Friday 18 October 2024
As British Summer Time ends and the clocks go back on Sunday 27 October, we’re reminding all road users to take extra care over the autumn and winter months.
With fewer daylight hours and visibility often affected by poor weather conditions, everyone is being encouraged to “look out for one another” on Devon’s roads.
Drivers are asked to look out for more vulnerable road users and to give them plenty of time and space.
Cyclists, motorcyclists, and horse riders are all encouraged to “be bright, be seen”, by wearing reflective and fluorescent clothing to ensure they can be seen clearly. Pedestrians walking in areas where it is dark or where there are no footways are also encouraged to wear clothing that will make them more visible.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 Devon’s recycling rate increases
Devon has maintained its position as having the second highest recycling rate in the country!
Figures show that recycling rates in Devon were 54.5 per cent during 2023/24, an increase of 0.5 per cent on the previous year. This includes both kerbside collections as well as items people bring to our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
Additionally, new figures show that 78.7 per cent of items brought to HWRCs are recycled. We’ve also seen a reduction in the amount of household waste being sent to landfill from 3.4 per cent to 1.3 per cent in 2023/24.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 Flood preparedness and recovery
It's Flood Action Week! You may live in a flood-prone part of Devon and have experienced flooding before, or perhaps you don't think your area is at risk, but flash-flooding can happen anywhere and is unpredictable. We've put together this to help you prepare for potential flooding and know what to do if you are flooded.
We are seeing more instances of flooding in Devon which is why it's essential that communities adopt a proactive approach to become more resilient. The Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) is running from 2021 until 2027, working with 19 organisations to improve resilience to flooding in 26 communities across Devon. It is a unique project to help neighbourhoods be better prepared and able to recover more quickly from flooding by improving community resilience.
This year's National Adoption Week (Monday 21 October to Sunday 27 October 2024) aims to challenge misconceptions about adopting and showcase the experiences within modern adoptive family life – all set onboard a train!
Just like adoption, trains connect people to one another and act as a fitting metaphor for the adoption journey – one that is full of adventure, chaos, and moments of connection.
Throughout the week, on Adopt South West's social media, we'll be sharing the short films of the families onboard trains who talk about their personal journeys.
 Do you have the skills to represent your community?
Becoming a councillor is a fantastic way to make a positive impact and give back to your local community and help make Devon a better place to live. You don’t need any specific skills or experience - just energy, passion and a commitment to making a difference.
By supporting residents, influencing policies, participating in decision-making and advocating for change, you can help improve the quality of life for local people by voicing their concerns and ensuring they are fairly represented so that they receive the right services.
Our aim is to have a diverse and representative council, which means having councillors from all backgrounds and experiences, who reflect the communities they serve. That’s why we’re encouraging more people to consider standing in the next Devon County Council elections, which will take place in May 2025.
Devon Community Foundation is inviting community organisations that are involved with food support to register for grants now available.
Working in partnership with us, the Foundation is offering grants of up to £30,000 to help organisations to address food insecurity in Devon.
The two-year core grants will be used to develop projects which improve people’s access to affordable, nutritious food, such as food clubs, social supermarkets or community kitchens, to be delivered from community hubs and/or schools.
Interested organisations need to register with an initial expression of interest by Thursday 7 November, after which some will be invited to submit a full application.
Visit the Devon Community Foundation website for more information.
Today is World Menopause Day! Discussing menopause can feel challenging but it’s important to help reduce the taboo and make it a more comfortable subject.
We may all be affected by the menopause in some way, whether it’s impacting on your own health and wellbeing, a family member, a friend or a colleague. So for everyone, understanding the basics around what the menopause is, its key symptoms, and some helpful ways to manage it can help them to become more equipped to offer empathy and support.
Visit the NHS website to find out more about the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause and the things you can do to help as well as what treatment and support is available.
The NHS in Devon is preparing for the winter period and encouraging local people to make best use of health services and protect themselves with winter vaccinations to get ‘winter strong’.
Those eligible for the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can book appointments, with hundreds of thousands of slots still available through the NHS website, the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free.
The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy and there are walk in sites available where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The NHS has already invited over 11 million people to come forward and GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines, but those that are eligible do not have to wait to receive an invitation to be able to book.
Join the Wild About Devon forum for a day of networking, sharing ideas and learning about some fantastic work taking place across Devon.
This free event is a great opportunity to get to know other people who are working professionally to support community action around wildlife or who voluntarily lead this work in their community, and to explore your own work in a supportive space.
Please email bridie.devonnature@gmail.com if you would be interested in speaking about your project, running a workshop or displaying information.
Wild About Devon is a platform for those connecting communities with nature, with the forum and steering group including key wildlife, nature and community organisations from across the county. Find out more at the Wild About Devon website or join their friendly Facebook community.
Did you know that nearly 30 per cent of the waste that is thrown away in Devon is food?
The majority of councils in Devon offer a weekly food waste collection alongside your other waste and recycling services. The food waste is then processed in anaerobic digestion facilities where the material is broken down in a series of sealed, oxygen free tanks to produce methane, a gas used to generate electricity and digestate, a nutrient rich fertiliser used by local farmers.
Visit the Recycle Devon website to find out if your council offers a food waste collection service.
If you’re not using your food waste collection and a free kitchen caddy and free money saving recipe book would help you start, simply visit the Recycle Devon website to claim yours!
The new Dawlish link road and bridge over Shutterton Brook is nearly finished.
When complete, construction traffic to the new 860 home development near Secmaton Lane will head out of Dawlish northwards towards Exeter, rather than going along Elm Grove Road and past two schools.
Once available to all traffic, the link road, which is supported by local people, will also provide a bus route, cycling lanes, and footpaths, boosting more sustainable transport options.
You can keep up to date with the project’s progress on our website.
As the temperature begins to drop our trading standards service is advising people to check their hot water bottles and follow safety guidelines before use this winter.
Hot water bottles can cause serious burns if not used safely. They can also degrade over time. You may have older hot water bottles at home – you can check the manufacturing date by the flower symbol found on the bottle – if so, you may wish to consider replacing them with newer ones. The number in the middle of the flower indicates the year of manufacture.
Before use, it is important to visually check your hot water bottle for splits or cracks in the body and make sure the stopper can be screwed on tightly by hand.
Read the full story on the news page of our website for more advice about using hot water bottles safely.
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