Devon

Firefighters in England and Wales will strike for a complete 24 hours after pensions talks between government and unions collapse.

A 24-hour strike — the longest yet in the three-year campaign — will take place from 9am on Thursday 12 June, with second shorter strike set for Saturday 21 June between 10am-5pm. Whilst the issue is a matter between the Fire Brigades Union and Government, every Fire & Rescue Service has a legal duty to maintain a level of service to local communities as best it can. In response to the strike Area Manager Phil Martin, Head of Community Safety for...

Almost £8,000 was donated to people in need in Devon over the last year thanks to the generosity of people who gave up their winter fuel payments. Devon Citizens Advice Bureau partnered with the Devon Community Foundation (DCF) to operate the Surviving Winter campaign over the winter months of 2013-2014. The campaign saw people who did not require their winter fuel payment donating it via the Devon Community Foundation. Citizens Advice Bureaux across the county then helped allocate the money to people who were most in need. A total of 78 households benefited from the scheme. The Winter...

The Exeter Daily has previously reported on the South West Blog Social, scheduled to take place at The Oddfellows Bar on New North Rd on Saturday 7th June.

Devised by noted local bloggers Jodie Dewberry (@alajode) and Albertine Brandon (@dippywrites), the event- the first of its kind in the South West- aims to bring together the very best in local blogging talent to provide an afternoon of advice and expertise to Exeter and regional businesses and individuals, with Jodie adding “We have worked hard not only to make sure that the event is as much fun as possible- but also to give it...

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says he pleased to finally have got his man after today confirming the arrival of Welshman Adam Hughes to the club.

For several years Baxter has tracked the talented 24-year-old back and now he finally has he man after the Newport-born back put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

Hughes, who has played for both the Newport-Gwent Dragons and Bristol, is the latest new addition to the Chiefs ranks ahead of the 2014/15 season and Baxter is delighted to have the player on board for what promises to be a big campaign for the Devon outfit....

The new lord Mayor of Exeter has said he will use his to term to help raise money for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF). The new Lord Mayor of Exeter Percy Prowse, who was elected at last night’sAnnual General Meeting, explained why he chose to support ELF as the mayor’s charity. He said: “A lady living in my ward approached me recently and asked which charity I would be supporting. “She had been through Leukaemia and when I heard they were trying to raise £350,000 for an extension to the existing Haematology unit in Wonford, I didn’t need much persuasion. “ELF is a very worthy local charity...

The Devon County Show is offering trade stand holders a 25 per cent refund on their stand fees after it was forced to abandon the third day. Letters are going out this week and offer traders the choice of either applying for a refund or making a donation to the Devon County Agricultural Association, which stages the Show. Show Secretary, Ollie Allen said: “The DCAA Board of Management fully appreciate that the decision to abandon the third day on Saturday was heart breaking and although we have a ‘force majeure’ in our regulations, the Board agreed to offer trade stand exhibitors a partial...

A new Forest School has launched in Exmouth to bring exciting outdoor activities to toddlers, children and adults.

Exmouth Forest School will officially open on Saturday 21 June 2014 with a FREE family fun open day for everyone to come and explore the new site.

Exmouth Forest School is part of the Exeter Outdoors company, a social enterprise based in Exeter providing Forest School Leader training courses and outdoor learning experiences for schools throughout the South West.

The new Forest School has been set up by passionate Forest School Leaders who have set up...

A Devon teacher who was drunk on school premises is free to return to the classroom after a professional conduct panel decided a teaching ban would not be “appropriate”.

In May a Professional Conduct Panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) found that while Gillian Mary Brunt, a former teacher at Tavistock College, "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession" they believed a prohibition order banning her from teaching “would not be an appropriate and proportionate response.”

The incident occured on 12 July 2013 when 52–year-...

Devon could retain a professional youth work service and eight area-based youth centre hubs if new proposals are agreed by Devon County Council's cabinet next week.

If approved the plans could see local youth service hubs set up around the county to continue council lead youth work in the area.

While it is not yet a plan in place the eight local hubs are likely to be based in Exeter, Exmouth, Bideford, Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Tiverton, Totnes and Okehampton.

The final decision is also expected to include extra funding for communities to help them develop their own...