Devon

The number of Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) claimants in Devon increased by 273 claimants, or 6.8% between December 2014 and January 2015.

Although this increase is in line with the national trend, as a proportion of the working age population, Devon, at 0.9%, remains far lower than the UK at 2.1%.

The figure for January 2015 is also 39.5% lower than January last year when the claimant count stood as high as 7,060 claimants.

In all of Devon’s districts, with the exception of North Devon, there were increases of around 6.4% over the past month. North Devon is the only...

Wedgewood Buildings, which is based at East Anstey, near Tiverton, Devon, has recently received vital funding in the form of a £25,000 DEFRA grant.

This has allowed the company to begin expanding capacity and developing the business further.

These grants, which originate from the European Union, recognise that rural development is a vitally important, while farming and forestry remain crucial for the management of natural resources and the maintenance of the countryside.

Wedgewood’s grant equated to 40% of the purchase price of a Serra Montana sawmill, which cuts...

A day or weekend of foraging and learning Bushcraft skills on the river.

A Touch of the Wild will be joining the team at Winding River Canoe for some epic paddling on the beautiful River Dart, stopping enroute to forage for shellfish and other wild foods to cook up at lunchtime over the campfire.

There will be opportunities to learn some key bushcraft skills, including how to light a fire without matches, and have a go at some natural crafts and cordage.

During the weekend trip you'll stop in the evening at a secret spot by the water's edge to set up camp....

Crowdcube battered the opposition in the 2015 World Pancake Racing Championships held at Princesshay Square to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.

Teams of four from businesses, shops and groups all across the town were egged on by cheering crowds as they flipped it out in a knock-out relay race.

Each race involved a short sprint along South West Athletic Academy’s portable running track, interrupted with several flips along the way.

Speed was obviously the main tactic but some teams discovered that a dropped pancake undid all their good work. Eagle-eyed officials from Exeter...

When she was younger, Mrs Edna Millard worked as a demonstrator for the Max Factor cosmetics company.

Looking at her this week, as she celebrated her 100th birthday at home in Budleigh Salterton, you could be forgiven for wondering if she should be the face of Max Factor 2015!

Mrs Millard has been a tenant in Moorhaven for just under 25 years and is one of many people who enjoy the comfort of these manageable council-owned homes, fitted with a Home Safeguard alarm system in case of emergency.

On Monday, Mrs Millard followed up a weekend of celebrations with family...

The site has been identified, funding secured, the design team appointed, now Exeter City Council wants to hear people’s views as they start to prepare a planning application for a brand new leisure centre to be built on the bus station site in the centre of Exeter.

Having opened in the 1940s, Exeter’s much loved but ageing Pyramids pool is reaching the end of its lifetime. It has become very costly to run and needs substantial multi-million pound investment just to secure its continued operation, before any improvements could be made to enhance the user experience.

The...

A group of young people in Exeter looking to progress their careers have received a major boost thanks to an Exeter City Council Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy project.

Nine unemployed 17-22 year olds have completed the two-week Rugby Empowering Employment Programme, run by Motiv-8sw. Set up by Exeter City Council and the Exeter & the Heart of Devon Employment & Skills Board, he Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy scheme aims to inspire and boost the prospects of 16-24 year olds struggling to find work. The pilot programme, inspired by the values of sporting achievement – hard work,...

Rangers at Devon County Council’s Stover Country Park in Newton Abbot are celebrating after scooping a prestigious award last night.

The park and nature reserve won bronze in the Access & Inclusivity Award category at this year’s South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Stover was one of only six from across the region to be shortlisted for the award which honours tourism businesses that excel in being accessible and inclusive. To qualify entrants had to demonstrate exceptional customer service to all and offer an outstanding experience for visitors, particularly those...

Crowdcube, the world’s largest equity crowdfunding platform, has continued the strategic expansion of its senior team with the appointment of Dean Mayer as Head of Debt and Stuart Nicol as Growth Director.

Dean will develop Crowdcube’s new debt business, including its increasingly popular mini-bond offering. Stuart will lead the growth of Crowdcube through initiatives that include attracting more institutional and public funds to invest in businesses alongside the crowd. Stuart's new role sees him moving from being a Non-Executive to an Executive Director on the Board.

Dean...

Health and well-being advice and information will be found at the South West's biggest free celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The Health Zone at this year's Exeter Pride, which will take place on Saturday, May 16, will include free HIV testing, free "safe sex" packs and information about mental health, counselling and other health issues.

Preparations are well in hand for what will be the seventh Exeter Pride.

It promises to be the biggest, most colourful such event, to date, with more than 2,000 people expected to take...