christmas

Campaign tackling seasonal loneliness helps record numbers

Record numbers of older people worried about being alone over Christmas have already contacted older people’s housing and care charity The Abbeyfield Society as its Coping at Christmas campaign gets into full swing.

Since the campaign launch in November, Abbeyfield has handled hundreds of calls from isolated older people who face being alone over the extended Christmas period. As a result, over 400 older people who would otherwise have spent the Christmas period without company are being welcomed into Abbeyfield houses the breadth of the country to enjoy festive events ranging from...

Residents urged to 'starve their bin' over Christmas

Residents are being encouraged to ‘starve your bin’ by reducing, reusing and recycling seasonal waste wherever possible this festive season.

From plastic food and drink packaging to cardboard boxes and wrapping paper that housed gifts under the Christmas tree - there's a variety of packaging that can go into your recycling bins, boxes and sacks.

Christmas lunch, New Year’s Eve celebrations and friends and family popping round all mean one thing – fridges and cupboards stocked with food and drink.

Plastic drinks bottles and pots; tubs and trays can go straight into...

Chiefs bring Christmas cheer to Bramble Unit

Exeter Chiefs may be gearing up for a busy festive period of fixtures, but today members of the first-team squad took a morning out to pay a special festive visit to the Bramble Children’s Unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

First team stars Haydn Thomas, Ben Moon, Brett Sturgess, Gareth Steenson, Michele Campagnaro, Ollie Atkins, Don Armand, Jack Yeandle, Matt Jess, Tom Johnson and Olly Woodburn, along with our very own Big Chief, took on the role of Santa Claus for one very special day and made their annual visit to the local hospital to spend time with youngsters who...

Festive treat from Queen St Dining construction team

The construction team working on the Queen St Dining Quarter in Exeter got festive during their lunchtime this week (Monday 14 December 2015), downing tools and bursting into song at St Pancras Church, right at the heart of the redevelopment project.

Over 60 employees of construction firm ISG took part in the carol service organised by the company and Lead Chaplin Rev Norman Wallwork at the 13th century St Pancras Church, singing carols and handing out festive treats including mince pies and cream, chocolates, biscuits and soft hot and cold drinks, supplied by ISG and colleagues...

Over a Quarter of South West Workers to Miss Out on Holidays this Christmas

Authored by karl_young
Posted: Fri, 12/18/2015 - 3:16pm

The festive season is almost upon us, and office workers around the South West may face some disappointment in the workplace, as 28% of people are doubtful they’ll be able to get the time off work they need to enjoy the Christmas holidays.

Office supply company, Viking, surveyed 1,500 office workers to investigate one of the most contentious aspects HR departments have to face: taking time off at Christmas. It seems that the South West is the fourth meanest area of the country when it comes to granting time off for the holidays, with the North East being the stingiest.

A...

Seasonal concert with a traditional twist

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 12/17/2015 - 12:01pm

Wren Music is bringing together five choirs and one of its youth groups, to present a seasonal winter celebration of singing this year. There will be over 100 singers, mince pies, mulled wine and a Christmas hamper raffle all in the lovely setting of St. David’s Church Exeter.

The event takes place on Saturday 19th December and the concert begins at 7.30pm. Admission is by donation and the proceeds of the night will go towards Wren’s youth programme.

Refreshments are by Ale and Cake which is a sister project to Wren who are providing quality refreshments at many of our...

Winter Concert

Event Date: 
19/12/2015 - 7:30pm
Venue: 
St David’s Church, Queen's Terrace, Exeter.

Wren Music is bringing together five choirs and one of its youth groups, to present a seasonal winter celebration of singing this year.

There will be over 100 singers, mince pies, mulled wine and a Christmas hamper raffle all in the lovely setting of St David’s Church, Exeter.

The event takes place on Saturday 19th December and the concert begins at 7.30pm. Admission is by donation and the proceeds of the night will go towards Wren’s youth programme.

Refreshments are by Ale and Cake which is a sister project to Wren who are providing quality refreshments at many of...

Two million cash strapped Brits cancel Christmas due to financial worries

It may be time to deck the halls with boughs of holly but, for millions of people, the season is anything but jolly. New YouGov research figures, released today, show that 2 million (2,046,545*) UK adults will not be celebrating or spending money this Christmas because of their finances. And the affordability of Christmas is also in the spotlight for millions of others, with a fifth (21%) of the UK using credit to fund their seasonal celebrations; by going into their overdraft, using a credit card, loan or payday lender.

The data is revealed as part of a YouGov study - commissioned...

Samaritans offer listening ear over Christmas

Volunteers at the local Exeter-based branch of Samaritans will be on duty across all of Christmas and New Year for anyone who needs someone to listen.

“We know that Christmas isn’t a happy time for everyone. Some people - particularly those on their own, and especially men - find the festive season very difficult” admits Helen Crossfield, director of Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of Samaritans.

Samaritans volunteers will be available around the clock for anyone who needs to talk, in confidence, about whatever is causing them distress. That applies on Christmas Day,...

Councils continue to count the cost of contaminated recycling this Christmas

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/16/2015 - 10:46am

UK councils are continuing to count the cost of contamination this Christmas. That was the message from Chris Jonas, Director of Business Development at Viridor - one of the UK's largest recyclers.

Against a backdrop of local authority consultations on responses to austerity, Viridor has called on councils to act, following best practice in the UK's top performing authorities to avoid unnecessary and undesirable public sector spending on contamination.

Mr Jonas spoke following the announcement by DEFRA on 1st December of England's top ten recycling authorities.

Mr...

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