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Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- Sidmouth's Connaught Gardens sees its first wedding!
- Exmouth’s first Plastic Free Festival
- Honiton Gate to Plate - Saturday 21 August
- New nine-day Taste East Devon Food and Drink Festival
- Care workers needed: Make somebody else’s life better
- Changes to self-isolation rules from 16 August
 Due to the ongoing national staff shortages that are being experienced by recycling and waste operators, collections across East Devon will unfortunately continue to be impacted.
This may mean some residents could see their collections taking place on a different day to their normal collection day on some weeks.
East Devon District Council would like to apologies for the disruptions and thank residents for their patience at this time and have set out a series of steps for people to check to see if their collection has been affected.
Any amendments to a collection will be notified to any affected resident via the East Devon ‘app’.
These amendments will also be posted on to the council website which will contain most up to date information.
New beach toy library opens at Sideshore
Exmouth ‘Treasure Chest’ to help reduce single-use plastic on beach
Sideshore, Exmouth’s newly opened Watersports Centre has unveiled a new beach toy library, where visitors can borrow an item for a day, or donate items for others to enjoy.
Built on trust, all items, including buckets and spades, beachballs, frisbees, and kites, are free for visitors to borrow and return at the end of the day.
It is hoped the library, at Sideshore, will add to the enjoyment for children visiting the beach, reduce single-use plastic waste ending up on our beaches, and extend the lifetime of beach items that are used infrequently.
Our StreetScene Events' team would like to pass on a massive congratulations to Julie and Steve who got married in Connaught Gardens last weekend. It was the first legal marriage to take place since the venue was granted a wedding licence earlier this year.
Alan and Caitlin from StreetScene attended on Saturday to act as the venue representatives and ensured the smooth running of this landmark event in the gardens. Steve, Julie and their Bridal Party did a great job setting up for the wedding, making the already beautiful area look stunning with the additions of covering the benches and additional flowers on the rails.
The bride, groom and all of the bridal party looked absolutely amazing, and we were so lucky to have such fantastic weather on your special day. We look forward to seeing Julie and Steve again when they visit Connaught Gardens in the future and remember their special day.
If you are interested in holding your wedding ceremony in Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth, please contact StreetScene Events Team on 01404 515616 or by emailing events@eastdevon.gov.uk.
 East Devon District Council is planning to use a substantial amount of capital investment to ensure the district has the best, most modernised loos, located in the right place, that cost less money to run while also maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness.
The consultation is running for the next eight weeks and closes at 5pm on Friday, 1 October 2021.
Exmouth’s first Plastic Free Festival
 On Sunday, 5 September 10am-4pm on the grounds of Sideshore will be Exmouth’s first Plastic Free Festival.
A mix of plastic-free local crafters, local plastic-free businesses who are leaders in the sustainable business world, live music, face painting and environmental groups who range from the Marine Conservation Society to the Creative Cabin.
There will be local author Jo Earlam who wrote Tuamor the Turtle and Rosa’s Footprint there giving readings of her book throughout the day with fun interactive things for children to take part in.
As well as the Creative Cabin which will be there helping you make seeds bombs which are full of flowers that attract bees and other pollinators, so if you like messy hands, make sure you look for that stall.
Plastic Free Exmouth’s aim for the day is to encourage the community of Exmouth to come down and see what these wonderful businesses have to offer and how they have done it so environmentally.
We all need to start living a more sustainable way of life and we want to help support the community and it’s businesses do that. We also want the community to come and speak with the environmental groups and if they want to help or just find out what’s going on in our area they can.
This will be a lovely, fun, family day which we hope will benefit the whole of Exmouth!
Honiton Gate to Plate returns for its third year this August. This annual street market celebrates all the fantastic food and craft on our doorstep here in East Devon will take place on the High Street on Saturday 21 August.
The aim is to highlight the best of the district's outstanding food and drink producers, as well as traditional crafts people, by creating a fantastic open air event where people can enjoy delicious locally produced food and drink of East Devon.
The team is mindful of people’s reservations and nervousness about venturing out and have introduced a new layout offering more space between producers; hand sanitiser stations; extra precautions for producers and a click and collect service to reduce dwell time.
Saturday, 11 September to Sunday, 19 September
Award-winning venues, producers, chefs and restaurants have joined forces to celebrate the incredible food and drink on offer across East Devon’s stunning coast and countryside.
Taste East Devon is a nine day food and drink festival taking place across the whole of East Devon
From farm feasts to brewery open days, seafood tasting experiences to BBQs and parties, each event will have its own mix of experiences and entertainment. Some events will be ticketed, some will be open freely for all.
 Vulnerable people in Devon are at risk of not receiving the care they need when they need it, and family members and friends are finding themselves becoming unpaid carers for others, because there aren't enough paid care staff available.
Our health and care system in Devon is at full stretch, and the sustained pressure on the care workforce means that staff are struggling to cope.
There are too few care workers in Devon right now, so we're calling for over 1,000 more people to join the care workforce, and for families and communities to do all they can to help ease the pressure.
Thousands of care job vacancies are being advertised in Devon today, and with care staff off work – self-isolating because of coronavirus, or because they’re otherwise unwell – care companies are struggling.
LED started three different sessions in July - Over 55’s with funding from CAN – Connecting Actively with Nature project funded by Active Devon, Adults and Under 18’s funded by Wild Exmouth project EDDC.
The classes are all a part of a project that was set up to encourage participants to gain confidence with sea swimming, all sessions initially started at Exmouth Sports Centre pool to build confidence and technique and then moved to the sea with sessions supported by two open water coaches and a beach lifeguard so that participants felt confident and comfortable in the water.
The funding also allowed LED to purchase individual swim buoys, hats and hire wetsuits for the participants so that they were fully equipped for their sessions.
Sessions are running as a course and will end in September.
Read LED's blog Top-3-benefits-of-swimming here.
If you would like some further information on anything outlined above and how to take part, please email outreach@ledleisure.co.uk
These sessions started pre-covid and then were suspended for a while and restarted in June 2021 with funding from CAN – Connecting Actively with Nature through Active Devon.
Sessions were set up to encourage gentle physical activity in the outdoors similar to seated exercise with a stroll in-between and for participants to benefit from being outdoors.
The funding has recently come to an end and plans are being put in place to continue a similar session based at the Leisure Centre.
If you would like some further information on anything outlined above and how to take part, please email outreach@ledleisure.co.uk
A new eight-week CAN project called Routes is starting at Harpford Village Hall on Thursday, 9 September.
Over 55's have been invited to take part in a short walk exploring Harpford Woods, before being led by a creative artist in a creative group sessions - activities include printmaking, photography, creative writing, laser-cutting and painting.
Each participant receives a sketchbook journal to use over the eight weeks. The project is funded by CAN and the Arts Council funding and is subsided to £24 for the course. Tea, coffee and cake is included.
There will be two sessions a day 9.30am-12pm and 1pm -3.30pm.
If you would like some further information on anything outlined above and how to take part, please email outreach@ledleisure.co.uk
 We are seeing an increase in the number of disposable BBQs being used and would like to remind local residents and visitors alike to be careful, especially when using them in parks and greens.
Please remember to follow safety guidelines.
Barbeques are allowed on our beaches but must be removed when finished and disposed of carefully. Please don't place them in plastic litter bins.
Be aware that the sand under a barbeque can hold enough heat to burn you for a short time after the barbeque has been removed, so be considerate to other beach users and please don’t leave an unattended hazard.
You're not allowed to light an open fire on the beach.
Part of The Maer, Exmouth and Lime Kiln, Budleigh Salterton have barbeque sites and are available on a first-come first-served basis
 The Race 2021 Devon route unveiled
Devon will host Stage Two of the 2021 Tour of Britain on Monday 6 September with a 185 kilometre (115 mile) route between Sherford and Exeter.
A typically hilly Devon stage including 3,500 metres of ascent, the route will visit the South Hams for the first time since 2012, combining the beautiful south Devon coast with the testing climbs of Dartmoor, before a finish on Queen Street in Exeter city centre.
A new grant fund seeking to provide economic support to business and organisations will be considered by the cabinet in September. The scheme will provide a valuable mechanism for supporting local economic recovery and will build on previous successful schemes.
Interested businesses and organisations can sign up to our business bulletin to receive the latest news regarding any future funding schemes and initiatives.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Latest newsletters:
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings will be streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
31 August
- 10am Consultative meeting, Community Grant Panel
1 September
- 10am Consultative meeting, Planning
- 6pm Consultative meeting, Cabinet
2 September
- 10am Consultative meeting, Personnel Committee
 Drivers and Loaders urgently needed.
Our Recycling and Waste contractors Suez, are looking for experienced LGV Drivers and Loaders to join their team.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact James Gatter or speak to a supervisor at Suez on: 01395 234500
- Driver / Loader Contract type.
- Permanent Working Pattern
- Full-time Location based
- East Devon, Exeter Hours per week
- 41.25 Salary
- Drivers £11.52 per hour + bonus
- Loaders £9.01 per hour + bonus
 Thelma Hulbert Gallery has plenty planned:
 Creative Session for Under 5’s
Thursday, 26 August: 1.30pm - 3pm
Sessions are play-based and sensory and run on the last Thursday of every month.
Find out more here.
New exhibition opening
In Plain Sight – The London Group and Thelma Hulbert and her London Group Friends (28 August – 30 October)
Private View Saturday 28 August, 3pm - 5pm
Miss Lyn by Claude Rogers, 1951 (painted for the Festival of Britain), Southampton City Art Gallery
History of the London Group Talk
Tim Craven will lead a talk about the UK's longest-running and most prestigious artists' collective.
28 August, 2pm - 3pm book your free place. After the tour, please join us for the Private View of the exhibition, 3pm - 5pm.
Art after the 1950’s – Art History Talk series
Fascinating new art history talk series with renowned art historian, John –deepen your understanding and appreciate of modern and contemporary art.
Dates:
- 8, 15 and 22 September
- 2 and 13 October
Time:
10.30am - 12pm
£10/£8 THG Friends/students.
Book here
 Tai Chi in Exmouth
Always wanted to try Tai Chi but didn't know where to start? Wild Exmouth are running four Tai Chi sessions in Exmouth this summer, book your place for just £2 per person!
Join qualified instructor Sam Forder in a peaceful green space in the heart of Exmouth for a unique Tai Chi experience
The first session is this Friday.
More info and to book click here.
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To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
 For people who have received both their vaccinations against coronavirus, and people aged under 18 the self isolation rules have changed as of today (16 August).
Double-vaccinated adults will no longer be required to self-isolate, as long as they received their final dose of an MHRA-approved vaccine in the UK vaccination programme at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case.
They will no longer need to self-isolate if they've been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19. However they are still be advised to take a PCR test, and if that's positive, they'll be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
As double-jabbed people identified as close contacts are still at risk of being infected, people are advised to consider other precautions such as wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, and limit contact with other people, especially with anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable. They will not be required to self-isolate while they wait for the results of the PCR test.
Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, no matter what their vaccination status or age in order to break onward chains of transmission.
Meanwhile anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and get a PCR test, and remain in isolation until the result comes back.
 
 Anyone aged 17 who will be turning 18 within the next 3 months can now book their COVID-19 vaccine online, without needing to go via your GP.
More than 2,400 volunteers at Plymouth and Exeter’s large vaccinations centres have between them clocked up more than 68,000 hours on shift.
With many people now back at work there are plenty of opportunities for others to support the vaccination programme by joining the teams.
Our volunteers say they’re proud to be part of this historic programme and have enjoyed meeting new people from all walks of life.
Exeter's Greendale vaccination centre volunteer Ian Aspinall has clocked up more than 100 shifts supporting the vaccine programme over the last five months
How can I volunteer?
To sign up to volunteer at Exeter COVID-19 Vaccination Centre, please click on the link below and fill in a simple application form on the website “Our Plymouth”, the regional volunteering organisation who are coordinating the volunteers for all Mass Vaccination Centres across Devon:
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 3 September 2021.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using the view it as a web page link at the top of the page.
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