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Bus journey to brighter future sees Becca transform lives through volunteering

Devon Today
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Bus journey to brighter future sees Becca transform lives through volunteering

A young volunteer’s growing confidence is making a lasting difference to families while opening up new opportunities for her own future.

Nineteen-year-old Becca Davies has been volunteering at Dartmouth Caring’s parent and baby group for the past two months after receiving support from Devon County Council’s Reaching for Independence service. Her contribution has helped the group increase from meeting fortnightly to every week, benefiting parents and babies across the community.

The Reaching for Independence service supports people aged 17 and over to develop life skills and become more independent through a team of community enablers.

Sharon Simmons, a community enabler supporting Becca, said: “We talked about what kind of things Becca wanted to achieve, and she decided she wanted to do her travel training. As the weeks went by there were not any groups that Becca wanted to join, so I took her to Dartmouth Caring and they suggested she might want to do a bit of volunteering.

“We progressed with the travel training and I gradually stepped back as Becca was able to go on her own on the bus all the way there. We did a story map so she knew where to get off and where she had to cross.

“Step-by-step it built up her confidence and eventually she was able to do it on her own. It is great to see how she has come on. The world’s her oyster. She can put her mind to anything now.”

The travel training enabled Becca to build the confidence to travel independently by bus to her volunteering role with Dartmouth Caring.

Becca said: “It is really good. Sharon does lovely things with me and I really enjoy it. I got the Stagecoach app thanks to Sharon and that is how I use the bus.

“I feel really excited because it is really what I wanted to do. Basically we set up the toys and sometimes I bring water to the parents and I help as well. It makes me really happy.”

Becca is now one of around 100 volunteers at Dartmouth Caring, working alongside mostly part-time staff.

April Faulkner, community and volunteer engagement manager at Dartmouth Caring, said: “I chatted with Sharon to find out Becca’s interests and when she was explaining to me how sociable and outgoing and helpful she likes to be, I really felt we could benefit from having Becca on our volunteer team. We were thrilled when Becca was keen to join us.

“It has been wonderful to see Becca’s confidence grow. Her reliability and commitment to helping has meant we can go weekly with our group. It has been really valuable to have her support. Her sunny disposition and social skills really lend themselves well to this group where people are coming along and looking to connect with other parents and have a good chat with a friendly team.

“I would hope for Becca that we can help develop her role and give her more responsibilities as time goes on, when it is right for her, and even look at other volunteering roles within our charity as well. We are always looking for more people to join us and feel very strongly that it brings as much benefit to the individual volunteering as it does to those they are helping.”

Becca’s mother, Jane Davies, said she was encouraged to contact Reaching for Independence after another parent recommended the service. She said: “Now she is a young adult we wanted her to find out how much she can do on her own and find that independence. The only way she is going to find out what she wants to do in the future is by trying lots of different things. Becca had never gone on a bus on her own before, she had not done any volunteering, other than through school which they had set up and accompanied her.

“You have so many conflicting things you are trying to achieve for a young person with special needs, so for someone independent to come and take one of those things from beginning to end and achieve something, that is wonderful. Gold dust!

“The volunteering has really helped because that gives her opportunities at the end of the day and that will open doors for her. It is great seeing her do these things on her own.

“I think she was probably ready and I did not realise. The fact she has come on so well is down to her and with help from Reaching for Independence it has made all the difference. I am very proud.”

Devon County Council’s cabinet member for adult services, Cllr Richard Keeling, said: “Our Reaching for Independence team is helping people gain important life skills that are often taken for granted by many of us, but it can open up so many opportunities for our service users.

“The fact that Becca’s help has made it possible for Dartmouth Caring’s parent and baby group to become a weekly event speaks volumes about the difference people can make in their community. Well done to Becca and to everyone involved in making it possible for her to take up her volunteering role.”

As part of Learning Disability Week 2026, Becca encouraged others who may be eligible for support through the Reaching for Independence service to give it a try.

She said: “Try it because it is really great to get started.”

More information about the Reaching for Independence service is available at https://www.devon.gov.uk/adult-social-care/independent-living/reaching-for-independence-service/, while details about Learning Disability Week can be found at https://www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek.

Landmarc raises Armed Forces Day flags to honour military community nationwide

Devon Today
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Landmarc raises Armed Forces Day flags to honour military community nationwide

A flag-raising ceremony has marked the start of Armed Forces Week, as organisations across the Defence Training Estate paid tribute to serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families.

Landmarc Support Services, alongside the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), raised the official Armed Forces Day flag at Okehampton Training Camp on Dartmoor as part of a nationwide programme of events recognising the contribution of the Armed Forces community.

The ceremony formed part of celebrations taking place across military training sites, providing civilians, veterans and serving personnel with an opportunity to show their support.

Landmarc, which works with the Ministry of Defence to manage and operate the Defence Training Estate, said it continues to support the Armed Forces community through employment initiatives and career development programmes. These include its recent “Landmarc Pathways: From Service to Second Career” event, which offered guidance, networking opportunities and information on civilian careers for service leavers.

The company said it plans to continue delivering careers-focused initiatives to help members of the Armed Forces community transition into civilian employment.

Landmarc has also received three nominations in this year’s British Forces in Business Awards, recognising veterans in second careers and employers supporting former service personnel. The company has also expanded its partnership with X-Forces Enterprise by extending its Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans, reservists, military spouses and partners to include the Cadets in Enterprise programme.

The scheme supports Landmarc’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which the company re-signed in 2024 after achieving the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

Managing director Mark Neill said: “Our recent careers event enabled us to provide practical support to service personnel and veterans preparing for the transition into civilian employment.

“Understanding how to translate military skills for civilian roles, build professional networks and explore new career pathways can make a significant difference to achieving a successful transition.

“As a veteran myself, I know first-hand how important Armed Forces Week is in recognising the contribution of those who serve, as well as the wider Armed Forces community, and we are proud to show our support during this special week.”

Brigadier Hatcher, DIO’s Head of Overseas and Training Region, added: “Armed Forces Week provides an important opportunity to recognise and thank the people who serve as well as their families, veterans and reservists.

“It’s fantastic to see the public, businesses, and fellow service members come together in support. Alongside our colleagues at Landmarc, we are proud to raise the flag at sites across the UK to honour their contribution.”

For more information, visit www.landmarcsolutions.com.

Holiday park firm sets ethical sales standard with UK first accreditation

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Holiday park firm sets ethical sales standard with UK first accreditation

Buying a holiday home is one of the biggest financial decisions many families make, and one holiday park operator says earning customers’ trust should come before closing a sale after becoming the first in its sector to receive a national ethical sales endorsement.

Hoburne has become the first holiday park operator in the UK to be accredited as an Endorsed Training Provider by the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP), with every member of its sales team completing and passing the organisation’s Sales Ethics examination.

The company has also developed its own sales process, known as “The Hoburne Way”, which has been endorsed by the ISP. The process is designed to ensure sales staff understand the importance of viewing the buying journey from the customer’s perspective and allowing customers to make informed decisions at their own pace.

Emma Beattie, director of sales and marketing at Hoburne, said: “We have worked long and hard to gain a reputation for fairness, and the opportunity to study for and take the ISP exams was too good to miss, as a way of proving that we really are as straight with potential owners as we have always claimed to be.

“‘The Hoburne Way’ is the next step in allowing us to have a consistent process to help owners buy that is aligned with our values. An endorsement from ISP highlights the high standards we set for our team.”

The Institute of Sales Professionals is a global not-for-profit organisation that promotes professional standards, qualifications and ethical selling.

Rob Marklove, managing director of the Institute of Sales Professionals, said: “Hoburne’s achievement demonstrates the value of investing in professional sales standards, and we are delighted to see their team embracing the skills, knowledge and ethical behaviours that build trust, enhance customer experiences and elevate the reputation of the sales profession.”

Sallyann Baldry, who reviewed Hoburne’s submission for endorsement, said: “What impressed about the Hoburne application was the attention to detail in demonstrating how they fully met the ISP endorsement criteria. A standout feature was the extensive research and analysis that went into the training design phase, ensuring that the learning programme was aligned to organisational goals as well as meeting the training needs of the people working in the sales team.”

Jennie Harnaman, head of operations at the Institute of Sales Professionals, added: “We are really delighted that Hoburne has become the first holiday park operator to receive ISP endorsement, and that their team has been so successful in passing our Sales Ethics Exam.

“Good salespeople help and support their customers; our accreditation is designed to give people confidence that they are buying from people who will treat them honestly. As customers, that is what we all want after all.”

The ethical sales accreditation forms part of the company’s “Hoburne Promise”, which includes a five-year “Peace of Mind+” warranty on new holiday caravans and lodges, a 60-day cancellation option for eligible purchasers, independent management meetings to answer buyers’ questions, no fees for introductions to approved finance providers and no pitch fees during a customer’s first season.

Emma added: “We hope very much that people who are in the market for a caravan or lodge will look carefully at what Hoburne has to offer, not just because we think we provide really lovely locations and facilities, but also because they feel they can trust us to look after their interests.”

More information is available at www.hoburne.com.

Devon SEND team earns national praise for transforming pupils’ support

Devon Today
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Devon SEND team earns national praise for transforming pupils’ support

A Devon school trust has been recognised on the national stage after its specialist SEND team was highly commended for its work supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable children.

The Learning Academy Partnership (LAP), which comprises 18 primary schools across Devon, received the Highly Commended award in the SEND and Inclusive Practice category of the Pearson National Teaching Awards. The accolade recognises the trust’s approach to improving support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across its largely rural schools.

The trust introduced the model to address the challenges faced by smaller primary schools, where special educational needs co-ordinators (SENDCos) may encounter a narrower range of SEND needs and experiences. Three school SENDCos now provide dedicated support across the trust each week, working alongside experienced SEND practitioners and school leaders completing specialist SEND qualifications.

According to the trust, the collaborative approach enables specialist knowledge to be shared between schools, helping to reduce professional isolation while ensuring pupils receive consistent, high-quality support regardless of which school they attend. The trust has also developed SEND audits, specialist toolkits, shared guidance, professional development programmes and regular SEND forums to support staff across its schools.

A pupil receives tailored support through the Learning Academy Partnership’s specialist SEND programme.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards, founded by Lord Puttnam in 1998, recognise individuals and teams making a lasting contribution to the education of children and young people across the UK.

Tracey Cleverley, trust lead at the Learning Academy Partnership, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our SEND Team has been recognised nationally through the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

“This recognition reflects the expertise and unwavering commitment of colleagues across our trust who work every day to ensure that children with SEND receive the support they need to thrive.

“What makes this approach so powerful is that it is built on collaboration. Rather than expertise sitting within individual schools, it is shared across our entire family of schools, ensuring every child benefits from high-quality, inclusive practice.

“We are incredibly proud of the difference this work is making, not only in attendance and outcomes, but in helping children feel understood, valued and able to flourish.”

The Learning Academy Partnership includes 18 schools across Devon, including Ilsham Church of England Academy, Ellacombe Church of England Academy, All Saints Marsh CofE Academy, Warberry CofE Academy, Marhamchurch CofE Academy, West Alvington Church of England Academy, Charleton Church of England Academy, Thurlestone All Saints Church of England Academy, Dunsford Community Academy, St Michael’s Church of England Academy, Dartington Church of England Academy, Lifton Community Academy, Jacobstow Community Academy, St Mark’s CofE Academy, Gulworthy Primary Academy, Lamerton CofE Primary Academy, Bovey Tracey Academy and St Andrew’s Church of England Academy.

Charleton pupils turn rubbish into results with recycling rate leap

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Charleton pupils turn rubbish into results with recycling rate leap

A hands-on project has helped schoolchildren dramatically improve recycling rates, with pupils getting stuck into sorting through rubbish to see first-hand how small changes can make a big environmental difference.

Pupils at Charleton CofE Academy, part of the Learning Academy Partnership, are celebrating after a year-long effort to improve recycling across the school increased the amount of waste being recycled from 60 per cent to 74 per cent.

Working alongside environmental consultancy Resource Futures, pupils took part in a waste audit to learn more about the school’s environmental impact and the importance of recycling. During the exercise, children sorted through a day’s worth of school waste, weighing and categorising different materials before analysing the results.

The findings were compared with a similar audit carried out at the beginning of the academic year, showing a significant improvement in the school’s recycling performance. The increase follows a year of work by pupils and staff to encourage better recycling habits and more careful waste disposal across the school.

Headteacher Hannah Ruston said: “The waste audit was a brilliant learning opportunity, helping pupils understand where our waste comes from and what happens to it.

“It also reinforced the importance of making sustainable choices every day.

“As a school, we are committed to helping our children become responsible global citizens and this project has been a wonderful example of learning about sustainability in a meaningful and practical way.”

Tracey Cleverly, trust lead at the Learning Academy Partnership, said: “We are incredibly proud of the Charleton pupils and the enthusiasm they have shown throughout this project.

“The increase in recycling rates is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the positive impact that young people can have when they are empowered to make a difference.”

The school said it plans to build on the success of the project by exploring further opportunities to improve its environmental sustainability.

All aboard as Okehampton aims to build on first railway show success

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All aboard as Okehampton aims to build on first railway show success

Full steam ahead as Okehampton Model Railway Show returns with hopes of an even bigger turnout after a successful debut event.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to descend on the town as the Okehampton Model Railway Club stages its annual exhibition for the second year, following a well-supported first event that marked the town’s first large-scale model railway show.

Organisers are hoping to build on last year’s success when visitor numbers remained strong despite the exhibition taking place on the same weekend as the national Rail 200 celebrations.

The exhibition will take place on Saturday, August 8, from 10am until 4pm, at Parklands Leisure Centre, Simmons Park, Okehampton.

Visitors can expect a variety of working layouts covering multiple railway scales and eras, alongside support from local trade exhibitors. The venue offers level access throughout, is close to Okehampton railway station and will have refreshments available during the day.

Admission costs £7 for adults, £1 for children aged five to 15, while under-fives can attend free. A family ticket for two adults and three children is available for £15.

Anyone wanting more information can visit www.okemodelrailclub.com or scan the QR code on the event poster.

The club is also extending an invitation for people interested in finding out more to visit one of its regular club sessions.

Choir vows the show will go on despite last-minute Totnes venue switch

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Choir vows the show will go on despite last-minute Totnes venue switch

A community choir has refused to let a sudden venue closure derail its annual summer concert, with organisers confirming the performance will go ahead at a new location while continuing to raise money for charity.

Marldon Community Choir has announced that its annual Sounds of Summer Concert has been moved from St John’s Church to St Mary’s Church in Totnes after the original venue was closed at short notice for renovation work.

The choir has spent several months preparing the concert, which is raising money for the Thrive Project in Torbay. The programme features popular songs centred on the theme of the lost and the lonely, including Streets of London, Mr Bojangles and Another Day in Paradise.

The performance will also feature violinist Hazel Bayley and clarinettist Sue Topp, with accompaniment by Julie Arrow.

Other items in the programme include Prayer for Ukraine, which the choir recently recorded to share with Ukrainian friends in Torbay and further afield, along with its rendition of Where the Sun Don’t Shine, recorded for the Staysure Insurance Choir Competition 2026 and later shared on the company’s Facebook page.

Musical director Jane Anderson-Brown said: “After months of rehearsal we have a great show to perform. People who have already bought tickets for St Johns will be contacted regarding this change of venue.

“We do, however, appreciate that some people prefer to buy tickets on the day, so this message is to confirm that the concert is definitely going ahead, but at a new venue in the town of Totnes.”

Jane added: “We would love to have a sold out house, but appreciate that the venue change has come at the last minute.

“Please do support us! Tickets are available on the door, and enjoy a lovely mix of music on a summer evening with a glass of wine in the interval.”

Tickets cost £10, including a glass of wine, and the concert begins at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, High Street, Totnes. For further information, contact Val May on 07789 891131.

Petition launched to halt second McDonald’s amid Newton Road traffic fears

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Petition launched to halt second McDonald’s amid Newton Road traffic fears

A fresh campaign has been launched in a bid to overturn plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant, with residents arguing the development will worsen congestion and reduce quality of life.

Therése Randerson has started a petition calling on decision-makers to reconsider plans for the restaurant at the former Beefeater site on Newton Road, Kingsteignton, despite planning permission already being granted by Teignbridge Council.

The petition argues that Newton Road already experiences significant congestion, particularly during peak travel periods, and claims another fast-food restaurant would generate additional traffic.

It also questions the need for another McDonald’s restaurant because another branch already operates nearby.

Instead, the petition suggests the site could be used for alternative community facilities, including a community centre, public park or a family-friendly restaurant supporting local farms and businesses.

The petition states: “Traffic on Newton Road is bad enough as it is, and we do not need a second McDonald’s in the area. The introduction of another fast-food outlet here will exacerbate the already challenging traffic conditions in Kingsteignton and negatively impact the residents’ quality of life.”

It continues: “We urge the local council and decision-makers to reconsider this development, take into account the voices of Newton Abbot’s and Kingsteignton’s residents. Let us prioritise the community’s needs over corporate profits.”

The campaign follows Teignbridge Council’s decision to approve plans for McDonald’s to occupy the former Beefeater restaurant, known as The Grandstand, beside Newton Abbot Racecourse.

The Beefeater closed in 2024 after being identified as one of 238 restaurants scheduled for closure by its owners.

During the planning process, nearby residents raised concerns about flooding, increased traffic, litter, anti-social behaviour, noise, the smell of cooking food and the potential for rats.

Residents also claimed the area’s drainage system was already under pressure following flooding earlier this year and asked Newton Abbot Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley to intervene.

Planning officers concluded that only minor alterations would be made to the existing building and noted that the proposal does not include a drive-through facility. They said much of the food sold would therefore be eaten inside the restaurant rather than taken away.

The petition is calling for the approved development to be reconsidered in light of concerns raised by residents.

Former Rumours nightclub could become eight flats under new Barnstaple plans

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Former Rumours nightclub could become eight flats under new Barnstaple plans

A former Barnstaple nightclub that lost its premises licence following concerns over crime and disorder could be transformed into eight flats under newly submitted planning proposals.

An application has been lodged with North Devon Council to convert the upper floors of 42 Boutport Street, Barnstaple, which was most recently home to Rumours nightclub, into residential accommodation.

Applicant A Witter is seeking permission to convert the first-floor nightclub into four flats, the mezzanine level into two flats and subdivide the existing second-floor flat into two further homes, creating a total of eight residential units.

Rumours lost its premises licence in 2022 after North Devon Council found the venue had breached licensing objectives relating to crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. A subsequent appeal at Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court upheld the council’s decision to revoke the licence.

Planning documents submitted with the application state the upper floors have remained vacant since the licence was revoked. The applicant says the premises has been extensively marketed for commercial use by several agents since 2022, including JD Commercial and Blue Alpine, but no commercial tenant has been secured despite rent concessions and flexible lease terms being offered.

The design and access statement says the proposal would provide a mix of one and two-bedroom flats intended to offer affordable accommodation for sale or rent. The plans also include communal refuse and bicycle storage.

The property lies within the Barnstaple Town Centre Conservation Area. Planning documents state the front elevation facing Boutport Street would remain unchanged, with only limited alterations proposed to less visible elevations, including additional windows and rooflights.

A heritage statement submitted with the application says the development has been designed so that no works would affect the adjoining Grade II listed building.

A separate noise impact assessment concludes that, subject to appropriate glazing and ventilation measures, satisfactory internal noise levels can be achieved for future residents. The report also concludes that no remedial works are required to the party wall shared with the neighbouring Horse & Groom public house.

North Devon Council will determine the application at a later date.

Historic Globe Hotel set for vital repair works to halt years of decline

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Historic Globe Hotel set for vital repair works to halt years of decline

Plans have been submitted to secure the future of one of Great Torrington’s best-known historic buildings, with urgent repairs designed to halt further deterioration while laying the foundations for its long-term restoration.

The application, submitted by The Globe Hotel Torrington Ltd, seeks listed building consent for repair and stabilisation works at the Grade II-listed Globe Hotel on Fore Street. The proposals include the demolition of modern rear structures and the installation of temporary WC facilities to allow limited community use while wider restoration plans are developed.

The Globe Hotel dates back to at least the late 17th century and has undergone significant alterations during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It operated for many years as a hotel and played an important role in the commercial and social life of Great Torrington before closing in recent years. Since then, the vacant building has deteriorated and now requires urgent conservation work.

The application forms the first stage of a wider regeneration programme intended to secure a long-term future for the building as a community asset. However, the current proposals relate only to essential repairs needed to safeguard the listed structure and prevent further decay.

The proposed works include repairs to the front façade, replacement and restoration of historic sash windows, re-rendering the front elevation using breathable lime render, roof repairs, chimney rebuilding, leadwork replacement and improvements to the building’s drainage system. Internal works include repairing timber affected by water damage, structural repairs, electrical improvements, and installing heating and fire alarm systems to support temporary use of the ground floor.

Plans also include removing a modern rear extension, clearing later structures from the courtyard, demolishing an existing modern WC block and replacing it with a temporary accessible containerised toilet unit connected to the existing drainage system. Investigative opening-up works are also proposed to assess concealed historic fabric and repair damage caused by water ingress.

According to the heritage statement, the proposals have been designed using a minimum intervention, conservation-led approach. The document concludes that repairs to the roof, chimneys, windows and front elevation would preserve and enhance the building’s historic significance while preventing further deterioration.

A historic building survey prepared in support of the application describes The Globe as occupying a prominent position on Fore Street, with a history stretching back more than 300 years. It records the building’s evolution from an early inn into a substantial 19th-century hotel before its closure in 2020.

If approved, the works would represent the first phase of a wider programme intended to conserve and ultimately return the landmark building to long-term use.

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