South West England
Stories, people, organisations and useful developments connected with South West England.
Cornwall community health network shortlisted twice for national NHS awards
A partnership linking the NHS, voluntary organisations and more than 50 community hubs has been recognised for work on health inequalities and neighbourhood care.
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Wiltshire community lottery helps Calne group turn local support into practical impact
Wiltshire's community lottery is helping a Calne good cause raise money and connect more residents with its work.
Bath Spa University earns Mental Health Charter Award for whole-university approach
Bath Spa has been recognised through the University Mental Health Charter for work embedding mental health and wellbeing across university life.
Nine Torbay heritage projects receive grants to bring local history to life
Grassroots projects across Torbay are receiving heritage funding designed to strengthen local pride and people's connection with the places around them.
Dorset Council: Sherborne Library has reopened to the public
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The ...
Wiltshire police netball team recognised at awards ceremony
A police netball team has been recognised for its commitment to sport and community at a new awards ceremony. The Wiltshire Police Netball Team was named the first-ever Sports Team of the Year at the ...
£40k funding helps Burnham Community Centre finish new solar roof and cut heating costs
Burnham-On-Sea Community Centre has just completed the latest phase of a project to extend its use of solar energy and make the building more efficient, which has already led to a reduction to its ...
Share offer for UK’s biggest community development passes first target
A crowdfunder for an ambitious plan to bring a 12-acre brownfield site in Frome, Somerset, into community ownership has passed its initial target and is headed for a stretch target of £1.2m. The goal ...
Octopus Capital buys entire 150-home Devon site in first whole-scheme deal
Octopus Capital has purchased an entire 150-home development in Landkey, North Devon, from housebuilder Allison Homes South West in its first whole-site acquisition. The deal represents the first ...
Programme to help shape future health services across Devon
People in Devon are being invited to have their say on shaping future health services in their communities. A new county-wide conversation has launched in the county as part of the ‘Let’s talk ...
Don't believe the poo we will deliver affordable homes, says Cornwall Council
Organisers of the 'random act of art theatrical protest', which is due to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, have accused the council of going back on a promise to deliver 11 affordable homes as part ...
Fundraiser launched to secure crafting shop future
Three best friends are fighting to keep their independent crafting shop alive amid a rise in business costs. The Kiwi Fruit is Cute in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, hosts charity events and hosts free ...
Cornwall expands face-to-face Community Gateway support to reach thousands more people
Cornwall’s Community Gateway is increasing in-person outreach alongside its telephone service, with at least 50 additional people a week expected to receive face-to-face help.
Cornish schools celebrate GCSE results day
Students across Cornwall are visiting their schools today to receive their final GCSE results.
New housing development secured for North Devon
Octopus Capital has purchased a 150-home development site in Landkey from housebuilder Allison Homes.
Plans unveiled for major housing scheme near Sherborne
A planning proposal has been submitted to build 380 homes on a site located on the outskirts of Sherborne.
Swindon man finds new path through volunteering
A Wiltshire resident has credited volunteer work with helping him turn his life around after a long struggle with addiction.
Investment deal secures 150 homes for North Devon
A new agreement has been reached to develop 150 affordable homes in North Devon following a surge in investor interest.
New affordable homes unveiled in Bampton
Eighteen modern, affordable houses have been completed at School Close in Bampton, replacing a group of older council properties.
Proposal suggests using military housing for homeless veterans
New plans aim to repurpose empty military properties in Wiltshire to provide support for former service personnel.
Devon residents invited to shape health service future
A new county-wide initiative is encouraging locals to share their views on how future community health services should look.
Wiltshire Council avoids funding shortfall
Proactive savings and a tax adjustment have helped the local authority steer clear of the financial instability facing other UK councils.
B-Side Arts Festival brings independent cinema to Portland
A selection of documentaries and short films will be showcased in Dorset as part of the upcoming B-Side Arts Festival.
Bridgwater health site secures £2.5 million funding boost
Somerset Council has redirected resources to repurpose a historic hospital site for community health use.
Bristol City initiative partners with police to boost community safety
The Bristol City Robins Foundation has launched a new project to foster deeper collaboration between professional football clubs and local law enforcement.
Cornish sepsis survivor reaches national award finals
A woman who overcame severe health setbacks has been named a national finalist after completing a 700-mile fundraising walk.
Stonehouse disability charity secures £10,000 funding
A charity in Stonehouse that helps adults with learning disabilities socialise has expanded its services thanks to a new grant.
Watchet residents push for paper mill site regeneration
Local community members have united to champion the redevelopment of the historic Wansbrough paper mill into housing.
Kingsley School celebrates record results and a top-25% national ranking
Kingsley School Devon says its 2026 A Level and vocational results have broken school records for a second year, with an ALPS score placing it in the top quarter nationally for academic achievement.
£17.8m Bridgwater Diagnostic Centre opens to bring NHS tests closer to home
A new £17.8m NHS diagnostic centre has officially opened beside Bridgwater Community Hospital, expanding access to scans and tests in Somerset.
Synthetic sugar molecule points to possible future vaccine and rapid test for drug-resistant hospital fungus
An international team including Exeter researchers has identified a synthetic sugar structure that generated protective immune responses against Candida auris in preclinical work and supported a prototype rapid test.
Bristol festival will put bees, pollination science and live hives centre stage
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden's Bee and Pollination Festival returns on 5 and 6 September with talks, honey tastings, live-hive demonstrations and children's activities.
Ultrasonic beam levitates objects from 40cm away, six times the previous one-sided range
Bristol and Tsukuba researchers have demonstrated stable, single-sided acoustic levitation at distances up to 40cm, opening possibilities for handling delicate or hazardous materials without contact.
North Devon development switches to 100% affordable housing with 150 homes for local people
A 150-home Landkey development has been purchased by Octopus Capital and will now be entirely affordable, with social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.
Restored Somerset wetlands stay green through extreme summer heat while surrounding land dries out
National Trust wetland restoration at Holnicote retained water, wildlife and grazing through one of the UK's hottest summers on record.
White-tailed eagles return to Exmoor more than 200 years after disappearing
Six young white-tailed eagles have been released in Exmoor National Park, extending a successful restoration programme into south-west England.
Wearable device reveals hidden hormone bursts that could improve diagnosis of a common blood-pressure condition
Bristol-led research found previously hidden hormone spikes in people with primary aldosteronism using a wearable device that samples around the clock.
New Exeter centre will study how to give children more freedom to play outdoors
A new Outdoor Play Research Centre has launched after research found children now reach nearly 11 before first playing outside unsupervised.
More than 1,000 Cornwall students celebrate 329 top-grade results across five schools
More than 1,000 students across five CELT secondary schools received 8,833 qualification grades, including 329 Grade 9s and Distinction*s.
Devon opens nominations to celebrate the volunteers who keep grassroots activity moving
The Active Devon Volunteer Awards are inviting nominations for unpaid coaches, organisers, young leaders and teams helping people across Devon stay active and connected.
Cornwall solar farm will generate enough renewable electricity for more than 10,000 homes
The approved 32MW Trerice Solar Farm near St Dennis will combine solar power and battery storage, with new footpaths and community funding planned alongside it.
Three friends will jump from a plane to help Prospect Hospice after one receives a terminal cancer diagnosis
Sean Harper, Terry Cook and Sam Cottle are taking on a charity skydive inspired by Terry’s bucket list, aiming to raise £5,000 for Prospect Hospice.
Somerset community centre cuts annual heating bill by more than £10,000 after green upgrades
Burnham-On-Sea Community Centre has completed a new solar roof and says its annual heating bill has fallen from around £14,000 to £5,000.
Frome community raises first £600,000 towards buying and developing 12-acre town-centre site
Mayday Saxonvale’s community share offer has passed its first £600,000 target as residents work towards community ownership of a 12-acre brownfield site in Frome.
Two Bristol researchers recognised for work improving NHS research and dementia diagnosis
Dr Ashley Hammond and Dr Sam Creavin have received national NIHR leadership prizes for work on primary-care research and dementia diagnosis.
Two years sober, Swindon volunteer helps turn surplus food into free community meals
Daniel Norrish says volunteering with FoodCycle Swindon has helped him rebuild his life after alcohol addiction, while his time now helps provide free meals for others.
Devon project aims to double nests of one of England’s rarest ants
A three-year conservation project in South Devon will improve heathland for two rare ant species and create new colonies to reduce the risk of local extinction.
Bristol teaching team recognised in national higher education awards
The University of Bristol has received two national teaching honours, recognising both an individual educator and a team working to improve research-rich teaching and the student experience.
Bristol researchers find a way to strengthen poultry immunity without antibiotics
University of Bristol-led research has identified how a naturally occurring gut molecule could help chickens fight bacterial infection, offering a possible route to healthier farming with less reliance on antibiotics.
Somerset wetlands stay green through one of the UK’s hottest summers
River restoration, wetlands and beaver activity at the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate have helped parts of the landscape retain water and wildlife through extreme summer heat.
Bristol team backs technology designed to cut AI data-centre energy waste
A startup working with University of Bristol researchers has secured more than £600,000 to develop diamond-coated electronics for more efficient data centres.