We know that you're keen to recycle more from your home. That's why in Spring 2021, we will be introducing an all new 'Super Recycler' service, so that every household can recycle more, including glass and a wider range of plastics, to the list of items collected at the kerbside.

To get ready for the new service, new collection routes will start in a few weeks' time, from 5 October 2020. 

This means that your collection day might change, along with two thirds of other South Hams' residents. All homes changing collection dates should already have received a letter this week, informing them of their new collection day.

Homes not affected by the day change may notice that the time of day their collection is completed may change, so please make sure collections are ready at the kerbside by 7 a.m. on collection day.

Find out more about the changes here.

Recycling more and throwing away less reduces the impact on the environment because less energy is used producing new materials and we can make the best use of our resources.

Last year, we joined many other councils and Central Government, in declaring a climate change and biodiversity emergency.  While tackling the global issues seems an overwhelming task, recycling is one of the easiest way for every household to do their bit.

Next Monday kicks off national Recycle Week 2020, and we would like to thank all our residents for increasing your recycling even through these recent difficult times. 

We are appealing to parents and families of our younger residents, who are late teens and early twenties, to help us to remind them of how important it is to follow the Covid-19 guidance - Hands, Face, Space.

This follows a rise in cases in younger adults which may spread into the community and put older relatives at risk. With your help, we can make sure that everybody follows these important but simple rules:

• Hands. Wash your hands, regularly and for 20 seconds.
• Face. Wear a face covering over your mouth and nose if you are in an enclosed space and in close contact with people you don’t normally meet.
• Space. Always stay 2 metres away from people you don’t live with. Or 1 metre with extra precautions, like extra ventilation, screens or face coverings.

And of course, if you have Covid symptoms, get a test and self-isolate for ten days to protect others.

To make Covid restrictions easier to understand and to keep control of the virus, the government is using new restrictions for how many people we can legally meet.

Remember, you can now only socialise in groups of up to 6, both indoors and outdoors, with people you don't live with.

You can find more guidance on meeting others safely here. 

The rule does not apply to schools and workplaces, people living together or in the same support bubble, or to weddings, funerals and organised team sports. 

Across the South Hams, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas are being told to have NHS QR code posters displayed on entry to their businesses by 24 September so customers can use their smartphones to easily check-in.

The move comes ahead of a national launch of the NHS COVID-19 app across England and Wales on Thursday 24 September.

The government will be supporting businesses and venues to display the QR codes, which can be downloaded via a website to display as posters in premises.

Following the launch of the new app, customers and visitors will be able to check-in on entry with their phone instead of filling out a check-in book specific to a business. This will allow NHS Test and Trace to contact customers with public health advice should there be a COVID-19 outbreak.

If you're planning to leave the beautiful South Hams and travel abroad for a late summer break, then you'll need to be up-to-date on the latest travel advice.

This advice can include the need to self-isolate, quarantine or undergo testing for coronavirus, or even restrictions on entry to a country.

Before and while you are travelling, check:

• FCDO coronavirus advice
• FCDO travel advice for the countries you are travelling to

Please remember to make sure you have appropriate travel insurance in case you have unexpected costs. You don't want to get stuck abroad with invalid insurance.

Have you applied for Kickstart funding yet? Kickstart is a scheme to help get young people into work and to help revive Britain’s economy.

Businesses can sign up to the Kickstart scheme, giving unemployed young people, aged 16-24, the opportunity to work through government-subsidised jobs.

You can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The government will fully fund each 'Kickstart' job - paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

You must make sure the roles are eligible for the scheme before submitting your application online.

You can find out more about the scheme, and how to apply, here.

The first Great British Week of Sport runs from Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 September and will inspire the nation to celebrate the power that sport and activity has on our mental, physical and social well-being.

The Great British Week of Sport runs in partnership with the European Week of Sport, showcasing the benefits of an active lifestyle across the continent. During the week we will align each day to a specific theme, to ensure a wide reach of the #BeActive message and the opportunity for a greater variety of people to take part – the week is for everyone, regardless of age, background or fitness level.

Find out more here.