local

We are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. Covid-19 has spread all over the world and the UK is now in lockdown to try and slow down community transmission. Non-essential business such as cafes, restaurants, cinemas, and clothing stores have all closed their doors. People are staying at home rather than travelling to visit family and friends.

It’s likely that many small businesses will never recover. Your local pizzeria that employed less than 10 staff and the small boutique hotel you stayed in last summer – these businesses can’t stay closed indefinitely. They have wages...

BBC Local Radio is teaming up with manufacturers, retailers and a loneliness charity to offer free DAB radios to the most vulnerable people aged over 70.

It comes as millions of people are forced to stay in their homes and isolate from their friends and families because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Radio is a vital source of news, information and companionship in these unprecedented times and BBC Local Radio wants to ensure as many people as possible have access to it.

So it will be giving away DAB digital radios to people nominated by Local Radio listeners. It’...

Dining Devon, a well-established online food blog, has been announced as South West England Food Blog of the Year 2019 by LUXlife Magazine, as part of their 4th annual Food and Drink Awards.

Founded in 2011, as Eating Exeter, the blog rebranded in 2017 due to its widening appeal and growing demand to visit establishments all over Devon to help with exposure for smaller independents as well as part of larger business PR campaigns.

Many featured venues are also just part of the three bloggers increasing appetite for the many tasty places they visit across Devon in their spare...

Good Game in Devon have won six national awards for their organic and non-organic charcuterie at the first British Charcuterie Awards, hosted by BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace.

Competing against an impressive 400 other charcuterie entries created by 100 producers from across the UK, Good Game won four silver and two bronze awards for their range of cured meats, sausages and game.

These entries were judged blind by 20 leading food, retail and hospitality experts including head judge John Gower, who founded New York’s Charcuterie Masters, as well as Great British...

Sally Payne, 43 from Exeter, has been on an unwanted roller coaster ride since 2013. Whilst working in London as a nanny, Sally discovered she had breast cancer. At the time she was only 38. Despite surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy, Sally now has secondary cancer. Local charity Hospiscare is supporting her in managing her illness whilst she continues to do the job she loves.

Sally shares her story.

“I felt fine. Not unwell at all. I was working in London as a nanny, loving life.

“I was getting out of the bath one day when I noticed a dent in one of my breasts. I...

A campaign to help the most vulnerable in our communities to stay warm and well this winter has launched. The Surviving Winter appeal asks those who feel they can, to consider donating to those who desperately need extra support during the cold winter months. Many previous donors have donated their Winter Fuel payment if they don’t need it but want to make sure it is well used.

The figures tell a shocking story for older and vulnerable people in Devon living in fuel poverty. Over 1,000 older people are at risk of dying simply due to avoidable winter related illnesses and one in...

What do you do when your A level results don’t make the grade and you want a career in medicine?

This is the situation Conor Goldsmith found himself in a couple of years ago, but instead of giving up on his on his dream job, Conor started volunteering.

“When my A levels didn’t go as well as I’d expected I had to re-think everything, so I signed up to do BTEC Applied Science at Exeter College. Around the same time I also started volunteering for WestBank. I befriended a lady who had dementia and paid regular visits to offer companionship and alleviate her feelings of...