Current Issues

On Thursday 2nd September, Great Torrington Town Council, like many other councils in our area, voted:

“To declare: that we, as a Town Council, acknowledge and agree that Great Torrington is in a housing emergency; For Great Torrington Town Council to write to Torridge District Council and ask that they also declare a housing emergency, For Great Torrington Town Council to lobby Robert Jenrick – the Housing Minister- to prioritise the building of affordable new homes for local occupancy.”

Councillors have seen that there is an increasing lack of local housing in the area, and that this, along with a rapid rise in house prices (in an often low income area) means that local people are struggling to find homes that they can afford. The Council is concerned that if nothing is done, it has the potential to have a devastating impact on our community in the long term. It is vital that those who want to remain in this area, to work and raise their families, are able to do so by choice rather than economic factors.

Business & IP Centre are excited to present a completely free 13 week course that will take you on an entrepreneurial journey from “Bedroom to Business”.

Covid has been tough and it has pushed many people to find alternative sources of income. If you have started, or are thinking about starting, a new business venture then this is the course for you!

How to Register

Complete the registration form via this link https://bipc.librariesunlimited.org.uk/bedroom-to-business/ to be automatically registered for all “Bedroom to Business” course sessions. You will receive further information from them, including links to the Zoom webinars, via email.

Alternatively, you can cherry pick individual sessions that are of particular interest. In this case browse the Events Calendar. When you find a session that you’d like to attend, click the “Book Your Place” link and go through to EventBrite to register your place.

Can’t attend at the designated time slot? Don’t worry, keep an eye on the Resources section of our website where videos of the webinars will be made available.

Starts Wednesday 8th September so don’t delay!

Devon County Council Public Health team are running a promotional fruit and veg box initiative called Get a Healthy Start! This initiative is to help promote the national Healthy Start scheme, which provides eligible pregnant women and families with children under 4 with financial support towards fruit and veg, cows’ milk, and infant formula, as well as free vitamins. Only about 50% of those eligible in Devon are currently receiving this important support and we want to try and help as many people as possible access the support they are entitled to.

The Healthy Start scheme is also set to go digital mid-autumn, moving to a pre-paid card instead of vouchers. Everyone will need to apply to receive it, even those who are currently already signed up – so there is a risk some people may lose the support they currently receive if they are unaware of the changes.

The Get a Healthy Start! promotion is open to those who are eligible for Healthy Start in the Devon County Council area. The aim is to raise awareness of the scheme and the forthcoming changes, encourage sign up, and encourage those who currently receive Healthy Start to re-apply when the digital scheme launches. The promotional boxes will contain:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• A booklet containing recipes, information on Healthy Start and the changes coming, and signposting
• Healthy Start vitamins
• Fun 10 minute shake-up games for children
• Breastfeeding support information

The eligibility criteria for Healthy Start can be found here.

Families can enter their details to order a box directly using the following link devon.cc/getahealthystart and we are able to accept orders on a first come first serve basis until 12pm 24th September, or until all boxes have been allocated. Boxes will be delivered towards the end of October, delivery details will be given after ordering.

For Career Advice, free Aptitude Tests, Jobs, Competencies & Interview Advice click the link below:-

https://www.wikijob.co.uk/

Rehab 4 Addiction is an advisory and referral service for people who suffer from alcohol, drug and behavioural addiction, they work closely with rehabilitation centres and outpatient clinics throughout the UK and the admissions team match a patients’ addiction with an appropriately placed rehabilitation centre. Rehab 4 Addiction offers a variety of addiction treatment options in Devon and the wider South West of England region.

To discover how they can help, contact them today and they will help you better understand the various treatment options in Devon. They offer a confidential helpline, and specialise in ‘making sense’ of the often complex nature of seeking out professional drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Contact them on 0800 140 4690 or via their website:-https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/contact-us.

We are fortunate to live in one of the safest parts of Britain. Strong communities, an unprecedented investment in police officers and organisations that work better with one another have helped reduce crime year after year.

However, issues like antisocial behaviour, drugs, violence and dangerous driving still blight too many lives. I want to build on the work done so far to make us even safer, with world class policing.

My draft Police and Crime Plan prioritises the issues that matter most to our communities, using the latest data from surveys, public feedback and Government.

But it is essential that the voice of our communities is reflected in the plan, which sets the strategic direction for the force, the activities we focus on, the partnerships we build and the services we commission.

So thank you for taking a few minutes to answer the questions below. Your answers will be vital in informing the decisions that lie ahead.

The survey is open until September 1 and can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/D8GYKKF

Alison Hernandez
Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly