South West High streets are set to become ‘dementia friendly’ as several major retailers commit to offering their staff training to help those with the condition. The initiative launched by the Alzhiemer’s society will see staff at 60 Homebase and Argos stores as well as some branches of Marks and Spencer and Lloyds bank train to become ‘Dementia Friends’ who help people with dementia live more independently. Between them, they have committed to create over 121,500 Dementia Friends in shops and banks across the UK. Angie Newing, Regional Director for Alzheimer’s Society in the South West,...
Fire services in the south west have joined together to identify the seven fatal factors that link most home fire deaths in the region. The report has been compiled using research data from a total of 88 deaths from 2008 to 2013.
The results show that there are seven common factors in most house fires resulting in death
The seven most common linking factors include: living alone, poor mental health and limited mobility as well as smoking, alcohol, poor housekeeping and use of both prescription or illegal drugs. Station Manager Andy Justice, Fire Investigation Manager for...
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust is urging more unemployed young people in the South West to embrace their inner entrepreneur and explore the option of self-employment thanks to financial backing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, which helps jobless young people to start up in business, has already created more than £3.1 million in social value for the South West alone, according to research published by the charity last year .
Supported with investment from ERDF, from now until June 2015, over 1,300 more young...
The South West Coast Path is inviting businesses to partner with the charity during 2014 to deliver some vital path improvements and protect this great tourism asset.
Recent research has showed that during 2012 the Coast Path had 8.6 million users across the South West which have generated around £436m to the area, an increase of almost 15% in the past three years - helping support 9,771 full-time equivalent jobs.
Recognised as one of the UK’s favourite walks with a reputation as being among the greatest long distance hikes in the world.
The Government has pledged an extra £31.45m to bring superfast broadband to the South West today.
The Government hopes the extra money announced by Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, earlier today will help promote business start-ups and job creation in some of the hardest to reach rural areas in the South West.
Local projects in the South West will now receive additional funding from a £250m pot, with coming in addition to the £1.2bn already invested by central and local Government.
Chris Garcia, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise...
Devon Guild of Craftsmen have been awarded over £136,000 to support a tour of their exhibition and community project Home Ground, which explores the link between crafts, local industry and English football clubs.
The leading contemporary crafts organisation based in Bovey Tracey was one of 11 successful projects announced as part of Arts Council England's Strategic touring programme funded by the National Lottery. The programme supports arts organisations to tour high quality work so more people can experience and enjoy it.
Home Ground is an exhibition and community project...
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has today confirmed that the £31.1m promised to improve the resilience of the South West’s rail network will be found. Ten projects to improve the rail networks resilience against flooding will be funded with the money including for work in Honiton, Cowley Bridge Junction, Crewkerne and several other areas of rail vulnerable to potential flooding. The money for the series of rail resilience works was initially promised last year after the2012/13 winter storms caused flooding which saw the tracks close for several weeks but had not been received by local...
The Met Office warned that hurricane strength winds of up to 80mph will hit the South West again today to again test the regions already battered storm defences.
In the fifth consecutive day of extreme weather conditions the public has been told to prepare for even more flooding, transport disruption and power outages across Devon.
The winds will reach their peak at mid-day today as the weather system pass over the county but potential hail storms and heavy rain can still be expected until much later in the day.
The South West is again being readied for a battering by the elements as high winds and heavy rain approach the region. Met Office warnings for heavy rain are in place prompting further flood fears as another 10mm-20mm of rain is expected to fall on already saturated ground. The Met Office has said: “The public should be prepared for disruption to transport and locally to power supplies, particularly when combined with the impacts of heavy rainfall.”
Police and partner agencies across Devon and Cornwall are continuing to prepare for severe weather. Multi-agency co-ordination...
Forecasters are warning that further heavy rain is due to hit Devon until late on Tuesday (28 January).
The Met Office warns that frequent showers, some heavy, will bring a further 10-15 mm of rainwater into the region with the risk of up to 40 mm of rain on some areas of high ground.
The rain brings the risk of even further flooding and travel disruption especially in areas where the ground is already saturated.
The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “A very unsettled start to this week is expected as an area of low pressure moves slowly southwards across Britain...
