Coronavirus (Covid-19) update -
18 September 2020
Welcome to the fortnightly Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents with information we hope will be of interest to you.
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Director of Public Health Devon urges all residents to heed advice at all times
Dr Virginia Pearson, Director of Public Health Devon and Chair of the multi-agency COVID-19 Health Protection Board has reminded all residents that whilst Devon's rates of confirmed cases have been comparatively low so far, we cannot be complacent. In a statement released last week, she said: It’s very easy, with the relaxation of restrictions we’ve had over recent months - the call for people to return to work and to support our high streets; our children returning to schools, colleges and soon to Universities – to believe that life is back to normal.
“It is not back to normal. The virus is still here and it is very easy to get infected, especially indoors. I am therefore urging all Devon residents, of all ages, but specifically to our younger residents who perhaps do not feel the risk felt by older and more vulnerable residents, to follow the public health advice at all times."
 Coronavirus outbreak FAQ's
The Government have updated the Frequently Asked Questions on what you can and can't do at this current time. Have a read to make sure you are fully aware of the new rules which came in to force last Monday.
Don't miss Devon Open Studios 2020 which is now on!
 Devon Open Studios is a unique opportunity to meet artists in their studios in some of the most beautiful, parts of Devon including the Jurassic Coast seaside locations and villages and towns across East Devon.
The event runs until Sunday 27th September. Many studios open every day for opening times see the online brochure. In addition to being able to buy art direct from the creator, many demonstrate, give talks or give you a chance to have a go.
In East Devon studios ranging from Jo Talbot Bowen in Budleigh Salterton showing original glass art and printmaking and Lisa Parkyns expressive paintings at Kennaway House Sidmouth to the Savooni Gallery in Seaton showing work by 3 artists Nigel Waters, Richard Webster and Ali Foxcroft.
Look out for the new CoastSnap cradle on Sidmouth Beach
 The next time you are visiting Sidmouth in East Devon, be sure to look out for our newly installed CoastSnap cradle overlooking the cliffs to the East of the esplanade. By putting your smartphone in the cradle, taking a photo and submitting it using the instructions, you will become part of a region wide community science programme. With enough images submitted, we can help identify the rate of change occurring along the cliff frontage.
The Sidmouth CoastSnap project is in partnership with East Devon District Council, the Environment Agency and East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership to help monitor the erosion of the east cliffs as part of a wider coastal monitoring programme in the south west. The CoastSnap southwest programme now has eight installations, with more to come, around the coast of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, for more information on the project, please visit our website.
East Devon Business Update
Small businesses can register for Kickstart scheme
The Kickstart scheme gives unemployed young people a future of opportunity and hope by creating high-quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK.
The 6 month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment. Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.
Employers will be able to top up this wage, while the government will also pay employers £1500 to set up support and training for people on a Kickstart placement, as well as helping pay for uniforms and other set up costs. The jobs will give young people the opportunity to build their skills in the workplace and to gain experience to improve their chances of finding long-term work.
Large businesses who are to offer 30 or more placements can apply to government directly to access the programme. For smaller businesses there is an opportunity to work with an intermediary to who can aggregate bids up to the 30 threshold. This will make the process easier and less labour intensive to apply for those companies that are only able to offer a smaller number of placements.
The Department for Work and Pensions will publish a list of intermediary organisations in the coming days. In the meantime, East Devon District Council are asking businesses who wish to register their interest in the scheme to email kickstart@eastdevon.gov.uk. Please state your company name, sector and the number of placements you would like to offer. We can then ensure that these details can be referred on to the relevant organisation.
Venues required by law to record contact details
From today premises and venues across England must have a system in place to record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff in the latest move to break the chains of transmission of coronavirus.
Fully-funded, bespoke support launches for businesses in East Devon
To help businesses in East Devon at this challenging time, East Devon District Council are funding a £40,000 package of Business Support.
The support programmes, delivered by Cosmic and Business Information Point, will include packages of training, advice and direct consultancy. This is specific, tailored support for East Devon businesses over and above any other regional support.
Whether your business sales strategy needs changing to reflect changes in buying-habits, or your staff need support with working remotely – this programme of free support specific to your business, will offer you invaluable guidance on how to adapt and thrive at this time. The programme will be shaped by the businesses that engage and will be wrapped around their requirements, with a flexible offering of training, advice and consultancy, on a broad range of topics.
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Follow East Devon Business on social media: @EastDevonBiz on Twitter; @EastDevonBusiness on Facebook; East Devon District Council on Linkedin
Dates of next East Devon virtual Council meetings
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council virtual meetings are taking place:
- Audit and Governance Committee on Thursday 24th September at 2.30pm
- Overview Committee on Thursday 24th September at 6pm
- Cabinet on Wednesday 30th September at 6pm
- Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 1st October at 6pm
The meetings can all be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
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Thelma Hulbert Gallery update
THG has announced the Creative Cabin programme!
 Throughout the autumn there will be a broad range of art activities, projects, talks, performances and workshops.
Artists Megan Calver and Gabrielle Hoad, will lead a workshop exploring landscape, movement and language in the cabin when it visits the THG garden on 19 September. Limited places, book here
This October Half Term, the cabin will offer photography workshops with photographer Paul Blakemore as well as art and nature activities with the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs to celebrate ‘Naturally Healthy October’. Other artists who will be involved are: Anne-Marie Culhane and Pete Ward and watch out for the cabin at Sidmouth Science Festival and local Apple Days.
The programme will also reach out to those hardest hit during the pandemic, including Devon Recovering Learning Community (DRLC) working with people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and their family and friends. DRLC have partnered with THG to provide ‘Art of the Senses’ a five part course exploring how the five senses can be a creative source of inspiration for making art.
Wild East Devon update
Wild Honiton - don't miss out on your chance to have a say on your green future
Have your say on the future of parks, public gardens and other outdoor open spaces within Honiton, and you could win £40 of shopping vouchers!
We want to encourage more people to use the parks, public gardens and other outdoor open spaces within Honiton. The first stage is to find out what people that live in or near Honiton think about the green spaces and what improvements they think are needed.
To let us know, please fill in our questionnaire by 5pm on 25 September 2020.
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To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
And finally...a thank you from Tesco Honiton for the loan of barriers during lockdown
During the Covid pandemic our StreetScene team loaned Tesco's in Honiton a load of crowd control barriers to enable people to queue and enter their store safely. These barriers were collected last week, here is Wayne Harris from StreetScene and Matthew Long from Tesco at the handover. Another good job done!
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
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