Work experience students and a flag raising ceremony at Riverbank House

The days are getting longer and signs of spring are appearing everywhere you look. It's amazing to think that we will soon be moving the clocks forward once again.

The past couple of weeks have been busy with many events taking place at the council. Last week, I attended the funeral of one of our fellow councillors, Peter Christie. It was heartening to see a large turnout at the funeral, which truly reflected the kind of person Peter was.

Torridge councillors and officers recently gathered at Riverbank House to raise the Commonwealth Flag. The event was led by Councillor Doug Bushby, chair of the council.

The flag-raising ceremony provided an opportunity to express commitment to shared beliefs in prosperity, democracy, peace, and respect.

This year's theme aligns with Torridge District Council's goal of improving the community through initiatives such as the Levelling Up Programme, which is committed to creating good-quality employment opportunities for future generations.

Last week, the council's HR department organised a week-long work experience program for a group of Year 10 students from Bideford College and Kingsley School.

The program aimed to provide the students with a practical understanding of the inner workings of various council departments, including customer services, property and planning.

The program was designed to be flexible, with students rotating across different departments throughout the week to get a broad range of experiences.

This allowed the students to gain insight into how different departments work together to deliver essential services to the community.

The officers at Torridge had a great time working alongside the students, sharing their professional knowledge and providing them with comprehensive hands-on training in their respective areas. Anyone interested in a work experience placement with the council can apply by emailing the HR department at hr@torridge.gov.uk. We look forward to hearing from you soon!