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The latest information and guidance to support you and our communities
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Funding support scheme launches Monday
Local residents struggling to make ends meet will be able to apply for help under a new Household Support Fund which launches on Monday and runs until 31 March.
We have been working with Devon County Council and have teamed up with Citizens Advice Teignbridge to help make sure support is provided as quickly as possible to Teignbridge people who need help.
The new fund will help households in most need with food, energy and water bills as well as other essential living costs such as clothing, bedding, fridges, freezers or cookers. In exceptional cases money from the fund can be used to help people struggling to manage their housing costs and who are not covered by existing support schemes.
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Unlike previous grant funding there are no nationally imposed eligibility rules and no cap on the amount a family in need can receive. Each application will be considered on its merit and anyone living in Teignbridge can apply if they are aged over 16 and unable to meet their immediate short-term financial needs.
The new Household Support Fund replaces the Covid Hardship Fund and a simple streamlined online application on our web page will go live on Monday.
By involving Citizens Advice Teignbridge, we hope to be better able to target support to people who are already known to need help.
Anyone unable to apply online from Monday can call Citizens Advice Teignbridge on its dedicated Household Support Fund number (01626 326123) or can call our customers services team on 01626 361101 (Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5pm. Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm).
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Teignbridge Chairman joins the poppy train
Council Chairman Colin Parker was among the dozens of community representatives to hand over a remembrance wreath to the Poppies to Paddington train, which left from Penzance at 5am yesterday morning.
The event is run by GWR trains and the Veterans Charity to ‘keep remembrance moving’, and was started last year as memorial services had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, but due to its popularity has been continued this year.
The journey symbolises the long journey made by soldiers on their way to war.
Wreaths were laid on the train at various stations on the journey to Paddington, before being placed on the station's iconic war memorial on Platform One in time for the two minute silence at 11am.
Cllr Parker said: “I was absolutely delighted to be amongst those who presented a poppy wreath to be delivered by Great Western Railway on one of their trains to Paddington Station. These were to be assembled and ceremoniously placed at the War Memorial on Platform 1 in an event which began last year during the pandemic.
“This event would be shown on social media in another poignant way of marking Remembrance Day.
“I am sure we will all in our own way be showing our respect to those who gave their lives so that we could have ours.
Watch the livestreamed Armistice Day event at Paddington Station.
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Booking a booster jab
 Anyone eligible for a booster vaccine – who is over 50 and most at risk of COVID-19 – can now pre-book their jab via the National Booking Service five months after their second dose.
People will still receive their vaccine six months after their second dose, but the change allows people to receive a jab the day they become eligible, rather than waiting for a convenient appointment.
You can also book by calling 119 and can get vaccinated at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country six months after a second dose without an appointment. Anyone eligible can use the NHS online walk-in finder to locate the most convenient site.
Local Plan consultation to start on Monday
A major milestone is reached on Monday (15 November) in the delivery of the Council’s commitment to reduce the district’s carbon footprint when environmentally sustainable power generation options are launched for consultation as part of the Local Plan review.
The proposals come two years after the Council signed the Devon Climate Declaration - a commitment to working with Devon’s residents and businesses to use more renewable energy sources.
At the end of the review process in 2024, the updated Local Plan will set out the site allocations and policies essential for the delivery of low carbon energy generation, providing greater certainty for power generators and distributors investing in the infrastructure required to decarbonise the electricity supply grid and help us combat climate change.
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For an extended period of 10 weeks, local people will have their chance to support the plans to combat climate change by commenting on possible sites for wind turbines as well as on the approach to be taken on solar PV development throughout the district.
Residents are also being asked for their views on small sites for residential development and a potential site for gypsy and travellers’ pitches.
The consultation documents and the online survey and a 'need to know' document highlighting the main issues will all be available online once the consultation goes live.
Paper copies can also be viewed at our Forde House offices, local libraries and Town and Parish Council offices. People can also also e-mail their comments or if they don’t have internet access can write to the Council.
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Boosting jobs and economy by Kickstarting young people into work
A scheme to boost employment and skills among young people in Teignbridge has proven highly successful, and has led to valuable work experience, upskilling and even permanent roles for some.
Covid has had a big impact on jobs and economy in the district, with Teignbridge now experiencing the highest level of unemployment in Devon (September 2021)
To help address this, Teignbridge acted as a Gateway to enable smaller employers throughout Teignbridge to employ young people between 16-24 at risk of long term unemployment, through the Government-run Kickstart Scheme.
Some of the first young people to take part in the scheme have now reached the end of their six-month period, and some have already secured permanent roles within the organisations where they underwent their placements.
At TDC we have appointed seven Kickstart employees since April 2021 in the Development Management, Spatial Planning, Revenue & Benefits, Environmental Health, Housing and Communications Department. We have also worked with local FE colleges and Universities to offer placements across a number of departments and roles, including planning, construction, customer service, LGV driving, accounting and HR.
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Kaliegh Hughes has been supporting the Communications Team working on a digital project. Kaliegh said: “Since graduating with a Digital Media degree, I have been interested in getting into the media industry and knew that a Communications Assistant would be a great step into putting my creative skills to practice.
"Throughout my time I have learnt to work independently which has made me become more confident within myself.
“Now that I have gained skills within this role and experienced what it is like to work within the media sector, I now know that this is what I want to progress and achieve for my future career.”
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Renting from a private landlord?
A Government survey seeking views of those with experience renting a property from a private landlord/company or considering renting privately closes on 17 November
The government has committed to bringing forward reforms to improve standards of privately rented accommodation and support councils to conduct effective enforcement. It is also considering the merits of a national landlord register.
Responses to the 10 minute survey will help inform the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities of the difficulties individuals face when renting and letting in the private rented sector.
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Popular sea wall promenade lights up
New lighting has been installed along Marine Parade on the front of Dawlish.
Fitted by Network Rail as the final stage of the £30m sea wall resilience project, the new lights will be owned and operated by Teignbridge District Council.
The lights which include a span under the railway at the Colonnade underpass, will be on throughout the evening until 10pm.
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Self care week health reminder
‘Practise Self Care for Life’ is the theme of national Self Care Week which starts on Monday.
It's a reminder for us o think about the steps we can all take to look after our own health.
The Self Care Forum has published a range of ideas to help us including encouraging people to take vitamin D supplements (especially if shielding and unable to go outside); good nutrition and regular exercise; adopting positive lifestyle choices; supporting mental wellness by keeping connected; and understanding how to manage minor and long term health conditions
Self Care Week also is an important reminder of the need to continue to take Covid-19 precautions and to go to the right NHS service for your condition such as making better use of pharmacy support and advice.
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Supporting veterans in South Devon
With Remembrance Sunday drawing near, it is good to know a veterans support charity working with military veterans across Devon and Cornwall.
Veterans Outdoors organises therapeutic outdoor activities, delivering wellbeing, friendship and support to those who served, some who are still serving as well as their husbands and wives. Activities include 'soil-to-supper' growing courses, landscaping and gardening, animal husbandry and also activities like kayaking, cycling and walking. Known until recently as 'The Farm Able Foundation', the charity has helped improve the lives of hundreds of former servicemen and women since its inception in 2013. Activities are open to all veterans - not just those with PTSD or a prescribed mental health condition.
Recently the charity has become one of only two in the country to run projects exclusively for women veterans. Chief Executive Jeremy Hibbard said: "We recognise that women's experiences of the forces can be very different from their male counterparts and it's important that female veterans have a safe space where they can be among friends and share support and advice."
Artemis - V.O.'s women's project - is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant and has made the charity's services among the most sought after in the region. Devon has the highest concentration of veterans of any county in the UK - more than 100,000. You can contact the charity on info@veteransoutdoors.org.uk.
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