Schools in the South West are being invited to donate books to schools in rural parts of South Africa, as part of a competition to learn about farming in the country.
The 2015 Help a South African School competition asks children in years one through to 11 to learn about fruit farming and the difference it makes to the lives of families in South Africa, and to produce a collage of their learnings.
There are two top prizes of £1,000 for winning schools in two school year categories to spend on resources; there are also prizes for two second and two third placed schools....
As more powers shift from Whitehall to town halls, the South West Housing Initiative (SWHI) is rallying businesses to call for politicians to shape UK devolution in a way which will solve the region’s housing crisis. This crisis is having a detrimental impact on businesses. SWHI, a partnership of housing professionals committed to combating the region’s housing crisis, said that employees will increasingly struggle to find affordable homes near where they work.
Businesses are already struggling to retain staff and recruitment is becoming more challenging. The average house price in...
"After last year’s good summer, and the easing up of the recession, we’re heading into an exciting new era of top quality dining in the South West," says two Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines of Gidleigh Park, and chairman of the Trencherman’s Guide’s editorial board.
"With consumers increasingly viewing the South West as an exceptional food destination, we chefs are feeling buoyant and confident in developing the dining scene further. And nothing showcases what’s going on in the South West dining scene as successfully as The Trencherman’s Guide."
Blundering adults in the South West have over 6 million home accidents each year, each one causing physical injury or property damage, with Saturday at 6.30pm the most dangerous time to be at home in the region.
A study by Electrical Safety First has identified that our risky behaviours are leading to a huge number of accidents, with the most common accident in the South West calculated to be cooking burns. With support from property expert Phil Spencer, the Charity is launching ‘Home Safe’, a campaign to remind residents in the South West that even the smallest mishap can lead to...
New statistics show the majority of parents in the South West believe stopping children being exposed to junk food adverts could cut childhood obesity, as the British Heart Foundation (BHF) delivered a 30,000 strong petition to ban the adverts before 9pm to Britain’s most famous street.
The BHF polled 2,000 UK parents and found 67% of parents in the South West believe that stopping children being exposed to junk food adverts could help towards tackling the obesity crisis in children.
Seven in ten (70%) parents polled in the region feel the UK Government should introduce...
Eighty per cent of businesses in the South West feel inspired to grow, and 87% feel capable of doing so. However, the government’s Do More Online campaign is highlighting the risk that small businesses will be hampered because they are not doing enough online and are missing out on opportunities to find more customers, be more efficient, and save money.
The Do More Online campaign found that 19% of small businesses in the South West don’t have a website; 50% are without any social media presence and 15% are not using online banking. The research also found that 51% have never used...
Around £10.2 million was saved by 145,000 households in the South West in the last six months, simply by changing electricity supplier.
The figures, released as part of the ‘Power to Switch’ campaign, show that within the South West:
The ‘Power to Switch’ campaign encourages people to switch supplier and save money by visiting www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com . Millions of people can save around £200 - and some can save even more.
Nationally, during a four week period for the campaign, both gas and electricity switches through price comparison sites resulted in 130,000...
Exeter residents are effectively leaving their homes open to burglary via a naïve attitude to social media, a study had found today.
Personal information, crucial for burglars in selecting target properties, is being posted on social media accounts through status updates, photographs, and location tags.
Almost half of the South West social media users could be broadcasting their address, routine and possessions to burglars, by choosing not to privatise their social profiles, meaning potentially anyone online can view what they are doing and where they are.
Hot on the heels of the Cheltenham Festival, jumps racing is set to return to Newton Abbot Racecourse on Wednesday 25th March as the racecourse make their final preparations for the start of the new season.
Following a five month winter break, the course is promising an improved experience for all with the unveiling of a number of developments at the course over the winter for the benefit of racegoers, owners, trainers and jockeys.
As part of its annual plan of improvements, the racecourse has spent over £200,000 through the winter months enhancing facilities and the racing...
Simpkins Edwards Partner, Adrian Hemmings, commented:
“The Chancellor delivered an overt but effective pre-election budget, which included a raft of measures to help many different key groups, from pensioners to first-time homebuyers.
“His proposed increase to the personal tax allowance to £10,800 next year and an increase in the top rate tax threshold to £43,300 in 2017-18 are among the measures likely to have the most far-reaching impact. In addition, a new personal savings allowance starting next year would mean the first £1,000 of interest on savings would be tax-free...
