart is being nominated to become chairman of the council at the same meeting.

Mr McInnes represents Hatherleigh and Chagford and is a retired farmer from West Devon. He is married with a daughter.

He was first elected...

Councils to receive additional funds to support households struggling with higher energy and food costs

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/11/2024 - 8:42pm

Citizens Advice is reporting that average energy costs are as high as last winter for many households , and that despite energy prices falling this month, around 5.3 million people are currently living in households in debt to their energy supplier.

So, it's welcome news that Devon County Council has confirmed that it's been allocated a little over £5 million from the government to help households struggling to pay higher bills for energy, food, water, and other essential items.

This will be the fifth round of Household Support Funding that the council has received from...

New programme aims to boost job prospects for care experienced young people

Authored by Daisy Hall
Posted: Mon, 04/01/2024 - 3:06pm

A pioneering new programme has been launched to improve career opportunities for care experienced young people in Devon.

Devon County Council and Exeter College have worked in partnership to develop the PACE (Positive About Care Experienced) programme with the aim of creating a ground-breaking business network dedicated to working with young people who are, or have been, in the care system.

The scheme is designed to help employers feel confident in their ability to support care experienced young people and to commit to working with the County Council and Exeter College...

Families invited to help shape future support services

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/22/2024 - 7:41pm

Devon County Council is inviting families, professionals and community organisations to help shape services that support young families

The council is changing the way that young families are supported at Children’s Centres, and is inviting those who use the services, as well as professionals and community groups, to help influence the changes.

It follows a national move, announced by the Government last year, for Children’s Centres to become Family Hubs, as part of its Start for Life Programme initiative.

In Devon that means extending the age range, from...

Digital training for core sectors

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/15/2024 - 1:48am

More than 440 training places are available through a newly launched digital skills programme.

The Core Sector Digital Training programme has been designed to support the key growth sectors of creative industries and clean growth as well as the region’s bedrock sectors of health and adult social care, hospitality and tourism.

The scheme is available to residents in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay who are currently not working or those who are employed but want to upskill or are considering a career change.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Devon,...

Record £6.4 million awarded for further year of skills training in Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 01/24/2024 - 8:18pm

A successful skills training programme led by Devon County Council has received its largest funding award from the Department for Education to further boost employment opportunities across the county.

Train4Tomorrow is being delivered in partnership with Cornwall Council and is receiving £6.4million in 2024/2025, a significant increase on previous years which will enable more than 2,000 adults in Devon and Cornwall to access Skills Bootcamps in a variety of dynamic sectors.

Skills Bootcamps are available in a wide range of growing and well-paid sectors where there are a...

Legal warning over Exeter traffic scheme U-turn

Campaign groups backing a controversial Exeter traffic trial have warned that cancelling it early could leave Devon County Council open to legal challenge.

The Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets Trial began last August with the aim of increasing walking, scooting or cycling instead of driving for short journeys.

It also aimed to reduce rat-running through the residential area and was planned to run for 18 months.

However, it was revealed yesterday that the council could consider suspending the trial early because it isn’t meeting many of its targets. More...

Walking and cycling improvement plans backed by councillors

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 01/11/2024 - 9:27pm

Councillors have approved plans which set out priorities for developing cycling and walking improvements in a number of areas of the county.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday 10 January) backed the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) which outline cycling and walking improvements for Exeter, Teignbridge, and Barnstaple, Bideford and Northam over the next 10 to 20 years.

LCWIPs put the County Council in the strongest possible position for bidding for Government funding for walking and cycle schemes, as well as leveraging external...

Cold spell brings risk of icy patches

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 01/05/2024 - 8:15pm

Devon is braced for a cold snap which will see a sharp fall in temperatures in the coming days.

Although conditions are forecast to be drier and brighter, it’s expected to be much colder from this weekend onwards and Devon Highways is preparing for a prolonged cold spell.

Overnight road surface temperatures are set to fall slightly below zero in some places and will be close to freezing in others, increasing the risk of icy patches by tomorrow morning.

Gritters will be out across the county tonight treating several precautionary salting routes from 9pm. Other...

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