Low income families across Devon have been receiving food hampers this past weekend, thanks to a church in Exeter.
Rediscover Church based in Northernhay Street, put together 250 hampers, thanks to generous donations from its own congregation members and partner charities including Fairshare.
The hampers were packed with a range of food including pasta, rice, sauces, biscuits, Christmas puddings, mince pies. beans, soup and more to support a range of people through the Christmas period, a time where money can be particularly tight. The church were also grateful to Nandos...
Childline volunteers are preparing to work day and night over the festive period to help young people from the South West who are struggling to cope with serious mental health problems.
In 2018/19 the NSPCC service delivered 7,157 counselling sessions across the 12-day period over Christmas and New Year – with almost 900 of those sessions happening between midnight and 7am.
More than half of those seeking support through the night across the festive period were struggling with mental health issues, self-harm and in the worst cases, suicidal thoughts and feelings.
DEVONIANS are being encouraged by a care provider in the county to spread some festive cheer this Christmas by keeping an eye on any elderly and vulnerable relatives or neighbours (December 2019).
Christmas can be bleak for anyone living alone and Guardian Homecare, which provides care in the Torbay and Exeter areas, is asking people to check on loved ones and those who live nearby.
Catherine Porter, Manager for the care provider, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family, but there are some people out there, our service users included, that do not...
People lead busy lives and need to access services at times that are convenient for them. This December, the NHS is reminding people through a short film that there are plenty of innovative new ways to access their GP this winter.
Many GP practices across Devon offer their patients the choice of online consultations, saving time waiting and travelling. The online consultation service, eConsult, was introduced in Devon GP practices last year and growth in the use of the technology has been more than 500% in the last 12 months.
More than 600,000 patients in Devon are now able...
Children have the chance to explore a festive wonderland and meet Father Christmas this December by visiting multi award-winning holiday park, Cofton Holidays.
Based near the pretty coastline of Dawlish Warren, Cofton Holidays is hosting Father Christmas and his hard-working elves at its very own magical grotto. He will be welcoming children on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd December, 11am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.
Well-behaved boys and girls can tell Father Christmas all about what they would like for Christmas and post their wish list in the Festive Post Box, ready to be sent to...
The number of people recorded as homeless in the South West has reached 7,127, new figures from Shelter reveal today.
Shelter’s extensive analysis of official rough-sleeping and temporary accommodation figures shows the picture of homelessness in the region has not improved since 2016, when the charity first published its landmark annual report.
For the first time, the charity’s review of government data has also exposed that close to 22,000 people in the South West were threatened with homelessness in the last year.
Despite being the most comprehensive overview of...
Staff at RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court in Exeter celebrated Elf Day last week to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s Society.
Everyone dressed up in elf costumes for a day of festive fun at the Home and staff organised a special Christmas reminiscence coffee morning. Residents enjoyed looking at old memorabilia and shared their own Christmas time memories. The team also sold cakes to raise money.
Cadogan Court Activities Coordinator, Luan Phillips, said: “We had a lot of fun celebrating National Elf Day. Seeing our staff dressed as elves certainly put a smile on...
They’re often typecast as the villain of the piece, the most hated vegetable in the land and the only morsel left on the plate at the end of the annual Christmas feast.
But, surprisingly, 74% of people in Devon admitted that they do in fact harbour a love for SPROUTS during a poll run by the Home of the Roast, Toby Carvery.
The poll interrogated some of the most polarising aspects of Christmas, with the controversial cabbages just missing out in a list of Devon’s top three loves with Christmas films (89%), Christmas songs (84%) and present buying (76%) proving most popular...
Exeter Guildhall is to be turned green tonight as the City Council shines a light on the NSPCC’s ‘Light for Every Childhood’ Christmas campaign.
The campaign is raising awareness of the nature and scale of abuse and neglect, shining a light on those children for whom Christmas may not be such a joyful time.
The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Peter Holland, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this initiative and shining a light on the NSPCC’s campaign and all the good work they do for children.”
Community Fundraising Manager for the NSPCC in Cornwall and Devon,...
A special visitor has been along to the new Barratt Homes development in Exeter recently.
The bearded visitor turned a few heads at the Minerva development, where he had come to ensure all the children who have recently moved into new homes are on his list for deliveries on Christmas Eve.
Sales director Nicki Reid said Father Christmas was seen checking out the best way to arrive at the development and updating his address book with the names of children who have moved into new homes since last Christmas.
“This is definitely the most interesting visitor we have had...
