Devon

Christmas comes early for young carers

Authored by Owen Prior
Posted: Sat, 12/28/2013 - 10:36am

Staff at local health insurer Exeter Family Friendly have been busy buying presents to give the young carers of the Mid Devon-based charity project “Kids Who Care” a special Christmas surprise.

The charity supports 230 young carers; offering advice and mentoring as well as the chance to get together with other young carers at club nights and fun days out for well-deserved respite.

Phil Lloyd, Chair of Trustees at “Unite - Carers in Mid Devon” said: “We are incredibly grateful to Exeter Family Friendly for all their help with funding and supporting our annual Kids Who Care...

Dramatic video captures storm in full force

Devon businessman Alex Wren caught these dramatic images of waves lashing Sidmouth seafront in a YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnutWy2QSb8&feature=youtu.be

Passing cars feel the full force of the storm and buildings are showered with water.

In another seaside town a car was blown onto its roof.

Emergency services in Teignouth were called out after the incident but luckily the driver wasn't seriously injured.

STORM CHAOS LATEST: http://bit.ly/1ckixOa

Firefighters answer over 250 storm calls

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/24/2013 - 11:44am

Firefighters responded to over 250 calls in Devon and Somerset yesterday as storm winds battered the South West. People were rescued from cars and unsafe buildings by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) often in the same area simultaneously. Area Manager Phil Martin said that people were gambling with their lives if they chose to drive through floodwater. He said: “Your car can float in as little as 30cm of water and it takes much less than that to knock someone off their feet. “People must ask themselves, is it worth gambling with your car and maybe even your life to...

Devon Schools take part in The Big Crib Project

Pupils from three church Primary Schools in Devon have been busy this christmas due to taking part in The Big Crib Project.

The Big Crib Project, organised by the education department of the Exeter Diocese, aims to strengthen links between church primary schools and parish churches.

To strengthen this link schools Lady Seaward's C of E Primary School, Offwell C of E Primary School and Brixton St Mary's C of E Primary School are enlivening their parish churches by creating life size models of the nativity scene.

As well as creating life size models of the navity...

Libraries help the Devon economy

Libraries have a role in helping new and small businesses grow, says Dr Stephen Fear, Entrepreneur in Residence and Ambassador at The British Library.

Dr Fear was speaking in Exeter to business leaders at a briefing by Devon County Council, hosted by Ashfords, about a new resource within Exeter's Central Library that will give businesses access to high quality business and 'Intellectual Property' (IP) information.

The multi-million pound redeveloped Central Library, on track to open next summer, will include a dedicated entreprise support service, funded...

Over £1,000 stolen from Hospice fundraiser.

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Fri, 12/20/2013 - 4:48pm

Police are investigating the theft of over £1,000 of charity money stolen from a Hospice charity fundraiser in Ilfracombe last Wednesday (18th December).

The money- thought to total £1,130- was stolen sometime between 8:45pm and 9:30pm, during the interval of a well attended Charity Bingo event in Combe Martin Village hall.

The money was taken from a tin on the hall’s stage at an event attended by over 150 people.

Police are asking that any witnesses or anyone who knows anything about the crime contact 101 quoting police reference CI/13/1457 or alternatively call...

Exeter Chamber helps raise hundreds for local charities

Exeter Chamber of Commerce helped eight local charities raise over £900 at their Christmas Charity Auction Lunch last week, held at the Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel.

Paul Nero, chief executive of Radio Exe was the auctioneer on the day, taking bids from over 100 business people that were in attendance. Items for auction included an Exeter Chiefs Rugby weekend experience for two, in aid of St Loyes Foundation, and a beautiful framed print of the cover photo of the BBC Radio Devon Countryside Calendar from Devon Community Foundation.

Also up for auction, courtesy of...

Ex-Chiefs players row for the Philippines

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Fri, 12/20/2013 - 3:28pm

Two former Exeter Chiefs players are urging people to help them row the distance to the Philippines to raise money for two charities.

Former Chiefs Captain Sam Blythe and teammate Shane Kingsland will start on January 1st and want to complete 11 million metres by the end of the month.

They are planning to row a million metres each - that’s around 32 kilometres (or 19 miles) every day.

Now they want members of the public to get on the rowing machine for the event - called Janurow - to help them reach their target.

“It’s a chance to give yourself a focus in...

RSPCA set for busy Christmas

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Fri, 12/20/2013 - 3:18pm

The RSPCA is braced for a busy festive period after dealing with a bumper number of calls about cruelty over Christmas last year (2012).

Last year staff answered 833 calls about neglect and cruelty on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day – 53 per cent more than the same period in 2011.

Calls to help collect injured and abandoned animals were also up by about a third (32%) from 584 in 2011 to 769 last year.

Chief Inspector Dermot Murphy said: “We are ready for a busy time. Last year the number of calls about animals which needed our help was significantly...

Funding boost for Teignbridge businesses

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Fri, 12/20/2013 - 2:24pm

Teignbridge businesses could be in line for an EU funding boost after parts of the district were included in a draft map for Assisted Area Status.

Five Teignbridge wards covering parts of Newton Abbot, Ipplepen, Coffinswell and Kingskerswell have been included in the Assisted Area Status Map (AAS) that will cover the next European Union funding period from 2014 to 2020.

Assisted Area Status permits the granting of additional financial support to small businesses and large enterprises in economically disadvantaged locations.

The wards included are Buckland and Milber...

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