Family Life

Coping Strategies for Families of Alcoholics

It’s fair to say that alcoholism doesn’t just affect the person that is living with it. While they are, of course, the primary concern and they’re the one that needs help to get their life back on track, it can be a challenging period of time for friends, colleagues and family alike.

For family members in particular seeing a loved one go through addiction can be tough, and it’s important to ensure they get the alcohol help they need. For you, as a family member, it’s also valuable to find methods and strategies to look after yourself and the rest of the family too. So here are...

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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...

Children's author to visit Exeter Library

As part of the Summer Reading Challenge, Exeter Library invites parents and children to meet Emer Stamp, author of sensational children’s book “The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig’ on Wednesday 10th August from 11am – 12noon.

Emer will be talking about creative writing and the main characters from her books as well as holding a 'How to draw' session where children can learn how to draw four of the main characters – not to be missed!

Emer Stamp grew up on a farm in Devon before training in graphic design and becoming the Creative Director for the advertising agency...

Day of play in Teignbridge

Families have the chance to celebrate summer in one of Teignbridge’s parks and nature reserves when National Playday comes up next month.

Some of the district’s best places will be filled with fun and games as part of the event which sees thousands of children and their families get out playing at hundreds of community events across the UK.

As well as a celebration of children's right to play, Playday is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives.

National Playday will be celebrated in Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot, on Wednesday 3 August...

Summer adventures at Knightshayes

As the summer holidays descend upon us, Knightshayes have kicked off the summer with a packed out programme of exciting events. These include the opportunity to climb the biggest Turkey Oak tree in England as well as achieve lots of the activities on the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ list.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the summer holidays, there’ll be plenty of chances to get outdoors and close to nature exploring Knightshayes’ wider woodland and parkland. 2 - 4 August: Plant it, Grow it, Eat it. With a huge, fully productive kitchen garden,...

Summer holiday fun at The Donkey Sanctuary

Come rain or shine, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has plenty of fun-filled events for all the family.

With free admission, free parking, daily activities throughout the holidays and a free Hopper Bus from Sidmouth, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is a great value option this summer. Open from 9am every day, enjoy face painting and animal-themed crafts, such as making a donkey out of modelling clay, and take the whole family on a holiday hunt around the farm.

Get outdoors and meet some of the 500 donkeys who are cared for at the Sidmouth site, including giant Poitou...

Top 20 things to do in Devon this summer

Wondering how you’re going to keep the kids amused during the summer holidays? We've come up with a few suggestions here:

Knights and Dragons Let your little ones run loose at Powderham Castle’s Knights and Dragons magical trail by Pocketwatch Theatre. The event is running from 24-29 July and is aimed at children aged 5-11. Each session lasts 45-60 minutes. www.powderham.co.uk

Bird spotting Dust your wellies off and join a guided tour with the RSPB bird spotting. The tours are every Saturday, perfect for the little ones to discover different types of bird species. Entry £...

Law firm's favourite Devon days out for under £10!

Staff from a leading South West law firm have complied a list of their favourite family days out for under £10 in Devon. Families who visit all six will receive a cute and cuddly teddy bear, aptly named Tamar. The Summer Passport is part of local law firm Stephens Scown LLP’s Love Where You Live campaign which showcases and celebrates the best things about living in the South West. The Devon attractions and activities on the Summer Passport are: Orange Elephant Icecream, letterboxing on Haytor, Woolacombe beach, Haldon Forest, House of Marbles and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter...

Are you looking after someone else’s child?

Devon County Council is using Private Fostering week, which runs from 4 to 10 July, to encourage people to get in touch if they have made private arrangements to look after someone else’s child, or children, for 28 days or more.

Private Fostering is when a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) is looked after for 28 days or more by someone who is not a close relative, a guardian or person with parental responsibility.

A close relative includes parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

This can include arrangements...

South West urged to face freezer fears

Research released as part of Food Safety Week 4-10 July has shown 64 percent of people in the South West have unnecessarily thrown food away in the past month.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) are urging the public in the South West to face their “freezer fear” to tackle the issue of food waste.

FSA’s research showed that 33 percent of people interviewed said it is dangerous to freeze cooked meat, and 41 percent believe food becomes unsafe to eat while in the freezer.

The most common reason that was found for throwing away food was that if it is past it’s ‘use by’...

Family Life

Coping Strategies for Families of Alcoholics

East Devon’s play day a big hit!

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

Children's author to visit Exeter Library

Day of play in Teignbridge

Summer adventures at Knightshayes

Summer holiday fun at The Donkey Sanctuary

Top 20 things to do in Devon this summer

Law firm's favourite Devon days out for under £10!

Are you looking after someone else’s child?

South West urged to face freezer fears

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