Devon

Stagecoach South West confirm timetable changes

From Sunday 2nd April local bus operator Stagecoach South West will be introducing a number of timetable changes across their network, which are predominantly centred around improving the punctuality of their bus services.

Stagecoach want to make sure that your bus arrives at your stop at the time you’re expecting it.

Over the last few months, the company have analysed the data from their specialist Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) software which uses real-time updates from onboard tracking systems to inform the new timetables they’re introducing.

They’ve...

Devon trio triumph in South West small business awards

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 03/02/2023 - 9:39pm

Three Devon businesses emerged as award winners this week at the annual contest to find the best small businesses in the South West.

The FSB South West Small Business Awards final saw more Devon companies shortlisted for honours than any other region and at the Weston-super-Mare finals three of them - The Devon Seaweed Company of Newton Abbot, Okehampton Community Kitchen and Simon Hall Will Writing of Exeter returned home as regional winners. All three will now have a chance to go for national FSB titles at the UK final in Birmingham in May.

Okehampton Community Kitchen...

New Lord Mayor of Exeter nominated

Long-serving councillor Kevin Mitchell will become Exeter’s new lord mayor later in the year.

The Liberal Democrat member for Duryard & St James will take over the politically neutral, ceremonial role in May, after being officially nominated at an executive meeting on Wednesday [28 February].

Cllr Mitchell, who has been on the council for almost 20 years and served as deputy in 2008/09 and 2011/12, says it will be a “great honour.”

He told the meeting: “As everyone knows, I was born in this city, so it’s my home. I’m very proud of the city of Exeter, so it...

Exeter Charity warns of looming homelessness crisis

The number of people in Exeter forced to sleep on the streets or in vulnerable circumstances is set to soar, should major funding cuts proposed by Devon County Council go ahead.

Local charity, St Petrock’s, is warning of a homelessness crisis in the city on a scale not seen before.

Rough sleeping in Exeter doubled between 2021 and 2022, due to a range of factors, including service cuts, cost-of-living pressures and interest rate rises.

There are now typically around 30 people sleeping rough in and around the city, in addition to a very large number of people...

Cafe on estuary near sea in Devon

The Venus Company is full of the joys of Spring!

As we welcome the clocks going forward this month and the sunnier days of Spring and Summer, the Venus Company announces the re-opening of the East Portlemouth beach café on Sunday 12th March trading for the new season daily from 10 am to 5 pm. This delightful Venus Café, just a short, picturesque ferry ride from Salcombe, is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, boasting stunning sun-soaked beaches.

East Portlemouth is just one of three fabulous beach cafes within the Venus portfolio which includes Bigbury-on-Sea with beautiful sea views, and Broadsands in...

Artisan businesses get a showcase in Topsham

Artisan businesses ranging from jewellery makers to a carbon neutral carpenter are getting a showcase in Topsham at the end of March.

The first Love Topsham Artisan Business Fair takes place in Matthews Hall on March 26 - the first day of spring - from 10am until 3pm.

There will be well over 20 stalls, almost all showcasing businesses based in and around Topsham but lacking their own permanent shop windows.

“We’ve got a host of entrepreneurs and creatives with extraordinary businesses, often working under the radar in offices, homes, lofts and old warehouses....

Volunteers planting thousands more trees through Emergency Tree Fund

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 03/01/2023 - 3:19pm

More than 9,000 trees are being planted at County Farms owned by Devon County Council this winter as part of the ongoing Emergency Tree Fund planting.

One of the biggest planting sites is at Bulleigh Elms Farm, near Newton Abbot, where volunteers are currently helping to plant 3,250 trees, co-ordinated by local not-for-profit social enterprise ParkLife South West .

They are among a total of 16,500 native broadleaved trees being planted in Devon this winter through the Emergency Tree Fund granted by The Woodland Trust . The initiative is enabling private landowners and...

Secondary School offer day: Expert shares tips on supporting Children through transition to secondary

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 02/28/2023 - 11:17pm

March 1st marks National Offer Day, when many children in England and Wales will find out which secondary schools they will go to.

School transitions can be incredibly challenging. Children in schools continually experience transitions – between different schools, classes, and year groups. A key part of an educator’s role is to make sure these periods of change run as smoothly as possible.

In a children’s emotional health study backed by The Prince’s Trust, young people highlighted the transition to secondary school as being particularly hard on their self-esteem, due to...

Channel 4 challenges students to create a new television show

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/27/2023 - 6:04pm

Channel 4 is challenging secondary school students across the UK to conjure up ideas for a new TV show as part of a nationwide competition.

Students are being invited to create a new show which explores how we are Altogether Different . The only other stipulation is that the show can be set at any point in time, except in 2023.

They will need to come up with the idea for the show – which could be a drama, documentary, comedy, reality show or any other genre – create a pitch to a TV commissioning team and produce a 30-second trailer for their programme or series to...

University of Exeter launches ‘All Kinds of Minds’ campaign to raise awareness of Neurodiversity across schools in Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/27/2023 - 5:59pm

Exeter University is providing a free online teaching resource on climate change and sustainability for Key Stage 2 pupils across the county, recorded by the university’s neurodivergent geographers, aiming to raise awareness of neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity refers to diversity in the human brain and cognition, and recognises that we all think, move, process information and communicate differently. It is estimated that around 1 in 10 people across the UK are neurodivergent , however, all humans vary in terms of our neurocognitive ability. Neurodivergent can be used as a term to...

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