A new Chief Fire Officer has been appointed to lead fire and rescue services across Devon and Somerset.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, the body that governs the fire and rescue service for the two counties, appointed Gavin Ellis at its meeting on 10 June 2024.
Gavin has been serving as interim Chief Fire Officer since May 2023. He will replace Lee Howell, who is currently on secondment at the National Fire Chiefs Council and
is retiring in September, as permanent Chief Fire Officer responsible for the day to day running of the Service.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) has granted planning permission for the second of four expansion areas at Cranbrook.
The expansion at Treasbeare closely follows the permission issued in April for the Cobdens area . Together they will bring forward more than half of the town’s planned growth.
This planning permission will enable the development of up to 1035 homes, 5 permanent pitches for gypsies and travellers, up to 10ha of employment land, a primary school and a sports hub with full sized artificial grass and turf pitches. Other community facilities will include a...
St Luke’s and St James’ schools, both part of the Ted Wragg Trust, are working together to host a range of community events this summer.
The events are open to families of children at St Luke’s, St James’ and Whipton Barton Primary and are all free, places just need to be booked in advance!
The schools want to share their facilities with the community and help to bring local people together.
There will be a cooking competition at the Ready, Steady, Cook event with ingredients provided on the 24th of June at 4pm at St Luke’s. The group will also be joined by a...
The Motability Scheme is returning to Westpoint in Exeter, and this time for a two-day motoring show on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June 2024.
With a new focus on electric motoring, The Big Event, Exeter gives visitors a chance to see a range of electric vehicles, speak to manufacturers and Scheme experts and try out the latest accessible innovations.
The automotive industry is changing and Motability Operations, the company behind the Motability Scheme, is committed to educating its customers about the switch to electric. The Scheme has already helped to change the lives...
Urgent funding needed to save last of its kind Fishing Smack, securing youth employment project too.
A 109-year-old sailing ship is desperately seeking a new financial lifeline to stay afloat, as her dedicated owners lead a national campaign to save her.
Britannia, the last functional example of an East Coast Fishing Smack, is currently undergoing community restoration in Exeter with the goal of returning her to a working life at sea. However, plans to revive her will shortly run aground if the £250,000 needed to fund the rest of the project isn’t found. Not only does...
Girls across Devon are taking part in an Empowering Girls programme organised by the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay Careers Hub.
Students from St Luke’s Church of England School, St James School, Queen Elizabeth’s, Isca, West Exe School, Cranbrook Education Campus, Sidmouth College and All Saints Academy Plymouth, which are all part of the Ted Wragg Trust family of schools, are benefitting from the programme.
The Careers Hub works with 117 schools and colleges across the country to help every young person find their best next step. They do this by working closely with...
Over the past couple of years I have been advocating for families living with dementia in addition to leading the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance.
I have witnessed family carers on their knees at crisis point, desperate, isolated with overwhelming feelings of helplessness.
At times I have felt useless, but having immersed myself into the world of dementia over the past decade I realise I have gained invaluable knowledge which I feel able to share and is making a difference. This is a humbling privilege.
Navigating the complexities of the health and social care...
SpaMedica, the largest NHS cataract surgery provider in the UK, has over 50 hospitals across the UK, including one located in Exeter International Office Park, which help thousands of patients back to better vision each year. June is Cataract Awareness Month and an expert from SpaMedica, shares his tips about tackling the condition.
According to the World Health Organisation, cataracts are the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness around the globe. These cloudy patches are usually caused as result of aging – an estimated 30% of people in the UK over the age of 65 have...
World Heart Rhythm Week (June 7 to June 13) is a seven-day period observed annually to raise awareness about arrhythmias and the importance of understanding our heart rates. Devon Air Ambulance crews attend to hundreds of patients every year who are suffering with heart related problems and that is why they are so passionate about educating those in our local communities on how to recognise both cardiac arrests and heart attacks. During the last two years the charity has trained over 600 members of the public throughout Devon on how they can step in to help someone suffering from a...
The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation CIHT (SW) held a glittering awards ceremony recognising positive projects in the South West region for 2023/2024. Attracting 150 guests, it was hosted at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel and generously supported by headline sponsor WSP.
The annual South West Region Awards celebrate innovative and pioneering transportation schemes in recognition of the outstanding contribution that good projects and people make to our daily lives. CIHT SW Region Chair, Hannah Clark gave a welcome address and a presentation on the industry...
