Hundreds of events across Devon planned to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

From Broadhempston to Barnstaple, Alphington to Avonwick and Hatherleigh to Holsworthy – communities across Devon are putting up bunting in preparation to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Lord-Lieutenant’s Office is encouraging everyone in Devon to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee Weekend, with hundreds of events ranging from traditional street parties and lunches to Jubilee markets, fun days, and galas being planned.

Many of these celebrations are taking place on streets in Devon’s communities – and to date more than 160 streets will be temporarily closed to traffic to enable the festivities to take place. The application fees for these closures have been waived.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, said:

“This will be a weekend to bring people together, to spend time and reconnect with our neighbours as well as celebrate Her Majesty The Queen and her wonderful contribution to our country for the last 70 years.

“I am proud to represent Her Majesty in Devon, which is a county in which she has shown a continuing interest over the years and when I have met her. She has been a constant in my life and has set an incredible example of service to her people throughout her reign, which the Platinum Jubilee gives us an opportunity to celebrate.

“I love the way that she can combine the formality of her position with the twinkle of her personality.”

You can read more about what’s going on this weekend in the news story on our website.

However you celebrate the long weekend, please enjoy yourselves, be safe, and as friends and neighbours come together, please give a thought to, and reach out to people who may be on their own if you can.

Celebrating safely this bank holiday weekend

If you are meeting up with friends and family this long bank holiday weekend, or celebrating with others in your local community, here are five things you can do to help keep everyone safe:

• get vaccinated to reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill.
• if you feel unwell, and have flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms and a high temperature, avoid close contact with others and stay at home if you can
• let in fresh air when you meet others indoors, especially if they’re at high risk from COVID-19
• wash your hands regularly, and cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze
• wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed places, and when coming into contact with people at higher risk from COVID-19

The NHS in Devon is reminding people where to get help if they need it and to ensure they have enough prescription medication for the double bank holiday. You can read their advice on their website.

New campaign highlights children who wait the longest to be adopted

A new eye-opening campaign by Adopt South West is shining a light onto how long some children in care can wait before becoming adopted.

Children with disabilities can wait the longest to be adopted, on average spending more than 450 days in care before their forever family is found.

Children over the age of four wait on average nearly 250 days in care; black, Asian, and ethnically diverse children wait on average over 100 days in care; and brother and sister sibling groups wait on average over 150 days in care, all before they are adopted.

The statistics are being shared in a new promotional campaign in the hope that potential adopters will be encouraged to ‘Think Again’ and be open to adopting beyond their preferred age groups and gender.

Kath Drescher heads the Adopt South West service.

“Some children wait longer to be adopted, and yet all children long for the love and stability of being part of a family.

“We are focusing on time in our campaign because every month, every week, every day, every minute of a child’s life waiting for adoption is timee they’ve not enjoyed with a forever family.”

Read more in the full story on our news webpage

Support for people facing barriers to business launches in North Devon

A new bursary has been launched in North Devon to encourage and support people to start new businesses.

It’s funded and run by small business experts, Town Square Spaces Ltd, (TownSq), who run our enterprise hub in Barnstaple.

Julian Dymond, Community Manager at TownSq, said they hope the bursary will encourage those who might not usually take the leap, to consider entrepreneurship.

“Starting a business is not always about growing an empire and becoming a household name. For many, owning their own business is just about earning a decent living, doing something they love at a schedule that suits them.”

The support package includes everything a person needs to start and grow a business, including full-time desk space with high-speed internet access for three months; one-to-one business support; bi-weekly check-in and goal setting sessions; enrolment into the expert-led Startup Club programme; and access to networking and special events.

For more information, or to apply for the bursary, visit townsq.co.uk/squareone or call 01271 452 442 or email barnstaple@townsq.co.uk

Job of the week – Student SCPHN Health Visitor and School Nurse

We’re looking for Student Health Visitors and School Nurses. We’re inviting qualified nurses or midwives, who are innovative, motivated and enthusiastic, to undertake the Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) Programme to gain a qualification in Health Visiting and School Nursing.

You will require a ‘think family’ approach and have a desire to improve health outcomes for children, families and young people in Devon.

In return for your valuable contribution, we offer a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, and staff discount scheme.

To find out more and apply, visit the Devon Jobs website.