A campaign to help the most vulnerable in our communities to stay warm and well this winter has launched. The Surviving Winter appeal asks those who feel they can, to consider donating to those who desperately need extra support during the cold winter months. Many previous donors have donated their Winter Fuel payment if they don’t need it but want to make sure it is well used.
The figures tell a shocking story for older and vulnerable people in Devon living in fuel poverty. Over 1,000 older people are at risk of dying simply due to avoidable winter related illnesses and one in...
Extra bed spaces have been made available for rough sleepers in Exeter over the winter period, the City Council has announced. The 15 extra emergency beds will be provided at Gabriel House in the city centre as part the City Council’s response to providing emergency accommodation and bringing rough sleepers inside during the harshest winter weather. Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), who run Gabriel House, will be running the service from 1 December through to the end of March. This year the initiative has been extended by an extra month. Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for...
“Be Bright, Be Seen” is the message from Devon County Council, ahead of clocks going back this weekend (Sunday 29 October).
As daylight hours draw in, the County Council is reminding cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, horse riders, and other vulnerable road users, to make sure that they are visible by wearing reflective and fluorescent clothing. Car drivers are also being encouraged to take extra care by giving cyclists space, and looking out for others, particularly in poor weather conditions which can reduce visibility. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet...
Community groups, charities and schools in the Exeter area are being invited to apply for £1,000 worth of building materials to help with a winter project as part of RGB Building Supplies’ Well Built Community Fund.
Whether materials are needed to build a Christmas grotto, help put on a pantomime, or ensure a community centre is protected against winter weather, RGB would like to hear about it.
Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, commented: “Everyone at RGB is extremely proud to support groups across the region with our Well Built Community Fund. We’re always surprised...
If you think we've escaped a proper winter so far in 2016, you could be in for a shock.
The Met Office is warning that we might be in for a White Easter.
It's all due to what is called a sudden stratospheric warming event bringing snow, ice and temperatures as low as -14C.
The plunge - the same phenomenon that triggered the 2010 Big Freeze - is expected to result in colder-than-average weather across the UK in late March.
The Met Office March to May forecast said: "The greatest risk of cold weather impacts is in late March and early April, due to the...
Asthma UK is urging people with asthma to be vigilant in winter as data shows the number of people who die because of an asthma attack peaks in January and remains high in February and March. Data from the Office for National Statistics highlights that asthma is the cause of proportionately more excess winter deaths than other conditions and respiratory diseases were the underlying cause of death in more than a third of all excess winter deaths in 2014/15. It’s thought that cold weather and viruses like cold and flu may be partly to blame; 90% of people with asthma report that cold and flu...
As temperatures drop, people living in Exeter and across Devon may be able to get extra help with their heating this winter thanks to a new scheme.
The CosyDevon service, which is operated by a partnership of some councils in Devon, including Exeter City Council, was one of only 20 bids that were successful in securing funding as part of the Government’s £25m Central Heating Fund. The Fund is designed to support local people living in homes that don’t currently enjoy the efficiency and comfort of gas central heating, which is much cheaper to run than most forms of electric heating...
This winter's wet and blutsery weather is set to continue this week with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning of rain for today.
The Met Office warns the public and emergency responders of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption.
The Met Office five-day forecast is as follows.
Today:
Blustery showers will continue to feed in from the northwest today, becoming heavy in places, especially over higher ground. Some may become organised to bring prolonged periods of rain but there will also be some...
People have evolved to have subconscious urges to over-eat, and limited ability to avoid becoming obese, especially in winter, a University of Exeter study has found.
There is not yet an evolutionary mechanism to help us overcome the lure of sweet, fatty and unhealthy food and avoid becoming overweight for understandable and sensible reasons, according to researchers.
This is because in our past being overweight has not posed a significant threat to survival compared to the dangers of being underweight. The urge to maintain body fat is even stronger in winter when food in...
