A new supported employment scheme is being launched in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to help support almost 6,000 people into work over the next five years.

The Connect to Work programme, backed by £22.7 million from the UK Government’s Get Britain Working Programme, is being led and delivered by the three local authorities to ensure support reflects local priorities and reaches the people who need it most. It will improve access to employment, health and skills support and help reduce economic inactivity across the region.

The programme is designed to support disabled people, those with health conditions, and those facing other complex barriers move into paid, sustainable employment.

Participants who take part in the voluntary initiative will be supported by a dedicated specialist employment adviser who will:

– Work with them to understand their career goals; – Provide tailored support to participants based on their health and employment needs, and address specific barriers; – Support people to talk with prospective employers, removing the need to go through complex application processes; – Provide ongoing support to employers and participants after starting a job to ensure long-term success.

Connect to Work is due to go live in Plymouth this month (November) and will then be rolled out in Devon and Torbay in December. The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority retains a strategic role in the project, working to align activity with the wider ambitions of the Get Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Working Plan and strengthen coordination across the area.

Devon County Council is the lead authority on the programme working in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.

Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources, said: “The Connect to Work programme is aiming to help people who could work but are currently being left behind through no fault of their own. Their talent is being left untapped and they’re not being given the opportunity to realise their potential. This scheme is looking to change that through the support on offer to not just help find work for people but to help them sustain their employment.

“By investing in people, we can help them achieve their ambitions. As well as the one-to-one support for participants, employers will also be supported to promote inclusive employment practices and job development.”

Councillor Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth at Torbay Council, said: “The Connect to Work programme will provide valuable support to residents in Torbay who are facing complex barriers to accessing or staying in employment, helping to empower them with the skills and personalised support they need to fulfil their potential and thrive.

“By working together with local partners and organisations to deliver the programme we can help to enable more inclusive employment pathways, creating stronger futures for our communities and supporting local economic growth.”

The programme is aiming to help over 800 people in Torbay to access employment and stay in work. There will also be support available for employers and businesses through the programme, which will help them to adopt more inclusive recruitment practices, access advice and toolkits, and create more flexible and sustainable opportunities for local residents.

More information about the programme in Torbay will be available when a provider has been appointed. They will work closely with Torbay Council, charities, employers and other local organisations to deliver the programme locally.

For further information on Connect to Work in Torbay visit the Torbay Council website: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/connect-to-work

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Overcrowding on the line has reached boiling point

Commuters say they're being pushed, shoved and even injured during the evening rush-hour train from Exeter to Barnstaple, as overcrowding on the line reaches boiling point.

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The 5.15pm Great Western Railway (GWR) service departing Exeter Central has become so packed that passengers describe the experience as "almost violent", with some claiming the scramble to board has left people injured.

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Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture's Devon and Cornwall branch, said passengers have been forming groups to jostle their way onto the train.

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"This is getting to the point where it's a health and safety problem," Tim said. "We need to see the new Class 175s introduced as five or six-carriage units to cope with capacity."

He added that the combination of college students and workers on the service had led to "alpha" groups pushing their way to the front, creating challenges for station staff, reports Devon Live.

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Tim said Railfuture is working to accelerate the deployment of longer trains on the Barnstaple to Exeter line, warning that the three- and four-carriage trains currently in use are "already proving there is a problem".

"The newly acquired Class 175s will be brought into service next year, and we are hoping driver training can be completed quickly," he said. "If we just have the same capacity with new trains, the problem hasn't been solved."

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Passengers also shared their experiences of the overcrowded service.

Dylan Goldsbury, a regular train user since September 2023, commented: "Half the time you don't really get a seat, it gets really rammed. Not enough carriages. But as long as I'm with my friends, it is a good time."

Sasha Farcus, who has been commuting for over a year, described the boarding process as chaotic: "Sometimes it's quite busy and almost violent to get on the train. I saw a girl get her head split open by being flung into the door."

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Another commuter, David Waldon, compared the overcrowding to a music festival: "There's like festivals here, the mosh pits. Getting on at peak times is like that, but there's no music and no one's having any fun."

A spokesperson for GWR recognised the problem, stating both the railway operator and Exeter College were "victims of our own success" due to the increasing number of students travelling between Exeter and North Devon.

"If all Exeter College students wanted to travel on the same day, we would need a nine-car IET to get them all seated," the spokesperson said. "With non-Exeter College travellers using the route as well, we are well over capacity on some services during peak times."

GWR confirmed it cannot currently run more trains due to capacity limits on the branch line, and platform lengths prevent the use of longer trains.

"We are, however, supportive of campaigns to upgrade the infrastructure of the North Devon Line," added the spokesperson. "In the short term, the solution is more trains or carriages with selective door opening, and we hope the introduction of Class 175 trains will provide some respite in the fullness of time."

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Plymouth City Council Leader Tudor Evans is in hospital after falling ill. Deputy leader Jemima Laing has taken over while Cllr Evans is incapacitated.

said the Labour leader would remain in hospital for a short while but would need to recuperate after being discharged from care.

He said he was in good hands and thanked the staff for looking after him, saying he was now focussing on returning to full health and resuming his duties.

Cllr Evans said: "It’s unfortunate to be unwell at such an important time for the council, but I’m in good hands and focusing on getting better.

“I want to thank the incredible NHS staff who have been looking after me with such professionalism and kindness.

“I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received and I’m looking forward to returning once I’m fully recovered."

It is understood some councillors learned of Cllr Evans’ illness earlier this week. The authority issued a statement today.

A council spokesperson said: “We want to share that Cllr Tudor Evans OBE, leader of Plymouth City Council, is currently in hospital receiving treatment for an illness.

“He is expected to remain in hospital for a short period and will require a period of rest before undergoing a follow-up procedure in the coming weeks.

“During this time, Deputy Leader Cllr Jemima Laing will take on his responsibilities to ensure continuity of leadership.

“The council sends its very best wishes to Cllr Evans for a full and speedy recovery.”

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The Pilgrims were easily beaten 2-0 by Exeter City at St James Park and have lost four more matches in three different competitions since then

Tom Cleverley has seen signs in the last two games that Plymouth Argyle are finally starting to recover from their Devon derby hangover.

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The Pilgrims were easily beaten 2-0 by Exeter City at St James Park on October 23 in what was a morale-sapping experience for their largely youthful squad and they have lost four more matches in three different competitions since then.

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They have included a 3-1 League One defeat at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, when it was goal-less until they conceded on the stroke of half-time, and the 1-0 Vertu Trophy loss to Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.

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Argyle had only 10 players for virtually all of the Southern Group B game after a very early red card for defender Kornel Szucs and were beaten by Rovers after a last-gasp goal in the fourth minute of added time when goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond dropped the ball from a corner.

Cleverley said afterwards: "It's the way it has been going. To have a man sent-off after two minutes, game plan out the window, so then it becomes about reshuffling the pack quickly and players' resilience, application, honesty, pride to wear the shirt. We saw all those things tonight.

"The players are not going to get the rewards or the satisfaction out of that performance they probably deserve, but the main thing for me is there has been a long hangover since the Exeter game. Of course it has been six defeats but there was one that really had long-lasting effect and it was that game.

"The players' confidence took a real hit and it has taken a long time to come back. I saw 40 minutes on Saturday and 93 minutes today that proved to me it's coming back. The application was the main thing tonight."

Cleverley had no complaints about the dismissal of Szucs, who was sent-off for denying a goalscoring opportunity when he held back Rovers' Bryant Bilongo.

"It's an area of his game he needs to work on," said the head coach. "It's something we will work on, dealing with direct play. It's not good enough and it shouldn't lead to a red card after two minutes."

Argyle had seemed set for only their fourth clean sheet in all competitions this season until Kamil Conteh capitalised on Ashby-Hammond's mistake to get the winning goal for Rovers, who had hardly troubled the 'keeper until that point.

Cleverley said: "It's something we have not shown much of is defensive resilience. I thought the discipline, organisation was fantastic. When we needed to defend our box we did, which is something we have been poor at this year.

"Their clearances, they did it with conviction. I'm really proud of the guys tonight. It has been a difficult, difficult period - and still is - because we have not turned the results around but I see the work going on internally, I now see it coming into fruition externally. In football you need a slice of luck and right now it's definitely not going our way."

Ashby-Hammond returned to Argyle's team against Rovers because Conor Hazard is away on international duty with Northern Ireland for their crunch final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

It was his first appearance since the 1-0 League One defeat by Peterborough United at Home Park on September 20, since when he had been cover on the substitutes' bench instead.

Cleverley said about Ashby-Hammond's costly mistake: "Being a second choice 'keeper is not easy. Around the environment he's a great character, he trains hard, he has got a lot of qualities.

"For 93 minutes he was perfect. He shouldn't feel like he has let anyone down tonight. It's something that's routine for him and unfortunately it has gone in the back of the net. He will expect himself to catch it, he sets good standards."

He added about Argyle's recent performances and results: "We have had a lot of negativity and we have all been going in a downward spiral. I don't think anyone has come out of the five games before tonight with much credit.

"But today I think there is 10-11 players that have plateaued that downward spiral and some certainly have gone in an upward trajectory, and that's the start of recovery from a bad five, six games, but I think there is one that really did have long-lasting effects."

Argyle were without Brendan Wiredu against Rovers because he was on compassionate leave so defender and first-year apprentice Sam Hayman was included among the substitutes.

There was again no place in the matchday squad for former Cardiff City captain and midfielder Joe Ralls, who joined the Pilgrims as a free agent last week on a short-term contract until January, but he is set to make his debut in the next match, the bottom-of-the-table League One clash away to Port Vale on Saturday, November 22.

Cleverley said: "Joe just needs a little bit more time to gain his fitness. We knew that was the case. We would have him for at least 10 games even if his first game is at Port Vale. We weren't expecting to use him for these two (against Huddersfield and Rovers) and now he has got 10 days to get fit."

You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE

A bid to open a hub for veteran's care in Plymouth has been announced.

It is a part of the government's Valour programme, external, run by the Ministry of Defence, which aims to offer "easier access" to health, housing, employment, and welfare services for ex-service personnel.

A Valour centre in Plymouth would aim to do this by "bringing together" local charities, NHS services, housing providers, and employment agencies.

The programme forms part of the government's plan to "renew the nation's contract with those who have served", external and was launched in May, external, backed by £50m of funding.

Applications for regions wanting a Valour centre opened on Tuesday, and will close in January 2026.

The joint bid for the city has been made by Luke Pollard, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, and Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View.

"Plymouth has a proud military heritage and is home to thousands of veterans who deserve the very best support," said Luke Pollard, who is also the Minister for Defence Procurement.

"I'm backing this bid because our city has the expertise, the community spirit, and the infrastructure to deliver a world-class Valour centre.

"This would be a game-changer for local veterans and their families."

Fred Thomas said the Valour programme showed the government honoured "a commitment to veterans".

"It will mean better support, better housing, better healthcare and better jobs for our veterans.

"This government is on the side of veterans and as your MPs, we are too."

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