Some 116 Samaritans volunteers from Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch have answered 47,588 calls, emails and texts for help in the last 12 months.
The figures are being issued to coincide with Volunteers Week from June 1 to June 7, organised to highlight the work of the charity’s volunteers.
Like all Samaritans volunteers across the country these are ordinary people who dedicate time each week to provide a safe space for anyone struggling to cope.
One local volunteer is Sally who, like many, came to Samaritans after a personal experience.
Fifty years ago the City of Exeter twinned with the German town of Bad Homburg.
During the intervening years many friendships between various groups in both locations have developed and grown. One of these is the strong link between Exeter’s South Street Baptist Church and Bad Homburg’s Free Church, the Evangelisch Freikirchliche Gemeinde.
In this golden jubilee year a party from the Bad Homburg Church is travelling once more to meet with their South Street friends who are looking forward to welcoming some familiar and new faces. Willkommen liebe Freunde zu einem goldenen...
A total of 1,351 crazily dressed runners raced through Exeter’s city streets on Saturday night causing quite a stir!
They were taking part in Exeter’s first ever neon night run and raised tens of thousands of pounds for local end of life charity Hospiscare.
“Our runners were amazing!“said Celia Wilkilnson, Hospiscare fundraiser. “They looked great, with funky neon facepaints and lots of neon racing gear - I’ve never seen so many tutus! Everyone was in a great party mood and we are so grateful to our wonderful runners for supporting us and the University of Exeter for...
Vital maintenance work on Devon’s largest bridge, the Teign Estuary Viaduct, is due to start next month, and will take six months to complete.
The 40 year old bridge, which carries the A380 dual carriageway over the River Teign Estuary, needs urgent repairs to a failed expansion joint, at the north end of the viaduct.
Previous temporary repairs to the joint, which stretches across north and southbound lanes, have until now allowed traffic to keep flowing, but a permanent repair is necessary to keep the lanes open.
In addition, the 10,000 square metre bridge deck...
In celebration of 30 years of providing inspirational, hands-on learning experiences to schools across the region, Buckfast Abbey’s Education Department will play host to a major Christian Storytelling Festival from 2nd to 4th July. Set in idyllic gardens with the magnificent backdrop of Buckfast Abbey, a working Benedictine monastery just off the A38 and within easy reach of Exeter and Plymouth and surrounding areas, the three-day extravaganza of storytelling, theatre and puppetry will include school visits on the first two days and culminate in a fabulous Family Day on Saturday 4th July...
Organisers of the Exeter Art Show, which takes place on 4 and 5 July, are pleased to announce that Hawksmoor Investment Management has agreed sponsorship of the West Country’s largest exhibition.
Hosted at the Maynard School in the centre of Exeter, the Show now boasts in excess of 100 artists and two sponsors, with more being welcomed.
Robin O’Grady, Director of Business Development for Hawksmoor, says the company is “absolutely delighted" to be supporting the 2015 Exeter Art Show.
Robin said: "At Hawksmoor we recognise a good investment and when asked if we’d like...
Landlords in Devon could be forced to secure a licence under Government plans to tackle illegal immigration.
The Residential Landlords’ Association understands that the new Conservative Government plans to extend the scope of the mandatory licensing regime to tackle illegal immigration.
In a speech last week, Prime Minister David Cameron called for a new licensing scheme to tackle landlords who “cram” their houses full of illegal immigrants and powers to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants in private rented housing.
Hospiscare hairdresser Lesley Weeks received lots of hugs and kisses as she retired after 23 years of amazing service for the local end of life charity.
A party was held at the Hospiscare day centre in Dryden Road, Exeter, to celebrate her “fantastic contribution” to Hospiscare – staff and volunteers came along to thank Lesley for her support, friendship and to say goodbye.
Lesley joined as a volunteer, was recruited as a member of staff and ironically says she will return as a volunteer – she just loves collecting Hospiscare name badges! Dr Jim Gilbert, Hospiscare medical...
The South West’s network of Rotary Clubs has been announced as the headline sponsors of the Olympic-style ‘Devon Youth Games’.
Teignbridge District Council and Torbay Council are delighted to reveal the Rotary in the South West Peninsula are the key sponsors for the Games which will see more than 1,000 young people from all over Devon compete in a variety of sports.
Devon Youth Games, previously Devon Games to Inspire, brings young people together in a fun-packed day of sporting action. It’s for those aged 8 -16yrs and a number of young sports leaders, clubs, national...
