Local News

99% of bathing waters in England have passed water quality standards following testing at over 400 designated sites carried out by the Environment Agency (EA). The results, released today (19 January), show that for the 2021 bathing season 94.7% of England's beaches and inland waters gained an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ rating while 4.3% achieved the minimum ‘Sufficient’ rating. This compares with 98.3% passing the required standards in 2019, and is the highest number since new standards were introduced in 2015. For the first time ever, 100% of designated bathing waters in Devon and Cornwall...

A new play co-created by people living in the South West shows the long history of LGBTQIA+ loneliness and belonging in the region.

Mistreatment and marginalisation from society has meant LGBTQIA+ communities have created their own spaces for solidarity, creativity, and dialogue.

The Beat of Our Hearts , written by South West-based playwright Natalie McGrath, will be staged as part of LGBT History Month in February.

Project lead, Dr Charlotte Jones from the University of Exeter, worked with organisations and individuals in the South West to develop and stage the...

The British Heart Foundation shop in Exeter is urgently appealing for volunteers this New Year, as it gets back up and running, following the pandemic.

This January, the shop is encouraging the public to give the gift of time and get involved – whether that’s working the till, sorting donations or welcoming customers. The BHF has plenty of exciting volunteering roles available for those looking to support their local community, improve their wellbeing and widen their social network while supporting a good cause.   

The charity’s 712 nationwide shops are bouncing back...

Princesshay is inviting charities to apply to become its Charity of the Year for 2022 – 2023. From April 2022, the chosen Charity of the Year will be able to use Princesshay’s busy outdoor event space to fundraise to visitors throughout the year. The charity partner also benefits from money raised from centre led fundraising and events plus promotion through Princesshay’ssocial media channels and website.

Over the last decade, Princesshay has partnered a different local charity each year, helping them raise much needed funds and awareness of the services they operate in the...