Author: JW

Businesswomen are running for the Female Entrepreneur of the Year – from The UK Small Business Awards. As it says: “Be part of the UK’s most prestigious small business awards! This is your chance to showcase your achievements, gain nationwide recognition, and position yourself among the top businesses in the country.” And, as reported in the… Continue reading Running for Female Entrepreneur of the Year!

Six months ago we were celebrating the Eco Hub Sidmouth: climate champion on these pages. Half a year on, and there is even more to celebrate.  Looking back at the Eco Hub Sidmouth and the first six months on the pages of the CAPS website, we got a report from founder Bernie Davis: “The trial was a success in… Continue reading Eco Hub Sidmouth: green champion!

This week is National Marine Week: National Marine Week is our celebration of UK seas! From 26th July – 10th August 2025 we’ll be showcasing the ‘Secrets of our Seabeds’.  We have incredible seabeds off our coasts – from delicate cold-water corals to internationally important chalk reefs, to muds full of life! There are so many… Continue reading Championing our seas

A month ago, the VGS news blog ran a piece urging us to “have your say on the future of local government in Devon”. Here’s a reminder – and some sort of recognition that the local councils are making an effort to champion local democracy – by asking us as citizens to engage in determining its… Continue reading Championing local democracy

Did you know that we have a ‘cycling champion’ in the county?  We can Meet the Team from Active Devon – “the friendly professionals here to support you to enable people to move more”! And over the last month there have been several things going on featuring Aaron Harverson, Active Devon’s project lead and Cycling Champion for… Continue reading Meet Active Devon’s cycling champion!

When it comes to health champions in these parts, Sid Valley Help is very much up there, acting as go-to point for every type of health care, pointing to where best to go for help, from hospital visits to mental health advice. They are certainly valued – and received the Champions Awards 2021 in recognition of their work. As… Continue reading Healthwatch: Devon’s health champions

There are real champions working to improve the services for those with special educational needs and disabilities across Devon. There’s Sidmouth’s county councillor Denise Bickley, who looks at her role in this week’s Herald as Cabinet member for Children’s Services – SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). And there’s also the Champions for Change in Devon – which shows how… Continue reading Championing Devon’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

There are several good people and organisations up for a Devon Make a Difference Awards, with the finalists just announced: In their fourth year, the awards recognise and celebrate local people who make a positive contribution to communities across the county. The competition is made up of eight categories, with a total of 32 finalists…  Devon finalists… Continue reading East Devon @ the BBC Radio Devon ‘Make A Difference Awards’

Twice in the last two weeks, the seaside resort of Sidmouth has been championed in the national press. Firstly, last month, the Telegraph looked at My day out in Sidmouth, the seaside resort they call ‘God’s waiting room’. So says the former chair of the VGS: “The seagulls can be annoying, and of course it… Continue reading Sidmouth seaside town: seaside champion

Students took part in sea swimming and surf lifesaving skills, a beach clean, beach art and had a private tour of the RLNI centre. As reported on Devon Live, sea swims and lifesaving drills transformed the Sidmouth students’ day: Lisa Whitworth, headteacher at Sidmouth College, said: “I was blown away by the determination and spirit our… Continue reading Love Your Beach Day with the College