 Hello,
In this week's newsletter, read about upcoming local events, and news from across the district, including:
Household Support Fund claimants warned about scams
 Household support funding is made available from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help residents on low incomes to pay for food, utilities, and other essentials. The DWP says that residents elsewhere in the country have received calls about the Household Support Fund, with the caller pretending to be from their local council.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) has sent letters to all households that have been allocated a payment. Council officers are making-follow up calls to those who have not already submitted their application and will support residents to complete the form online. Letters sent included a unique access code to allow residents to claim their payment online.
If EDDC's officers need to call you to help complete your application, they will confirm this access code first. If you are still unsure that the person calling you is from EDDC, call 01404 515616 and ask to be transferred to the Benefits Team.
75% of material taken to recycling centres in East Devon recycled
 The number crunching has been done and in 2023/2024 East Devon residents took 15,764 tonnes of material to the recycling centres in the district run by our colleagues at Devon County Council. A huge 75% of this material was recycled.
Thank you to our residents for recycling so much and to the hard-working teams running the recycling centres at Sidmouth, Exmouth, and Honiton.
Quality, as well as quantity, counts in recycling. Check out the improved A-Z guide on our website or on the East Devon app or ask Alexa, if you need help with what can be recycled and where it needs to go.
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Have you downloaded our free East Devon app yet?
Join more than 70,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised recycling and waste collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection. You can download the app through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Extra police patrols deployed in Exmouth town centre
 Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police
Police are conducting additional foot patrols in Exmouth this summer. The patrols are part of a hotspot policing initiative across Devon and Cornwall to reduce antisocial behaviour and serious violence.
Street marshals are already active in Exmouth as part of this initiative and feedback has been positive with members of the public reassured by their presence.
Seaton Wetlands seeks volunteers to welcome visitors
 Jasmine Burges, a volunteer at Seaton Wetlands
During the summer months, the Wild East Devon team plan to open Seaton Wetlands' Discovery Hut from 10am to 4pm daily. Additional volunteers are wanted to cover shifts from 10am to 1pm or 1pm to 4pm, with a particular need for weekend coverage.
Tasks will involve greeting visitors, providing up-to-date information about recent wildlife sightings, and serving simple refreshments. No prior experience or expertise is needed to become a volunteer. All that is needed is an interest in wildlife, enthusiasm, and a willingness to engage with the public. All volunteers will receive training and have access to an online rota to schedule shifts that fit their availability.
Keep in touch with the Wild East Devon team on Facebook and Instagram .
Improved shared-use path links Brixington to Exmouth town centre
 Representatives from East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council
Exmouth's Bapton Valley Park shared-use path was officially opened by representatives from East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council on Monday 5 August 2024.
The path links the north part of Brixington to the town centre, without users having to travel along the road. This project involved improvements to the existing paved and muddy ‘desire line’ paths.
 Green-fingered Sidford residents spruce up their neighbourhood
 The old saying “good neighbours become good friends” has never been truer after community-spirited residents in Sidford came together to set up their own social club.
The Friends of Orchard Close started when local residents Rachel and Liz wanted to improve the areas outside their homes. Together they tidied the gardens and built raised beds, and last month invited neighbours from across the generations – many of whom hadn’t met or spoken before – to enjoy a garden party with games, music and opportunities to chat.
Now, thanks to help from the council’s Communities Team and a grant from the Community Initiative Fund, friendships, as well as the community garden, are flourishing, with plans for more events, garden supplies and a lovely new shed. Rachel and Liz told us they are “looking forward to making our Close beautiful once more!”
The Community Initiative Fund is available to East Devon District Council tenants to support neighbourhood projects, so if you’ve got a great idea for improving your local area, please get in touch via the council website.
Events in East Devon
Gate to Plate returns to Honiton
 Credit: Honiton Gate to Plate - eat:Festivals
More than 70 producers will be celebrating local food and drink at Honiton town centre (between New Street and Kings Road roundabout) from 10am until 4pm on Saturday 17 August 2024. There will also be buskers, Punch & Judy, and circus skills amongst the stalls and businesses.
Started by East Devon District Council, and now supported by Honiton Town Council, this free to attend festival is curated and delivered by eat:Festivals.
Join Sidmouth Town Band for ‘The Last Night of the Proms’
 Bring a chair along to Sidmouth’s Connaught Gardens for an evening of live music. The performance is scheduled for 7.30pm until 9.30pm on Saturday 17 August 2024. Tickets cost £7.50 and can be purchased from McShaw Optometrists on Sidmouth High Street or by calling 01395 578724.
 Family museum trail launches at Thelma Hulbert Gallery
 Families are invited to embark on a fun trail around Thelma Hulbert Gallery this August and be rewarded with a Grimwood sticker. Thelma Hulbert Gallery is taking part in the Grimwood Museum Adventure with ‘Kids in Museums’.
Read about new exhibitions and summer holiday workshops in Thelma Hulbert Gallery's latest newsletter.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX thelmahulbert.com
Discover more events in the local area by heading to the East Devon Excellence website
 Planning applications and decisions
Discover this week's planning applications and decisions by following the links.
 Consultations
Discover more East Devon District Council consultations on the Commonplace website.
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 16 August 2024
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