The Government’s announcement to recruit 10,000 new foster carers by 2029 has been welcomed by Devon County Council.
The plans, backed with £88 million over the next two years, are part of a government drive to provide more loving homes to vulnerable children while improving support for foster carers and tackling the shortage of carers.
Declining numbers of fostering households is a national issue, and in Devon the number of approved fostering households has fallen by a third since 2020.
Devon County Council committed a £2million investment to its fostering...
Get set for thrilling adventure! The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is bringing a night of adrenaline-packed films to venues around the UK and Ireland in 2026.
With extreme climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and more, the Banff Mountain Film Festival features two new collections of inspirational short films from remote corners of the planet.
“Immerse yourself in a night of gripping adventure – up on the big screen!” says tour director Nell Teasdale.
“The Banff Mountain Film Festival showcases the year’s most inspiring stories of adventure, with cutting...
Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway Sub-national transport bodies (STBs) have together awarded £110k to support the development of six innovative projects aimed at improving transport in rural Southwest places.
The schemes funded in the Peninsula Transport region are:
The Gateway project, Torpoint
The trial will test bus service viability, integration with ferry timetables, improved passenger information and local demand, providing data to inform future operational or commercial services.
The scheme aims to improve rural and cross‑ferry transport in...
Exeter Racecourse hosts one of the highlights of its jump racing season with Super Sunday on Sunday 8 February, a meeting that has firmly earned its reputation as a key stepping stone towards the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-race card regularly attracts high-calibre runners and a strong Irish challenge, reinforcing Exeter’s standing as a serious proving ground at this crucial stage of the season. For racing fans across Devon, Super Sunday offers the chance to witness Festival-quality action on their doorstep.
A centrepiece of the afternoon is the second running of the...
Firearms owners are being urged to check if their previously lawful weapon is one of five now classified as illegal – and to hand them in safely during a month-long amnesty. Police forces across England and Wales will be holding a four-week firearms amnesty (February 2-27) for five models of side or top-venting (TVBFs) weapons manufactured by Bruni. The following five imitation firearms can be handed in to local police station without fear of prosecution, after tests by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and policing showed they are readily convertible and are therefore illegal to possess...
The pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A379, called Blisses Bridge, has been brought to life with newly added decorative panels.
The 36-metre span bridge, which opened in February 2024, has been designed as a “gateway” feature to the new development area. Its name is derived from Blisses Hill and Blisses Meadow which feature in the old tithe mapping of the area where the bridge is located.
The 58 panels on the parapet of the structure feature the latest public artwork of South Brent-based sculptor Isabel Coulton. The designs on the panels depict life in Devon, with a...
Cranbrook Education Campus (CEC) has been selected as a ‘Lead School’ for the Department for Education’s national ‘Attendance and Behaviour Hubs’ programme, recognising the school’s strong, inclusive approach to building positive culture, improving attendance and supporting children and families to thrive.
CEC is among a small group of schools nationally chosen to take on this role, working with schools across the South West and beyond to share effective practice, provide targeted support and help strengthen school cultures rooted in belonging, high expectations and care....
Exeter City Council has today announced it will be submitting an expression of interest (EOI) for the prestigious UK City of Culture title.
The City of Culture bid follows the culmination of five months extensive engagement and consultation with artists, creatives, cultural organisations and residents to shape the council’s commissioned new five-year Cultural Strategy for Exeter.
This will set out a clear ambition to become a leading city of culture. The new Exeter Culture Strategy is ambitious and will be delivered in partnership with the city’s cultural organisations...
The Greendale Group (FWS Carter & Sons), a diverse, family-owned local business, with interests in farming, fishing, retail, property and haulage, has announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Martyn Youell, Tom Chanter and Richard Gibbons.
ffective immediately, these appointments will provide extra strength and stability to the board, helping to shape the business for years to come.
Youell brings over 15 years of experience in the fishing sector. As Commercial Director for Waterdance (the Group’s fishing enterprise), he has...
The South West’s most promising learners were celebrated on Friday 16 January 2026 as Exeter College hosted its annual Student Awards at Sandy Park, showcasing the inspirational learners from the 2024/25 academic year and their remarkable achievements.
More than 170 guests, including sponsors, VIPs, College lecturers, and students’ families and friends, attended the ceremony, where 17 awards were handed out, recognising learner success across a variety of topics, from academic excellence and sport to adult learning and apprenticeships.
