Although Christmas is a time of celebration, it can also be one of the toughest times of year with bills piling up and rent payments falling into arrears.
East Devon District Council can help ease the burden by offering not only free debt advice, but also practical assistance, such as discretionary housing payments, to tenants having difficulty paying their rent.
Councillor Jill Elson, cabinet member for sustainable homes and communities, said: “It is vital that tenants don’t ignore their financial problems and try not to panic. They should come and talk to us as soon as...
Applications are now open for people in Devon to apply for grants from Crimebeat funds, sponsored by the High Sheriff of Devon. Awarded to individuals or groups, grants of up to £1,000 are available to people whose project will have a positive impact on the local community and will help cut crime.
Of particular relevance are initiatives which can positively influence young people who are at risk of offending, engage in anti social behaviour, are subject to drug or alcohol abuse, or who regularly skip school. Successful projects can vary from helping elderly people make their homes...
Parents from Witheridge took part in a ‘budget bake off’ at Action for Children’s Oakmoor Children's Centre in Witheridge, Tiverton.
The session was the culmination of a Money Skills course, part of a national programme run by Barclays in partnership with charity Action for Children, which helps families and young people with budgeting and finance.
While the parents designed, baked and decorated biscuits and cakes, Action for Children employees ran through Money Skills ideas highlighting the benefits of home-prepared cooking over ready meals, how to shop for the best value...
Across the UK over 928,000 Premium Bonds prizes worth over £41 million remain unclaimed including over 16,000 in Devon worth more than £695,000.
NS&I are calling for Premium Bonds holders to come forward to claim their prizes, and to sign-up to have their winnings paid directly into their bank accounts to reduce the chances of prizes going unclaimed in future.
Premium Bonds prize warrants can go undelivered and unclaimed as a result of changes in Premium Bonds holders’ addresses, or if Bonds were bought for them as a child and they have subsequently lost track of them....
As Christmas approaches, local charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau is helping people avoid a Christmas debt hangover by sharing their top ten tips for keeping festive finances in check.
Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive Steve Barriball, said:
“We all want to have the best possible Christmas. It's important to be savvy when shopping and to be aware of how spending pans out.”
The top tips are:
1. Plan early Be realistic and budget accordingly. Work out how much you are going to spend on each person– and stick to it. Manage expectations as to what...
Forty-three Devon schools have recently completed an energy education scheme, organised by Devon County Council in partnership with Resource Futures, resulting in some impressive savings.
Since September 2012, 1,757 pupils and 133 staff from schools across the county have undertaken whole school campaigns.
For the schools that completed the project in the spring and summer terms, 2014, eight schools have seen reductions of at least 15% on their energy use during the campaign. A further six schools lowered electricity consumption by 5 -15% during the campaign.
Exeter’s local charity Hospiscare is hoping that Christmas has come early after £3,540 were left in carrier bags outside one of its city shops.
Police, who are temporarily holding the cash, have appealed for the mystery donor to come forward to confirm that they intended the money to go to the charity. If the money is not claimed it will go to Hospiscare in six weeks time.
Glynis Atherton, Hospiscare chief executive, said: “The shop manager was amazed and immediately contacted the police who are looking after the wads of £20 used notes. This sum would provide almost a whole...
Police are hoping to speak to a generous donor after a large amount of cash was left in a bag outside an Exeter charity shop.
The donation was discovered outside the Hospiscare charity shop in Cowick Street on the morning of Monday 11 November and police are now trying to establish if the donation was made legitimately.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: “There is nothing to suggest that it is not legitimate but we want to make sure that the person who left the money intended to do so.
“The money, which was in used £20 notes and was in excess of £2,000...
Residents of the parish of Ottery St Mary are being invited by EDDC and Ottery St Mary Town Council to vote for how they would spend £17,300 available for sports provision.
The projects that get the most votes will be delivered and the good news is you don't have to be 18 to vote, as kids get a vote too!
The parish of Ottery St Mary is anywhere covered by Ottery Town Council, which includes Tipton St John, Wiggaton, West Hill, Alfington, Escot, Gosford, Fenny Bridges, Fairmile and Metcombe.
You can vote on Friday 7 November at the Ottery St Mary Street Market, Mill...
There has been a dramatic upsurge in debt worries among people in the Exeter area, according to new figures released by StepChange Debt Charity. In the first six months of this year, 648 residents in the Exeter postcode area sought debt advice from the charity’s helpline compared to 580 in the same period last year, an increase of 12 per cent.
The figures point to a further strain on household budgets, with those contacting the charity from the Exeter area an average of £11 per month worse off than the same time last year. The average person in Exeter seeking the charity’s help was...
