News

A public art trail featuring a sleuth of colourful bears is launching in North Devon next month.

The 25 life-sized bears have all been individually painted by local artists and will form a series of mini art trails in and around Barnstaple, Bideford, Torrington and Ilfracombe.

The Bear Hunt Art Trail, being held in support of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), goes live on February 11. People will be able to a download a special mobile app to track down all the bears, find out more about the artists and the charity, and create their own virtual collection.

Some of the bears were briefly

Employees at Bristol-based recruitment agency Kingston Barnes have faced their fears to successfully smash a £10k fundraising target for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Employees were encouraged to break boundaries and push their limits by taking part in a ‘ Charity Challenge Month’ in September. Staff did skydives, climbed 10 peaks in 24-hours in Snowdonia, and even came face to face with snakes and wild cockroaches!

The company raised a total of £10,957 for CHSW after hearing about the vital care the charity offers local families when it scooped the Charity of the Year award at the

Affinity Devon has announced Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) as its chosen charity for 2023.

The outlet shopping village in Clovelly Road, Bideford, is planning fundraising events throughout the year and will have donation boxes in stores for anyone who would like to support the charity, which runs the Little Bridge House children’s hospice in nearby Fremington.

Affinity Devon's Operations Manager, Craig Hill, said: “We’re delighted to CHSW as our charity of the year. Although already a well-established charity, the support required to keep this fantastic service going is ever growing so

Somerset Country Cricket Club record-breaker and former fan favourite Max Waller is hoping to notch up some big numbers for Children’s Hospice South West in 2023.

The Taunton club’s leading all-time T-20 wicket-taker retired from the sport at the end of last season and has been awarded a testimonial year in which he has chosen to support the charity.

Max, who joined Somerset as a 10-year-old and spent his entire career at the club, took an incredible 139 wickets in 144 20-over matches. The right-handed batsman and a leg break bowler also played in 59 one-day games and nine first-class matches

Little Harbour has received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon.

The donation is part of the housebuilder’s Community Champions initiative which donates up to £750,000 a year to good local causes and organisations across Great Britain.

The donation is going towards new play equipment for the soft-play facility at Little Harbour.

Sally Bridger, Area Fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), said: “On behalf of Little Harbour in St Austell and CHSW, I would like to say a huge thank you to Persimmon Homes Cornwall.

“CHSW exists to make the most of short and precious

Two Barnstaple daredevils with a combined age of nearly 200 have clocked up thousands of pounds for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) thanks to their high-flying escapades.

Ray Hales and friend Arthur Bennett visited the charity’s Little Bridge House children’s hospice in Fremington this week to present a giant cheque for nearly £6,000.

Ray, 94, completed a wing-walk, while Arthur, 90, did a skydive at Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton in July last year.

The ex-RAF servicemen and former Western Power Distribution (SWEB) colleagues have been tirelessly topping up their fundraising since and

Employees at Filtration Ltd, based in Bristol, have supported Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) since 2017. In that time they’ve raised over £8,000 to help towards the vital care of children with life-limiting conditions.

The team’s most recent fundraising effort was a static cycle challenge on 20 October. Supporters at Filtration Ltd cycled the distance between their warehouse in Avonmouth and the Donaldson HQ in Belgium on static bikes. Between them, they covered 370 miles on two static bikes, over 24 hours. They raised a total of £2,000 for CHSW and the Oncology Department at Maidstone

Martin Syrett hopes to raise £1,000 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) by walking from his home in Clevedon to Bristol – a total of more than 400 miles (643km) over the course of his 31-day challenge.

Martin, aged 66, said he wanted to take on his walking challenge after hearing about the work the charity does at its Charlton Farm hospice near Wraxall, from his wife Anette who used to volunteer at the hospice.

Martin said:

I’ve never done anything like this in my life but am looking forward to the physical element of the walk and meeting people along the way

Charlton Farm offers care

A black-tie fundraising event at Teignmouth Golf Club has raised £4,000 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

More than 100 guests attended The Smarter Ball on Friday 23 September, enjoying a glitzy evening of fundraising and entertainment hosted by compare and comedian, Tank Sherman.

The event also featured an exclusive live performance by X-Factor contestant Shelley Smith, followed by a Future Media DJ on the decks, as well as a charity auction with prizes from Laura Wall, Gidleigh Park, Kenton Vinyard, Devon Sea Safari, Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren Golf Clubs. Other prizes included

Local homebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter has donated £2,500 to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), as part of the leading housing developer’s Community Fund initiative, and their wish to spread Christmas cheer.

The Barratt Developments Community Fund initiative looks to support causes that have a positive impact within their local communities. For 30 years, CHSW has been providing crucial care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The charity’s Little Bridge House children’s hospice near Barnstaple in North Devon, alongside Little Harbour in St Austell