|
News
roundup
|
 |
|
|
|
Image courtesy of the Electoral Commission
A General Election has been called for Thursday 4 July and Somerset residents are urged to register to vote and check their Voter ID so they can have their say on who represents them in Parliament. If you are already registered and received a poll card for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 2 May, you do not need to take any further action.
Boundaries have changed since the last General Election so there are now seven constituencies wholly or partly in the Somerset Council area.
An animal attraction near Minehead has had its licence to exhibit animals revoked by Somerset Council.
The licence for the Golden Retriever Experience was revoked on the grounds of protecting the welfare of the animals as well as breaching license conditions and regulations.
 The School Streets trials aim to reduce issues with parking and congestion around the school and encourage more sustainable travel such as walking, cycling or even scooting. This means there will be temporary road closures during school pick up and drop off outside selected schools.
The project is kicking off with Otterhampton Primary school in Combwich, Bridgwater on 3 June. School Streets will be repeated across a following four schools which are yet to be confirmed.
|
|
A project to support young people’s wellbeing by discovering what makes them happy has resulted in a new e-zine.
30 organisations and 620 young people in Somerset have taken part in the “What Makes You Happy?” community project.
|
The Children and Young People Self Advocacy (CYPSA) project – a forum for young people aged 10-25 years with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) – have received second place in the National SEND Best Practice Conference 2024.
Representatives from CYPSA attended the awards, which took place in London earlier this year.
|
June sees the launch of Regain, a new innovative programme that will equip Job Centre Plus staff with specialised training to enhance their skills and knowledge to assist individuals facing challenges with substance use, that may be affecting them successfully gaining employment.
This collaborative initiative between Somerset Council’s Public Health team, the Department of Work and Pensions, Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service (SDAS) and Job Centre Plus provides additional support for job seekers in Somerset looking to re-enter the workforce.
|
As camping season gets underway, Somerset Council and its kerbside collections contractor, SUEZ, are reminding residents of the danger of putting gas canisters in their recycling.
This year alone, more than 1,000 potential fires from gas canisters have been avoided, thanks to the vigilant crews at the material recovery facilities in Taunton and Evercreech.
|
Mendip Markets, run by Somerset Council, took part in the national ‘Love Your Local Market’ (LYLM) campaign which celebrates traditional markets and its dedicated traders.
Markets in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street, and Wells proudly displayed a LYLM banner. Photos of the moment can be seen on social media and captures the communities at the heart of these thriving spaces.
|
Somerset Council and Lendology CIC are pleased to announce that their partnership has received a commendation at the national Empty Homes Conference 2024, which recognises their collaborative efforts in addressing long-term empty homes across Somerset.
The partnership has transformed empty buildings into homes through an innovative loan scheme, in which owners of empty buildings have spread the cost of repairs.
|
|
|
|
Image courtesy of Young Somerset
Youth work organisation, Young Somerset, would like to thank customers by inviting them to celebrate the 1st anniversary of its Bold & Brave Café with Great British Bake-Off star, Val Stones.
The café had an incredible first year providing employment opportunities for around 40 young people, either as part of an apprenticeship, casual hours contract or work experience, with most successfully moving on to meaningful employment or training.
Image courtesy of NHS
Heading to Download or another festival this summer?
Make sure you're fully covered against measles and other illnesses that can spread in crowds.
|
|
|
|
