Devon

Vulnerable young people helped by music thanks to Action Fund Grant

A social enterprise that supports vulnerable young people through music technology and music production sessions has been able to continue online during the Coronavirus outbreak thanks to a grant from the Exeter Covid-19 Community Action Fund.

Sound Gallery CIC have been awarded £1,000 from the Action Fund. The sessions, which would normally have been provided face-to-face from the Sound Gallery Studios at Exeter Phoenix, will now be delivered remotely via Skype or Facetime.

Maria Peters, of Sound Gallery CIC, said the grant was great news for organisation and some of...

Lawyer, tailor, soldier, hairdresser – over 1,300 answer the call to help vulnerable

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 04/20/2020 - 6:22pm

Thirteen hundred people including vets, plumbers, soldiers, hairdressers, builders, students, artists and estate agents have answered the call to help care for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

It follows an urgent countywide appeal to recruit Healthcare Assistants – a vital new role supporting social care providers and the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.

The registrations have come from people aged 16 to 65, some former health care professionals’ others, with little or no experience at all in health or care.

But despite their varying backgrounds they...

Research project to evaluate impact of COVID-19 quarantine restrictions receives substantial funding

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 04/17/2020 - 6:25pm

A pioneering project to predict the spread of COVID-19 in the UK, and evaluate the impact of quarantine restrictions, has received a substantial research grant, it has been announced.

Dr Leon Danon, from the University of Exeter, has received a grant of £220,403 to develop an essential new tool to forecast where and when the disease will spread across the country.

The grant has been awarded as one of 21 new projects, funded by the UK Government, as part of the £24.6 million rapid research response funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and by the Department of...

Local school children give Exeter care home residents a welcome morale boost

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 04/17/2020 - 4:05pm

Residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court, in Exeter, received a wonderful morale boost this week, thanks to some kind-hearted pupils fromClyst Heath Primary School.

Like most other care homes, Cadogan Court is closed to all but essentialvisitors because of the threat of Coronavirus to its residents.

The daughter of one of the Home’s staff had the idea of making colourful cards and writing letters to send to the residents with uplifting messages. She asked her friends to get involved and they were only too happy to oblige.

The residents were so delighted to...

Ramblers keep walk-lovers active during lockdown

Authored by celiamin
Posted: Fri, 04/17/2020 - 3:42pm

# roamsweethome connects everyone who loves walking and the outdoors

With the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ now extended for another three weeks, staying active is more important than ever, for both mental and physical health. A multi-faceted campaign by the Ramblers, called #roamsweethome, is encouraging everyone to keep active safely for leisure, health and happiness close to home and at home – whatever they can safely do – as well as inspiring and connecting everyone who loves walking and the outdoors.

The Ramblers – the charity which helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and...

Kirsten happy to remain a Chief

Jannes Kirsten knew he was joining a quality team when he swapped life at the Bulls for a new start at the Exeter Chiefs last summer.

However, the imposing South African admits his new start in England has surpassed even his own expectations and that life with the Chiefs has proved a smash hit for him, on and off he field.

Just days after agreeing to extend his stay at Sandy Park for the foreseeable future, the 26-year-old forward is already looking to the future and the part he hopes to play in helping Rob Baxter’s side when they return to competitive action.

...

How to make your money stretch further during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/16/2020 - 11:25pm

Mortgage Advice Bureau has released its top money saving tips to help people manage their finances during these unprecedented times we’re living in.

Some of the money saving tips include potentially pausing your Sky Sports subscription (don’t worry, live sport will be back soon!), freezing your gym membership and finding cheaper energy tariffs through online tools such as Look After My Bills . You can read the top 10 tips here .

As part of the initiative, Mortgage Advice Bureau has also launched a new calculator tool to help people work out their new salary and income if...

Ambulance Service Condemns #Unacceptable Assaults

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/16/2020 - 6:02pm

#Unacceptable assaults on emergency services staff tackling the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic will not be tolerated - South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is warning the public.

More than 100 SWASFT staff including frontline paramedics and 999 call handlers experience violence and aggression while on duty every month.

A man was jailed for 20 weeks last week for coughing in a paramedic’s face.

A woman was charged with assaulting a paramedic called out to treat her, and is due in court later this month.

Now emergency services...

Learn Devon launches free online training in response to impact of pandemic

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/16/2020 - 5:58pm

A new range of free courses developed by Learn Devon in response to the coronavirus pandemic is launching today. Learn Devon, who provide adult and community learning courses on behalf of Devon County Council, is offering its full support to anyone looking to get back into work, or for those who want to improve their digital skills, and improve wellbeing. Enrolment is now underway for Learn Devon’s free online training which will start on Friday 1 May. Initially the programme will offer a range of digital courses, which will be delivered online. As it progresses, the programme will see...

Hoteliers comply with lockdown restrictions over Easter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 04/16/2020 - 5:55pm

Almost all accommodation providers in Devon, Somerset and Torbay have stayed shut over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

On March 23 the Government announced that, with very few exceptions, all hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, holiday rentals, campsites and boarding houses must stay closed until further notice.

Last week Trading Standards appealed to owners to follow the lockdown rules to stem the spread of coronavirus.

And despite the weekend being one of the warmest of the year so far, trading standards officers have confirmed that most accommodation...

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