Devon

Have a ‘wild' Christmas and re-connect with local nature

A local charity is offering people ideas for a wild Christmas with a difference.

Leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust has developed a series of ideas for ‘wild Christmas escapes’ and is urging people to spend just a small part of the festive season and get away from the excesses and stresses of this time of year.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Steve Hussey explained the idea: "Despite all the merry making Christmas can bring with it a series of challenges to our health and well-being. And if this seems a bit Scrooge-like then which of us can really say that we haven’t...

Get fit for the festive season in Teignbridge

Christmas has come early at Teignbridge Leisure Centres with the opportunity for customers to take advantage of a festive promotion to help make getting fit fun.

Broadmeadow Sports Centre, Teignmouth, and Dawlish and Newton Abbot leisure centres are offering festive thank you promotions between 27th – 31st December to help encourage people to get fit and active.

The offers are:

* Buy one get one free body analysis * Free swimming for children under 8 at Dawlish and Newton Abbot leisure centres * Half price badminton at all three centres and half price squash at...

Devon's libraries praised in new report

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/18/2014 - 12:14pm

Devon County Council’s Library Service has been upheld as an example of good practice in a national report on how England’s libraries could work best in the future.

Commissioned by the Department for Culture Media & Sport, the independent report highlights how the County Council has been exploring ways in which innovation can maximise the potential of its libraries to support happy, vibrant communities.

Over the past four years the Council has successfully expanded the role of Devon’s libraries into ‘community hubs’ providing a greater range of activities; extending...

Cash boost for Devon schools

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 12/18/2014 - 10:22am

Schools in some of the least fairly funded areas across the South West will soon benefit from a £68 million cash boost in the biggest step towards fairer schools funding in a decade, Schools Minister David Laws has announced.

A vital part of the Government’s plan for education is ensuring schools are properly funded, so that all pupils regardless of background can reach their full potential.

In July, the Government published estimates of how an extra £390 million would be allocated to increase the budgets of the least fairly funded areas across the country, while ensuring...

Can you help track down stolen painting?

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/18/2014 - 10:19am

Police are investigating a theft of an original Caroline Shotton painting from Castle Gallery in Exeter's Cathedral Yard on Saturday 13 December.

This was an original painting valued at £1,250 and was glazed in a white frame, approximately 40cm X 40cm in size, although it may have been removed from the frame or reframed.

If anyone recognises this picture, has bought it recently or seen it advertised for sale in any way, please contact the police on 101 quoting crime reference CR/130108/14, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Uni a 'world leader' in research

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/18/2014 - 10:04am

82% of Exeter’s research has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014).

This is the first national evaluation of research quality in the UK since 2008 and looked at the economic and societal impact of research for the very first time. Exeter has made a huge rise since 2008 (from 56% to 82% world-leading/internationally excellent research) and now ranks first in the South West (BBC region), equal 19th nationally and 18th in the Russell Group on this measure. Exeter performed extremely well in humanities and social...

Local groups urged to apply for funding

Authored by LauraHew
Posted: Wed, 12/17/2014 - 11:42pm

Devon Community Foundation is encouraging local groups and organisations who have great ideas to make their communities an even better place to live, to apply for funding to turn their ideas into reality.

The charity is supporting groups to apply to a funding programme Active Communities launched by the People’s Health Trust for the South West. The funding programme is aimed at local people and groups wanting to create fairer places to grow, live, work and age.

Using money raised by HealthContact through The Health Lottery, People’s Health Trust is looking to invest in...

Green light for new pool

A new swimming pool and leisure centre for Exeter took a step closer last night (Tuesday 16 December) with the approval of £19.4 million to cover the cost of the project.

The funds were signed off at a meeting of Exeter City Council and along with the appointment of a design company due to be announced soon, represents real momentum as the project drives forward alongside the Bus Station redevelopment by Crown Estates and TIAA Henderson Real Estate.

Council Leader Pete Edwards said that getting the financial commitment was a landmark in the delivery of the project....

Devon Waste Plan adopted and online

The adopted Devon Waste Plan is now available online.

Devon County Council approved the adoption of the Plan at last week’s Full Council meeting, and it now forms part of the development plan for Devon to 2031.

Its adoption follows the examination hearings into the Devon Waste Plan and the receipt of the Inspector’s Report earlier this year.

The new Devon Waste Plan now provides the policy framework for waste management proposals, and the waste implications of other development, in the county over the next 16 years. It sets out measures to ensure that the proportion...

Good Schools Guide awards for Exeter School

The co-educational independent school for pupils aged 7-18 is winner of the 2013 Good Schools Guide Award for Excellence for Boys taking AS Level Physics and the 2013 Good Schools Guide Award for Excellence for Girls taking AS Level World Development.

This is the sixth year in a row that Exeter School has received an award for excellence in Science and the fifth award for World Development.

Every year, the Good Schools Guide gives awards to schools to celebrate teaching excellence in individual subjects, basing these awards on WOW Factor calculations which are a combination...

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