Exeter

Residents thanked for managing their waste under difficult circumstances

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 04/29/2020 - 11:10am

Households across Devon are being thanked for their ongoing support and efforts to keep on top of waste and recycling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Collection crews across Devon say they have been delighted with the level of public support shown to them in recent weeks, including pictures and thank you notes left on bins and outbreaks of spontaneous doorstep applause from appreciative residents.

Devon County Council for its part says it is looking to reopen Household Waste Recycling Centres as soon as it is safe to do so and Government guidance permits.

Until...

South Devon care provider welcomes new national adult social care recruitment campaign.

South Devon care provider welcomes new national adult social care recruitment campaign

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Wed, 04/29/2020 - 10:35am

A SOUTH Devon care provider has welcomed a new national Government-driven adult social care recruitment campaign launched to boost the workforce and attract more staff into the sector (April 2020).

The initiative ‘Care for others. Make a difference’ was launched last week (April 23) to help attract more people into social care and to highlight their vital role during the pandemic.

Catherine Porter, Manager at Guardian Homecare, which has teams operating in Exeter and surrounding areas, says: “We heartily welcome this industry-wide campaign to inspire the public to consider...

New customers allowed to join garden waste scheme

People in Exeter can sign up once again for the City Council’s Garden Waste Collection Scheme.

The Council had stopped new customers signing up for the scheme at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. However it has now lifted the suspension and is taking on new customers.

Gardeners can choose either a 140 litre brown bin for £37.15 a year or a 240 litre bin for £48.80. Alternatively a bundle of five biodegradable sacks costs £11.

Things that can be put in the bin are:

  • flowers and plants
  • grass cuttings
  • leaves and bark
  • ...

Picnic at home to celebrate VE Day Anniversary

People in Exeter are being encouraged to have a ‘picnic in their parlour’ on 8 May to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.

On Friday 8 March it will be 75 years since the Allied victory in Europe during the Second World War.

There were plans to mark the occasion with an event in the city centre but the Coronavirus outbreak changed this.

Now with people staying home and keeping safe as a result of COVID-19, Exeter City Council is instead encouraging everyone to ‘picnic in their parlour’ to celebrate a day that ended the conflict in Europe and ultimately lead...

Determined supporters vow to Race for Life at home

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 04/28/2020 - 10:37pm

DETERMINED fundraisers across Devon and Cornwall are set to Race for Life at Home as they refuse to let the fight against cancer falter in these unprecedented times.

Organisers Cancer Research UK have postponed events for this spring and summer to protect the country’s health during the coronavirus outbreak – and this includes the Race for Life events in Exeter, Plymouth, Exeter, Falmouth, Penzance and Stithian’s Showground in Cornwall.

But as the country continues on lockdown, undeterred women and men are already vowing to carry on and complete a Race for Life challenge...

Families urged to check if their children are eligible for free school meals

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 04/28/2020 - 12:49pm

Families in Devon are being urged to check if their children are eligible for free school meals as the coronavirus crisis creates more hardship across the county.

Nationally applications for Universal Credit have gone up dramatically with initial estimates of an extra 10,000 claims in Devon in the last two weeks of March.

Now Devon County Council is appealing to hard-pressed families to make sure they do not miss out on free food for their children - even if they are not currently in school.

Schools will provide meals for vulnerable children and children of key...

Devon Scrubs: Volunteer army pitching in across Devon to support PPE stocks for health and care staff

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 04/27/2020 - 5:58pm

A VOLUNTEER army of more than 150 volunteers are working from home across Devon to provide vital PPE back up for local NHS and healthcare front liners after a community fundraising appeal netted more than £2,000 in just one week.

Across Devon, the talented crew of craftspeople are stitching and cutting around the clock to provide essential scrubs, laundry bags, and headbands, as well as printing 3D visors, to help protect key staff in hospitals, care homes and in the community.

Devon Scrubs started out as an appeal called Scrubs For Plymouth on a social media site before...

Devon residents urged to remain vigilant as new COVID-19 scams continue to be identified

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service is reminding residents to ‘stay home, stay safe and stay scam aware’, as new coronavirus (COVID-19) related scams continue to emerge.

Since the outbreak there has been a rise in scams exploiting the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19). These include medical kits that claim to prevent or cure the disease, counterfeit or unsafe medical supplies, such as hand sanitizer and swabbing kits, and financial scams, including phone calls claiming to be from your bank or mortgage provider.

Trading Standards Officers are...

One More Push! Charity at heart of corona fightback calls for final donations to reach target

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 04/27/2020 - 12:11pm

One more push! That’s the plea of a charity appealing for £60,000 to continue its work for the elderly and the vulnerable in a Devon community.

The Estuary League of Friends is based in Topsham and delivers social care to that community and those in a wide area nearby reaching parts of Exeter, Clyst St George and Clyst St Mary, and towards Exmouth.

In recent weeks the charity has of course added to its usual work with a huge effort to help those most in need during the Coronavirus crisis.

This has involved organising volunteers to deliver groceries, medicines...

Tech Awards to pay tribute to Covid-19 Heroes

Authored by Program
Posted: Mon, 04/27/2020 - 12:08pm

Heroes who are helping as part of the nation’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic will be honoured at this year’s Tech South West Awards.

Launching with a live online event on Friday May 1, the annual awards cover Bath, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, recognising and celebrating talent, creativity, business success, education, leadership and diversity across the technology sector.

Last year the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton, Bluefruit Software in Cornwall, University of Plymouth, Rocketmakers in...

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