Friday 27 May 2022
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The outgoing Chair of Devon County Council (DCC), Jeff Trail BEM, handed the reins to Ian Hall (pictured), the County Councillor for Axminster, on Thursday 26 May.
The annual changing of the guard took place at the first Annual Council Meeting at County Hall for two years – because of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, the previous two meetings had been held virtually.
At the meeting Councillor Percy Prowse, a retired police officer who served for 32 years and has represented Duryard and Pennsylvania on DCC since 2009, replaced Councillor Debo Sellis as Vice Chair.
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Becoming an anti-racist organisation
In response to the Race Equality Audit, we are setting up a new cross-organisational race equality staff group. The group is about creating an environment where people feel safe and encouraged to share their experiences and their ideas, and help improve Devon County Council for all staff. The group is being set up by Fakir Mohamed Osman, Head of the Heart of the South West Trading Standards, and Maria Chakraborty, interim Head of Human Resources.
Have your say on our Contemplation and Prayer Room in County Hall
The race equality staff group is conducting a survey about the current Contemplation and Prayer Room in County Hall in order to make improvements to its accessibility, facilities and appearance. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes, and your responses will be used to inform the changes we make. Anyone can take part, of any religion or of none.
If you have a devon.gov.uk email then you can take part in the survey here
The survey is open until Wednesday 22 June.
It’s never too late to come forward for your vaccination, says Director of Public Health
Eighty two per cent of people eligible for their spring booster have received theirs, according to the latest government figures. Spring boosters are offered to all over 75 year olds, people over the age of 12 who are immunosuppressed, and residents in care homes for elderly people.
Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health, said:
"Living with coronavirus in our communities is the new norm, and with it there is an onus on us all to do everything we can to protect ourselves from becoming seriously ill should we catch it.
"As the government announces new booster programmes, it's important that those invited come forward. It is never too late for anyone to come forward for their vaccination, if you have missed any.”
 We’re helping to grow the independent care worker market in Devon
We’re working with a social enterprise called Community Catalysts to help increase care and support options that are available to older and disabled people in Devon. They do this by growing the independent care worker market – organisations they refer to as “community micro-enterprises”. They will initially focus their work in a defined geographical area, extending roughly east to west, from Teignmouth, Dawlish, Starcross, Exminster, southern Exeter, across to Pathfinder village, as far as Tedburn St Mary.
Over the coming weeks and months, Community Catalysts will be exploring the current care and support provision, and where there are opportunities to develop. They will be running their development programme providing support to local people to set up and grow their own independent community micro-enterprises offering care and support locally. The learning we develop in these areas can be used and carried to other parts of the county where we know demand for this type of support is high.
Please signpost individuals, local groups and charities who would be interested in this programme to the Community Catalysts’ local contact Alex Woolaway by email alex.woolaway@communitycatalysts.co.uk or call 07741 260 674.
For further information about our commissioning with Community Catalysts, please contact Lucie Spiers, lucie.spiers@devon.gov.uk. For more information about Community Catalysts and the work they are supporting visit www.communitycatalysts.co.uk.
 Let's talk teenagers
After the success of the first Let’s Talk Teenagers sessions piloted earlier this year, a second series of the online sessions will be held in June. These webinars are an opportunity for parents and carers of teenagers to hear about the challenges young people are facing today whilst being offered tips, techniques and resources to explore for more help and support.
The sessions are funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Safer Devon Partnership, South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership and Teignbridge Council for Voluntary Service.
Free school meal holiday vouchers for May half-term
We've been allocated money from the government’s new Household Support Fund so we can provide supermarket vouchers to families whose children currently receive benefit-related free schools meals for one week at May half-term and the full six weeks of the summer holiday.
Hundreds of schools across the county have helped to distribute the vouchers for the upcoming May half-term, and families are being urged to check their email inbox and redeem vouchers as soon as possible before they expire. Parents and carers who were expecting to receive a voucher but didn't should get in touch with our free school meals team by emailing freeschoolmeals@devon.gov.uk or calling 0345 155 1019.
Parents or carers who didn’t previously qualify for free school meals but whose income has recently reduced or stopped, can apply online through our website to check if they are eligible for this support. Alternatively, they can call our education helpline on 0345 155 1019.
Short breaks for children with a SEND diagnosis
We want disabled children and young people to be supported at home and in their local communities, to have opportunities to make and meet friends, feel confident, learn new skills and to thrive with a good family life. Short breaks help by giving children and young people opportunities to meet new people, take part in activities, enjoy positive learning opportunities and have different experiences whilst giving their families a break from their caring responsibilities.
The Short Breaks Project is working to improve our short breaks offer. As part of this, we are working in partnership with the Parent Carer Forum Devon to host a series of 'coffee mornings' for parents and carers so that they can talk directly to us. There are several sessions in June, including an evening online session, and more planned for the autumn.
 Devon to pilot transport schemes to tackle loneliness
A series of innovative transport schemes are being introduced in Devon to help reduce loneliness after it was announced that we have been awarded just under £494,000 from the Department for Transport.
Devon’s pilot project involves a variety of support aimed at reducing loneliness in over-55s and young people aged 16 to 24 years old.
We will be working with Devon Communities Together, Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, One Northern Devon and WestBank Community Health and Care to deliver the initiative.
Open Up To Skills initiative supports the hospitality industry in Devon
Our ‘Open Up to Skills’ initiative is supporting Devon’s catering, hospitality, leisure, retail, and tourism sectors to rebuild workforce skills following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lord Haldon Country Hotel in Exeter, part of the Best Western chain of hotels, used the initiative to invest in training and upskilling its staff ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.
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Paco Bayona-Ruz, General Manager at Lord Haldon Country Hotel, said:
“The funded training available through the ‘Open Up To Skills’ initiative has been a fantastic opportunity for us as a business. Upskilling our staff and supporting them to achieve a recognised qualification means that we can provide better levels of service for our customers. Helping employees to progress in their career also ensures that they feel valued, and this helps with staff retention.”
Carers Week 2022: Making caring visible, valued and supported
This year Carers Week is running from Monday 6 June to Sunday 12 June. It's an annual campaign and celebration event to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities. Devon Carers is hosting a large variety of activities across the week for carers.
 We kicked off Exeter Pride celebrations at County Hall on Friday 13 May. Outgoing Chairman, Councillor Jeff Trail BEM, gave an address before raising the Pride flag to show support for all of our LGBTQ+ colleagues.
Coaver Club now open at County Hall
The Coaver Club at County Hall, Exeter, has reopened.
Staff are looking forward to welcoming both employees and local club members back into the indoor and outside spaces!
Opening hours will be 9:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday. There will be hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks available.
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Reminder: if you feel unwell don't come into an office
Leadership Group advise anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or who develops symptoms to stay at home and avoid contact with others – in the same way you would if you had the flu or vomiting and diarrhoea.
If you are well enough and can do so, please work from home.
Members' area
Don't forget your Members' Area SharePoint site is your one-stop-shop to access resources to aid you in your role as a Devon County Councillor. Key documents from the Council's various service areas, including induction resources, are posted in the Document library, and the Who's who? highlights the best person for you to contact to help answer any queries you may have.
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