People across Devon are invited to find out more and help shape the delivery of neighbourhood health across the county. The national vision for neighbourhood health, set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England and national Neighbourhood health framework, is to bring together GPs, community services, mental health, social care, voluntary organisations and local partners to provide more joined-up support in local communities. This aims to help people stay healthier for longer, access more care closer to home, reduce the need for hospital treatment where appropriate, and ensure services are shaped around the needs of local communities. Hospitals will always play a vital role in caring for people when they are seriously ill, need urgent treatment or require specialist expertise. Neighbourhood health is not about reducing the importance of hospitals. It is about ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Residents can take part in the ‘Let’s talk Neighbourhood health’ engagement programme by completing a survey, going along to an event, or joining a local feedback group or the new Devon People Panel, among other opportunities, to make sure their voice, previous experiences and opinions are heard. Dr Chris Reid,…

New signage has gone up around Exeter encouraging people to use bins when disposing of their chewing gum. The message is simple: ‘Time to bin your gum?’. And the messages – in bright pink – have been placed on bins and posts in the city centre, meaning there’s no excuse for throwing down gum on the pavements or road. The posters are part of an initiative to get more people disposing of their chewing gum responsibly. Earlier this summer, Exeter City Council was successful in winning a £30,657 grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force – administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy – to help clean up gum and reduce gum littering. The money has been spent on a chewing gum removal team and liveried gum removal cart. Removal will initially be focussed on Sidwell Street but will extend to other parts of the city centre thereafter. The City Council’s Cleansing team will work closely with the gum removal team and deep clean the areas after the gum has been removed. They will also be trained up to use the equipment onboard the cart. The  City Council is one of 50 authorities across the country that successfully applied to the Chewing…

When businesses think about improving the workplace, attention often goes straight to the big stuff. New equipment, major refurbishments and expensive technology upgrades tend to grab the headlines. Yet some of the most effective changes are far less dramatic. Small infrastructure improvements can make everyday work safer, smoother and more efficient without requiring a complete overhaul. The trick is paying attention to the little obstacles employees deal with every day. A minor inconvenience that happens once might not seem important, but when it is repeated hundreds of times across a busy workplace, it can quickly become a bigger issue. Make Movement Around the Site Easier How people move through a workplace has a major impact on both safety and productivity. Cluttered walkways, awkward changes in floor level and obstacles such as pipes or cables can all slow employees down and create unnecessary risks. Improving routes through a site can be as simple as clearly marking pedestrian areas, reorganising storage or installing practical access solutions where workers regularly need to cross obstacles. Businesses looking at keesystems.com for solutions may find that relatively compact additions can make it easier for employees to navigate industrial spaces without having to take unsafe…

Exeter is set to host a celebration of the region’s finest food and drink producers when the Exeter Gate to Plate Food Festival comes to Sidwell Street on Sunday 4 October. The free, family-friendly event will bring together more than 70 food and drink makers from across Devon and the surrounding area, with most producers based within a 30-mile radius of Exeter. Visitors can expect a wide variety of local produce including artisan bakers, farmers, brewers, orchardists, coffee roasters, delicatessens, sweet treats and an array of street food vendors. The festival is being organised by eat:Festivals in partnership with Gate to Plate and aims to support independent businesses by keeping trader costs low, ensuring more money goes directly back into local producers and their communities. Organisers say the one-day event will offer something for everyone, with entertainment and activities throughout the day alongside the extensive food and drink offering. The festival prides itself on being accessible, inclusive and inspiring, with a wide range of options available including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and alcohol-free food and drinks. As well as providing an opportunity to shop locally and discover new flavours, the event is expected to offer a…

Exeter’s Fore Street is celebrating a decade of the much-loved Fore Street Flea, a community market created to champion the city’s independent businesses, local makers and creative spirit. First launched by local businesses in 2016, the Fore Street Flea has grown into one of Exeter’s most distinctive independent shopping events, bringing together traders, makers, collectors, start-ups and visitors in the heart of the city’s historic West Quarter. Home to Exeter’s oldest shop, its only independent toyshop, a dedicated fancy dress shop, bookshop, haberdashery, pottery studio, cafés, artisan makers and a renowned vintage and retro clothing emporium, Fore Street has long been known for its individuality, creativity and character. As one of Exeter’s oldest and steepest routes, Fore Street has a proud history of trade and connection. Today, it continues to be shaped by passionate business owners, makers and artisans who bring energy and originality to the city centre. A decade of the Fore Street Flea Over the past decade and more than 30 markets, the Flea has helped new businesses test ideas, build confidence and find their first customers, while encouraging more people to discover one of Exeter’s most distinctive shopping streets. Hayley Maker,…