South West

Shelter reveals SW home threat hotspots

Alarming new figures from housing charity Shelter have revealed almost 500 people in the South West were put at risk of losing their home every week in the last year.

In an analysis of statistics from the Ministry of Justice, the charity identified how many people are at risk of eviction and repossession as well as the ‘home threat hotspots’ across the South West where people are most...

One in 5 living with undiagnosed back pain

One in five people in the South West (19 per cent) are suffering from debilitating lower back pain and do not have a diagnosis for their symptoms.

This is leading to widespread anxiety, depression and avoidable time off work, new research suggests.

The figures out this week from Nuffield Health reveal that the combination of a lack of access to treatment and diagnostics, poor...

NAFAS say it with flowers

There’s no better way to say it than with flowers. Which is exactly why NAFAS (The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies) is using beautiful little bunches to spread some love around the UK on National Flower Arranging Day (Friday 1st May 2015).

The charity plans to distribute over 60,000 bouquets across the UK embracing ‘The Lonely Bouquet’ concept for the second year...

Complaints investigated by RSPCA rise

The RSPCA’s annual figures for 2014 show that cruelty complaints investigated by the charity in the south west and central England have gone up once again.

More worrying still is that the numbers of complaints involving direct cruelty including beatings, improper killing, mutilation and poisonings formed 12.5% of the total number of complaints.

The charity investigated 28,800...

Saks to open salon in Plymouth

Saks, the UK’s favourite salon group, has welcomed another salon to its ever-increasing network.

Saks Plymouth, based in the Virgin Active Devonshire Club, will be opening the doors of their new salon at Virgin Active, Plymbridge Lane, Derriford at the beginning of May.

Ellie and Tom Wilson are already the successful franchisees of Saks Exeter - this year's Saks Hair Salon of...

7 out of 10 of people in Plymouth will do something clumsy this week

Almost Seven out of ten people living in Plymouth will do something clumsy – such as trip or drop their phone – this week; a study release today has shown – one of the highest rates in the UK.

The study found that 27% of people in Plymouth will spill at least one drink, and 22% will drop and break their mobile phone every week.

The study has found that as a nation, we are...

Lack of properties pushes up prices in the SW

The number of properties coming onto the market continued to drop, pushing prices rapidly upwards in the South West, according to the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey.

In most parts of the country, the supply versus demand imbalance led to a rise in house prices in March and in the South West 36% more chartered surveyors reported a rise in house prices in March (up from 31% in...

Powerboat vandalised in engine theft

Police are seeking thieves who ransacked a powerboat in Plymstock and stole its rare outboard engine.

Offenders entered Plymouth Marine Centre in Pomphlett Road overnight on 7/8 April by cutting through the mesh fence.

Once inside they targeted the Gobbi 19 Limited Edition powerboat moored just outside the marina, stealing the engine and causing extensive damage.

They...

Charity support for medical student electives

National charity The Hospital Saturday Fund has donated £10,000 to the Peninsula Medical Foundation to help fund student electives at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD).

As part of their studies, students have to complete an eight-week elective to explore areas of medicine or research that interest them, in greater depth. They can do this in a...

Over a million SMEs lack basic digital skills

According to the latest UK Business Digital Index, over a million (23%) small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) still lack basic digital skills. The Index from Lloyds Bank, in association with Accenture and digital skills charity Go ON UK, measures and tracks the level of digital ability among SMEs and charities.

An overall rise in the UK Index score suggests a slow but positive shift...

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