Family Life

Children say foster parents are their 'rock' as agency is Ofsted Outstanding

A fostering agency where ‘children do exceptionally well’ has received an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating following its latest inspection in February 2026.

Foster parents at Foster Care Associates (FCA) South Western, in Exeter were praised for being ‘fierce advocates’ for children in their care and for ensuring children’s stability in their homes.

The report highlighted the agency’s therapist who supports foster parents, staff and children and young people, describing their input as ‘invaluable in helping them develop practical, bespoke strategies that make a positive...

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Risky play in a safe world at Knightshayes

A new children’s play area at Knightshayes Court will be officially opened on Saturday 22 October in time for half-term.

Injecting new life into four fallen oak trees, the installation includes a tree house as well as tunnels bored into the trunks of the huge trees.

For 150 years, the cluster of fast-growing turkey oaks towered over the gentle, rolling landscape at Knightshayes; until the high winds of winter 2014 resulted in all four blowing over. Three came down in just one night, casualties of a storm which caused over 100 trees to fall across the estate, the greatest...

Spooky fun at The Donkey Sanctuary

This October half term there will be plenty of spooky goings-on at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth. With holiday hunts, pumpkin carving and plenty of family fun there is sure to be something for everyone.

Visitors to the Sanctuary during this half term (Monday 24 October – Sunday 30 October) can expect a range of spooktacular events, ready to get them in the trick-or-treating spirit.

The Donkey Sanctuary have organised family friendly activities from a Halloween holiday hunt, to face painting and pumpkin carving!

- Fun Halloween holiday hunt:

22 October -...

Will Aid open for business in Devon

A will-writing campaign that helps people to get their paperwork in order and raises money for charity is open for business.

Will Aid Month starts in November and lasts for just four weeks, linking people with participating solicitors in their area who prepare basic wills in exchange for a donation.

But there is a limit on available appointments which are expected to book up fast.

Campaign director Peter de Vena Franks said: “Will Aid is now open for business. You can make a November appointment right now and we suggest you do it as soon as possible to avoid...

Could you parent a vulnerable child?

National Adoption Week 2016 kicks off on Monday 17 October with this year’s South West campaign focusing on the needs of individual children currently waiting to be adopted. Adopt South West is highlighting the fact that there are children waiting to be adopted in Devon and Somerset, and all partner agencies are looking to assess potential adopters now.

Due to changes in court practices at the start of 2016 we saw a national decline in the number of children in care who had adoption as their plan.

The effects of this have been felt nationally and both local authorities and...

Could you give the gift of life?

Blood cancer charity DKMS is urging people from Devon to register as potential blood stem cell donors this month to help save the lives of blood cancer patients. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and DKMS wants to highlight that many blood cancer patients needing a blood stem cell donation for their survival never find a perfectly matching donor. DKMS says that the chances of finding a match could increase if more people registered as potential blood stem cell donors.

For many blood cancer patients, a blood stem cell donation is their only chance of survival. Sadly, many...

Divorce set to peak after summer holidays

Leading divorce lawyer highlights financial pitfalls of DIY divorces With divorces set to peak after the summer holidays, one of the South West’s leading divorce lawyers is highlighting the financial pitfalls of DIY divorces. Top divorce lawyer Liz Allen, head of the family law team at Stephens Scown LLP explains: “The end of the summer holidays, along with early January, are the two times of year when divorces traditionally increase. Financial worries and spending more time together as a couple can often bring issues to a head and lead to relationship breakdowns.” With legal aid no longer...

Cycling initiative encourages active mums

A BIG Active Mums Celebratory ride will join Buckland Fun Day at Sandringham Park, Newton Abbot on Saturday 27 August where taster sessions will be offered to the local community and mums, with the opportunity to have a go on bikes and trailers throughout the afternoon.

The community fun day will allow mums to chat in a relaxed and friendly environment while learning all about the benefits of cycling with a baby or toddler and the support available to them.

Since 2013, the Active Mums rides have been taking place every week with qualified ride leaders taking out local mums...

Cinema one of the most popular activities for SW families

Ahead of all the great family films coming to screens this summer, Vue Entertainment asked the public about their perfect day out with the family.

Unsurprisingly some of the nation’s favourite activities include a day at the beach and the park with their loved ones.

However, 60% of parents in the South West would choose a trip to the cinema with their family over going to the zoo, swimming pool or a theme park - beating the national average. Furthermore when parents in Bristol were asked who they like to visit the cinema with, it was their children who came out on top at 42...

East Devon’s play day a big hit!

A playday event run by East Devon’s StreetScene team in Exmouth’s Phear Park in support of National Playday, has proved immensely popular with the local community.

The council-run playday, which took place on August 3, received plenty of support from a number of East Devon services, including the Recycling and Waste team, as well as local organisations such as Exmouth and District Children’s Centre, Exmouth in Bloom and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

On National Playday thousands of children and their families get out to play at hundreds of community events...

Over a third of people in SW ‘forget’ to say goodbye to loved ones

New statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reveal that almost three-fifths of people in the South West (59%) don’t tell their partners they love them before leaving the house each morning and nearly a fifth (19%) don’t usually kiss our loved ones goodbye. The BHF commissioned a survey of 2,000 UK adults to highlight the sudden devastation of heart disease and how the BHF’s life saving research is bringing hope to the 668,900 people in the South West living with these conditions. Over a third of people in the South West claimed that they simply forgot to say goodbye to their...

Family Life

Children say foster parents are their 'rock' as agency is Ofsted Outstanding

Risky play in a safe world at Knightshayes

Spooky fun at The Donkey Sanctuary

Will Aid open for business in Devon

Could you parent a vulnerable child?

Could you give the gift of life?

Divorce set to peak after summer holidays

Cycling initiative encourages active mums

Cinema one of the most popular activities for SW families

East Devon’s play day a big hit!

Over a third of people in SW ‘forget’ to say goodbye to loved ones

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