I'm a web designer and food blogger. I run a local food order and collect scheme with Shillingford Organics and the Hub on the Green and am a volunteer with Transition Exeter. I have also just created the Exeter Trails website ( www.exetertrails.co.uk ) and have lots of ideas for its further development to really put independent business on the map!
Doctors in Devon are celebrating the 65th birthday of a “national treasure” today – the NHS.
Since the NHS launched on 5 July 1948 it has continually developed and in April this year groups of GPs and clinicians were given the responsibility of buying most healthcare services, including acute hospitals and mental health services.
In Devon, the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is made up of member GP practices, was set up, giving clinicians and patients more of a say in local healthcare development to get services right for their...
Devon’s churches are getting greener. Eighty churches from all over the South West took part in a pioneering conference to look at heating their buildings more effectively. Churches are encouraged to carry out energy audits or benchmarking to determine both the use of their buildings and also energy demands, with a view to making more efficiencies in the future. The new national energy- measuring scheme aims to grade our churches like fridges and to improve each year from F towards A ratings. The conference was held at the recently re-ordered St. Stephen’s church in Exeter High Street,...
Devon County Council is asking people across the county to help them identify children living under private fostering arrangements, so can they offer support and advice.
The call to action is part of Private Fostering Week starting on Monday 8 July. Run by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering , the week aims to raise awareness of private fostering. Children living with someone who isn't their parent or close relative for more than four weeks are classed as being privately fostered. Although this is a private arrangement, legally the parent and the carer must notify...
A tree-planting ceremony was held on Friday to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nuffield Health Exeter Hospital.
Staff including Matron Paula Winter and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Keith Eyres joined with Colonel Paul Baldry, chairman of the Patient Focus Group at the Nuffield who led the planting. Colonel Baldry said “The hospital has now been here for 50 years, serving hundreds of thousands of patients and providing work for many local people and companies.”
Hospital Director Paul Taylor said: “We chose this tree because of its golden leaves which represent our...
Exeter Chiefs have been getting stuck into their pre-season programme for a couple of weeks now, but today they headed to the seaside for a different sort of work-out with the club’s conditioning staff.
Whereas much of the initial work has been centered around the club’s Sandy Park, this time the Chiefs playing squad popped along to nearby Exmouth Beach for a series of testing drills.
From sand dune shuttles to grappling, heavyweight lifting to ball work, it seems no pebble was left unturned as Rob Baxter’s team geared themselves up for the new 2013/14 season.
Teams from as far afield as France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia and Mexico came to Exeter last month to compete in the first ever One Planet Sustainability Challenge. 15 teams in total participated in the competition.
In the United Nations designated Year of Water Cooperation, the event was partnered by three companies all of whom face real challenges in their water management strategies, Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE), SABMiller and South West Water. They were joined by two supporting partners, WWF and Water Aid. In 2012, CCE used a total of 8.8 billion litres of water,...
Teignbridge District Council has reaffirmed its commitment towards creating a safe, sustainable and authorised gypsy and traveller site at Haldon Ridge.
The Executive confirmed a funding agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will be signed in order to draw down the £1.12 million in funding that will pay for a 15-pitch permanent site next to the unauthorised but tolerated facility.
The Executive’s meeting in Forde House, Newton Abbot considered matters that would resolve and safeguard against any potential financial and funding risks posed to Teignbridge as a...
Civil engineering contractors in the South West are calling for early industry engagement in the infrastructure projects unveiled by government to enable local companies to invest in appropriate skills and innovation. Alan Taylor, Executive Director of Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) for the South West, welcomed the recent announcements, but highlighted the role of industry in bringing the plans to fruition and ensuring cost-effective project delivery. Mr Taylor commented: “Our members have been pushing for greater certainty around infrastructure investment for many years...
Devon County Council has today (Wednesday, 3 July) won an award for excellence for a pilot project to tackle smoking and protect children from harm.
The award from the CLeaR Partnership, which works with local authorities across England to assess progress in reducing smoking, was given for Devon’s pioneering work with children’s centres.
At the seven pilot sites across the county, the Council has installed specially designed signage to advise people not to smoke on site and provided bespoke training for staff to raise the issue with parents and offer support to parents who...
