The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is today (18 April) launching a study into the 'quick house sale' market and is calling for people who have used, or considered using, these businesses to contact the OFT about their experiences.
Quick house sale providers offer to buy a house or find a third party buyer very quickly, usually at a discount from the full market value. While providers may offer a valuable service, the OFT is concerned that some practices might lead to homeowners receiving much less for their property than it is worth. Any losses could be very high.
Jay Passmore, a former foster child/child-in-care, is now a Support Worker with Fostering Services. Jay has been working towards his Duke of Edinburgh Award for some time, and was recently rewarded with a Gold Award.
Accompanied by Shaun Blair, his Support Worker and mentor, Jay received his Gold Award certificate at St James’ Palace.
He started his day seeing London from the London Eye, then walked to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, explored Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown and Buckingham Palace, before ending up at St James’...
Naomi Cleaver, interior designer, writer and television presenter, is launching a new series of design workshops - great news for the 45% of homeowners that will spend a long weekend tackling DIY jobs* (and that means everything from a splash of paint on the walls to more strenuous renovations such as replacing the bathroom, kitchen or landscaping the garden).
And, with the amount we borrow to pay for our home improvement projects going up, rising 21% over the past five years from £7,932 to £9,570, Naomi’s courses focus on how to avoid costly mistakes and getting the best out of...
Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire have reinforced their determination to develop a powerful group to ensure that the region stays amongst the safest in the country, despite government cutbacks. It’ll also be a powerful voice in lobbying for resources.
The President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, was a guest at their latest regional meeting. It was hosted in Exeter by Devon and Cornwall PCC Tony Hogg, alongside Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer.
The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has fallen for the first time since last October and at a faster rate than the national average. Encouragingly youth unemployment rates have fallen significantly since this time last year.
The claimant count across the county was down by 239 from 9,842 in February to 9,603 in March.
The Devon figures reflect the national trend, however the month on month decrease of 2.4% has occurred at a faster rate in Devon compared to the UK (1.8%).
The claimant count in Devon stands at 2.1% of the working age...
Thousands more young people in Devon are to benefit from the sporting legacy after Sport England announced an extra £24 million to expand and extend its successful Sportivate programme.
The National Lottery funding means Sportivate can continue helping 14- to 25-year-olds to get involved in sports from judo and tennis to wakeboarding and parkour until 2017.
The initiative is run in Devon by County Sport Partnership, Active Devon. New figures shows that 3,521 teenagers and young adults in the county have already benefitted from free or discounted six-to-eight week sports...
There are reports of 30-minute delays and two lanes closed on the M5 northbound at J30, A376 (Exeter), because of an overturned caravan and recovery work. Drivers are warned that there is congestion to J31, A30 (Exminster).
Devon County Council’s Library Service has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The service is one of only seven from across the UK to be selected for the coveted Library of the Year accolade at the forthcoming Bookseller Industry Awards.
Ciara Eastell, Head of Devon County Council's Library Service, said:
“We know that our library service is highly valued by our residents, and despite a tough couple of years with significant reductions in budget, we have continued to grow this successful service.
“We have worked hard developing new and leading...
The RSPCA have expressed concerns after more dead birds have been washed up on beaches in Devon and Cornwall.
There have been reports of birds being washed up at Wembury and Heybrook Bay in Devon as well as Port Wrinkle and Whitsand in Cornwall. On Saturday, the RSPCA said that for all the affected birds found washed up on land, it was likely "more are dying out in the Channel".
Dog walkers have been told to keep their pets away after more than 100 birds were found dead on one section of beach between Downderry and Seaton on Sunday morning.
