u/steveracemp

When I visit local schools and Exeter College to talk to young people, they tell me about the importance of making sure they can access the mental health support they need. Every young person deserves the chance to thrive, and getting the right support can make a huge difference to their wellbeing and success.

So I’m really pleased that we’re now delivering on this locally; thanks to Government investment, a new Mental Health Support Team will work directly with Exeter’s schools and college. The team will provide early intervention, small-group support, and one-to-one help for pupils who need it.

This is an important step that delivers on a commitment I was proud to stand on in our manifesto. It's good to see that promise now being turned into action for local families.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or young person in Exeter, I’d really welcome your thoughts!

Some fantastic news that members of this subreddit might be interested in: for the first time in 25 years, the NHS is now making medicines from UK donated plasma, and over 3,000 patients have already been treated!

By producing these life-saving treatments from UK donations, we're helping to strengthen the resilience of NHS supplies alongside imported medicines, ensuring patients can get the treatment they need, when they need it.

If you've been thinking about donating blood but haven't gotten round to it yet, now is a great time to start. You can find out more and book an appointment at blood.co.uk.

Some of you may already be aware of the campaign to establish a national memorial honouring the pilots and navigators of the Second World War Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU).

For those unfamiliar, the PRU flew unarmed and unarmoured aircraft on solitary missions deep over enemy territory. They captured more than 26 million images, providing intelligence that was crucial to Allied decision-making across every theatre of the war.

While the PRU was made up of servicemen from many nations, a large number came from across the United Kingdom, including here in Exeter. Among them were Robert Donaldson, Lyndon Gordon-White, Charles Ousley, William Scafe, and Peter Dakeyne, who all served with great bravery under exceptionally difficult conditions.

I wanted to share that I’m working alongside David Reed MP and the Spitfire AA810 Project to help establish a fitting memorial - and I’ll continue to keep this subreddit updated as we make progress.

The Government is backing young people with the Youth Guarantee, but our plan will only succeed through partnership with business.

So we’re offering businesses grants of up to £5,000 for hiring young people in Exeter, and a fully-paid six month placement for young people who have been out of work for 18 months.

To be part of the scheme, sign up here: business.gov.uk/recruit

As some of you may know, proposals from Mecca Bingo leadership were put forward to close their Exeter branch on 7 June 2026.

I know this will be a source of concern for many residents of Exeter; for over 60 years, Mecca Bingo has been part of our city - supporting local jobs, bringing people together and helping to tackle loneliness.

I wanted to share that I’ve written to Rank Group and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about the proposed closure and the impact this will have on staff and our local community.

My main concern is for the employees at this stage, and I’m going to do my level best to stand up for the people whose jobs are at risk. I’ll continue to press for alternatives for closure, support for the staff team, and a future for the beautiful venue. I’ll keep this subreddit updated.

Hi all. Lots of people in Exeter have raised concerns with me about repeated instances of illegal dumping, particularly in Stoke Woods.  

So I wanted to share that, under the Government's new Waste Crime Action Plan, waste criminals will face new sanctions including having to work in unpaid 'clean-up squads' to clear the streets and wild areas they have blighted. They will also be required to repay the cost of clearing the waste they illegally dumped. 

Further, reforms introduced this week will move waste carriers, brokers and dealers from simple registration to a permit-based system - requiring identity checks, criminal record checks and proof of technical competence before a permit is granted. This will create a clear audit trail from collection to disposal, giving regulators the ability to track waste as easily as you can track a parcel. If someone pays to have their rubbish taken away, they should be confident it won't end up on their local streets or green spaces a week later. These changes give households that peace of mind. 

This plan is a real step forward. Fly-tippers now know that if they dump their waste in Exeter, there will be real consequences - and I’ll be making sure those powers are used.