Friday 13 May 2022
 We're putting savings aside for children in our care
This week marked the start of Foster Care Fortnight, celebrating all that fostering communities do to ensure children are cared for and supported to thrive.
We've also taken Fostering Fortnight to announce something we've not done before.
We are 'corporate parents' to 812 children right now, who are placed in our care. And as many parents do, we've decided to start putting money aside in savings for our children in care, to put it towards a deposit on a house for example, once they're adults and legally entitled to have access to it.
We started last month, and we've set aside £170,000 for the year, to save £20 a month for every child who is in our care for 12 months or more.
Many councils don't do this, but some do, and we now think we can and should start putting some money aside for them, so that when they're 18, they've got a foundation to build on and to use in a responsible way.
We hope that it'll help them as adults to start to make their own independent way, and we're pleased to be able to do it now.
You can read more about the decision, and about Fostering Fortnight, on the news page of our website.
 Click on the image to play the video on You Tube
Eleven Devon residents awarded in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours list
Braunton resident and national star, Max Woosey, 'boy in the tent', is one of eleven Devonians recognised in this year's New Year's Honours.
Max, who recieved the British Empire Medal for services to fundraising, and fellow recipients, were awarded their titles by The Queen's representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon at the Commando Training Centre in Lymptstone.
He raised over £638,000 for the North Devon Hospice, raising the money by sleeping in a tent given to him by his elderly neighbour, Rick Abbott, who died of cancer in 2020.
Two years on and still sleeping in his tent, Max said about his medal,
“It feels absolutely incredible to be awarded this. I never thought it (sleeping in his tent) would last this long. It’s been an incredible experience though, and I’ve not regretted any of it. I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated.”
Read more about Max and all the amazing people recognised in the awards, on the news page of our website.
 Job of the week - Emergency Planning Officer
We’re looking for an experienced Emergency Planning Officer to join our existing team who work hard to respond to national and regional risks and major incidents.
You will play an active role in our Local Resilience Forum and within the Devon Emergency Planning Partnership, so you’ll need excellent communication skills and a track record of good team working.
The role also requires you to develop and deliver training and confidently examine national and regional learning in order to provide recommendations to senior officers, as well as deliver our statutory planning functions.
For those with the relevant skills, who would thrive in a high pressure, fast moving and challenging environment, we will reward your valuable contribution with a salary of up to £37,568, flexible working arrangements, 25 days per year annual leave (plus bank holidays) and membership of the local government pension scheme.
For more information, and to apply, visit the Devon Jobs website.
A highly popular series of webinars, that provide advice to parents and carers to help them understand and support their teenagers more, will run again next month!
The 'Let's Talk Teenagers' webinars were set up to help parents and carers of teenagers to support their children through the challenges of today's world.
The first sessions were sold out - places were initially limited to 200, but a staggering 749 parents and carers attended sessions, and gave excellent positive feedback.
With demand so high, a second series is now planned, to run on Wednesdays, 15, 22, and 29 June.
The sessions will cover topics such as teenage development and social and emotional changes, body image, relationships, social media and emotional wellbeing and self-care. They're delivered by parenting experts.
Rebecca Hewitt, Chair of the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership, said:
"We were overwhelmed by the feedback from parents who said that they felt more equipped to support their teens following this event. We are pleased to be able to offer the sessions again to reach even more families to raise awareness of the risks young people face and provide tips on how to support them."
For more information, and to book a place on the seminars, read our story online.
 The BIG FIX returns tomorrow
After a two-year break, The BIG FIX returns tomorrow, (Saturday 14 May), as 48 repair cafes across England open their doors at the same time, to welcome old faces and new.
It's about fixing broken possessions for free of course - there will be skilled volunteers on hand to help fix items and provide advice and repair tips - but the date is also about meeting up and socialising.
Nine repair cafes in Devon are taking part, in Atherington and High Bickington, Uffculme, Tiverton, Blackdown Hills, Bradninch, North Tawton, Chudleigh, Braunton and Buckfastleigh.
And this year there's a special emphasis on what the cafes mean for people and how they can help communities as we emerge from the pandemic.
"Many come to repair cafes for the atmosphere, a cup of tea, slice of cake and a chat," said Cllr Croad. "Why not pop down to a repair cafe near you this Saturday."
Find out more about The BIG FIX, and the Devon repair cafes taking part, on the news page of our website.
We'd like to know what you think about a proposal we have to create a walking and cycling route between West Clyst and Topsham.
It'd be an 8-mile route passing picturesque parkland and river valleys, linking Pinhoe in Exeter with the Exe Estuary Trail.
We've been working with East Devon District Council on it, and are at an early stage of design.
The route, which would also be great for mobility scooters, and where feasible, horse riders, would enable people to enjoy the new Clyst Valley Regional Park and East Devon, while also providing a safe and direct commuter route between towns and villages along the River Clyst and Exeter, and surrounding employment areas, such as Exeter Science Park, Skypark and Winslade Park.
You have until Friday 10 June to comment on the proposals by completing the online consultation survey.
There will be a webinar at 5:30pm on Wednesday 18 May, about the proposal. If you would like to view the webinar, please email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk by Tuesday 17 May.
For more information and opportunities to respond to the consultation, please visit the news page of our website.
 The bid in Cullompton would cut congestion and improve air quality
Last week, we wrote about a decision being made this week about plans that will boost Devon's economic recovery and improve local transport.
Councillors on Wednesday approved the proposals, so we will, with our district council colleagues, bid for the required Government funding.
Five schemes are put forward for cash from the Government's Levelling-Up Fund. We will also make a financial contribution towards the work, as will district councils. The overall bid is worth £92 million.
Those five schemes span the county and will benefit Okehampton, Exmouth, Cullompton, Lee Mill and Newton Abbot.
Rather than repeat each scheme again, you can read about the programme on the news page of our website.
Celebrations began at County Hall this afternoon, to mark the start of Exeter Pride 2022.
The Chairman of the Council, Cllr Jeff Trail, and Chief Executive, Phil Norrey, were joined by organiser, Alan Quick, to raise the Pride flag.
"We know that many LGBTQ+ people experience isolation, so it is wonderful that Exeter Pride is able to take place again, to bring people together and celebrate, after some very difficult years," said Cllr Trail.
"The (Exeter Pride) Committee will have been working very hard behind the scenes to bring this back, and we hope that by flying this flat, it marks the start of a wonderful weekend, and demonstrates our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion."
Exeter once again hosts the weekend's celebrations with a Rainbow March that will gather from 11:30am at the St Sidwell Centre, for a 12.00pm start, though the city centre to Northernhay Gardens.
There will be music, performances, stalls, food and refreshments, and more!
To find out more about the weekend, visit the website
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