British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF), a Kent-based sight loss charity that provides free, specially adapted audio equipment to those living with sight loss, is proud to announce that its popular BWBFConnect service will continue throughout 2021. The dedicated service was initially launched in April 2020, shortly after the UK entered its first COVID-19 lockdown. Designed to better connect vulnerable people to essential support networks, the scheme a free audio device, delivered direct to the door, to ensure critical information is communicated effectively, and that vulnerable people...
An investment of £15.5 million has been agreed between BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor, and property developer Burrington Estates, to support the ambitious growth plans of the Exeter-based business.
Burrington Estates launched its New Homes business in 2016 and its Commercial industrial development business in 2019, creating two distinct divisions – Burrington Estates New Homes and Burrington Estates Commercial. The New Homes division has built over 400 homes worth £120 million across the South West during the past five years, building a brand and reputation for...
People with Covid in Devon, who are over 65 or are clinically extremely vulnerable, are being encouraged to ask their GP about using a potentially life-saving device at home to check their blood oxygen levels are not getting dangerously low.
Under a new NHS scheme called Covid Oximetry at Home, eligible patients can be given a pulse oximeter – a small and simple device that measures levels of oxygen in the blood – to use in the comfort and safety of their home during the first 14 days of symptoms.
The service is available to patients who have coronavirus and are...
People across Exeter are being invited to take part in a study to assess the effect of ash dieback disease on the landscape of the city.
Over the next few weeks fixed camera points are being installed in three locations across the city where ash dieback will have an impact.
Members of the public will be encouraged to take photographs from the fixed posts to capture Exeter’s changing landscape over the coming months and years. The pictures, will capture changes to the treescape and will help inform decisions about future plantings across the city.
The first of two brand new state-of-art mobile testing centres goes on the road this week, with its first stop at Exmouth's Foxholes Carpark this Saturday, February 27.
It follows a successful trial of one of the new mobile test centres at Middlemoor last Friday when more than 140 staff were tested for COVID-19.
The two mobile testing centres have been purchased by Devon County Council and will offer rapid COVID-19 tests, with results within the hour.
Each van will visit the largest communities in the two areas of Devon that currently do not have fixed testing...
The NHS is urging people who have received a letter from the National Booking System not to contact their GP practice about a vaccination.
Dr Alex Degan, a GP in Devon and Medical Director for Primary Care said:
“Anyone who has received a letter from the National Booking System inviting them to book an appointment should use the website or 119 (free, 7am-11pm, seven days a week) to book an appointment.
“Please don’t contact your GP practice about a vaccination.
“Practices are reporting a significant number of calls which are preventing people who need...
A new service launched this week will offer bereaved families in Exeter and Mid Devon additional support from Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, when a loved one dies at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E).
Families of patients who die either at the RD&E or who have had support and care in the community from the RD&E will receive a phone call from a specially trained, locally recruited, Marie Curie Companion who will offer a series of weekly telephone bereavement support calls.
With the easing of restrictions on the horizon, the future is looking brighter as the UK heads towards spring and the hope of this being the final lockdown. Over the last 12 months, community spirit has soared as the nation felt a bigger need for a sense of togetherness. And whilst times have been tough, across the UK many local communities have come together to provide invaluable support to each other – from community kitchens to picking up prescriptions, or welfare calls to those feeling isolated and alone.
Now Mecca Bingo, whose 76 clubs have been at the heart of UK’s towns and...
Exeter residents have the chance to give their views on how Magdalen Road could look in the future.
Devon County Council (DCC) has launched a public consultation, which sets out several different options for access and providing more space for pedestrians, cyclists and shoppers.
The options being proposed follow feedback from local residents and stakeholders on the temporary changes, funded by the Government’s Active Travel Fund, which are currently in place to support social distancing.
Option 1 would be to make the current temporary arrangements permanent,...
The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, joined a virtual Year 6 maths lesson and was then interviewed by Year 5 children in the TV studio at Broadclyst Community Primary School (BCPS) on Wednesday morning (24 February).
Following the good news that schools will be reopening on 8 March, the Secretary of State talked to the children about how they’ve been learning during lockdown and how much they are looking forward to being back in their classrooms. During Mr Beevor’s maths lesson, Mr Williamson spoke to children of keyworkers in the classroom and also pupils...
