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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Young wallaby rescued by Devon’s Crealy

A young wallaby is being hand reared at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park after falling out of its mothers pouch during bad weather two weeks ago.

The young female Joey, who was born within the wallaby enclosure at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park, was only twenty two weeks old when she was separated from her mother.

The young wallaby, which is yet to be named, was found in the enclosure shelter by Animal Kingdom Manager Kate Lewis. Kate has been bottle feeding the infant every three hours since finding her and is taking her home each night to ensure she survives the...

Mothers are not always rewarded for helping their child

Parents are leaving themselves open to financial problems by lending their children money without any legal advice according to QualitySolicitors.com. Failed relationships and family fall outs are cited as factors that see many parents lose the money they have given their loved one.

A third (33%) of parents in the South West now see it as their ‘parental duty’ to contribute to their child’s first property purchase, with nearly half (49%) gifting over £10,000 to their child and one in eight (12%) over £50,000, according to new research from QualitySolicitors.

In the process...

Woodland Adventure Club at Haldon Forest Park to hold Easter Holiday Club

Kids bored this Easter holidays? Looking for a holiday club with a twist? Try the Woodland Adventure Club packed with fun and excitement in the woods.

The Club, for 6-13 year olds, enables kids to get up to all sorts, learning woodland skills, getting muddy and making new friends.Woodland Adventure Park is based at a camp deep in the woods at Haldon Forest Park, just 15 minuets from central Exeter. It's run by qualified and experienced staff in a safe and supported environment, enabling the children to play and explore the woods, build dens, light campfires, discover wildlife and...

Pensions wake up call for divorcees

Following a new report exposing the under-use of pension sharing orders in divorces, one of the country’s top family lawyers has issued a warning that divorcees could be missing out on money they are entitled to from their partner’s pension. The new figures show that in 86 per cent of divorces, no pension sharing takes place. This is set to become even more significant given the wholesale pension reform proposed in the Budget.

Pension sharing orders allow pension arrangements on divorce to be divided completely, creating a clean break between the divorcing couple. The first...

Family mediation is about to take off

The Office for National Statistics latest reports showed that there were 118,140 divorces in total in 2012, which is the equivalent to 13 divorces every hour of every day of the year.

The question for every one of these couples and society at large is; How is each couple managing their separation and what effect is all this having on the children.

Most separating couples want to protect their children, avoid court and save costs but struggle to work out their best options, ending up bewildered by all the apparent choices they have and, far too often ending up in court. In a...

New family adventure club coming soon

A Touch of the Wild are going to be running a new family adventure club for just £15 ( for up to five people) from April.

ATOTW, located at Haldon Forest Hill, provides fun and challenging environmental education activities for all ages.

In April they will be running their new family adventure club, which will see its visitors playing games, exploring the woods, tracking wild animals, building dens, lighting campfires and lots more.

Family Adventure Club is a monthly event which takes place at Haldon Forest Park Nr Exeter. Starting on Saturday 5 April 2014 at 10....

Exeter locals love their living rooms

Spending time in the lounge takes the top spot for Exeter homeowners, as they reveal what goes on behind closed doors.

A survey, conducted by One Poll on behalf of David Wilson Homes, which has a number of new developments in Exeter, has given an insight into the living habits of people across the region and which rooms they use most in their homes.

When asked which room they spend the most time in when at home, a whopping 61% of all homeowners said the lounge.

For 18% it was the kitchen, 8% a home office/study, 6% the bedroom, and 4% the garden. The pattern of...

Neighbourhood improvements a community effort

Residents in a DCH housing scheme in Exeter have come together for a ‘community clean up’. Arena Park’s Green Group braved the cold weather to get out on their estate to clean up their local park and hedgerows.

Lesley Browne, Community Development Worker at DCH, said: “Following the recent storms lots of litter has been blown around the estate and the residents wanted to proactively give the area a clean up. All ages came together to help out, DCH provided litter picks, protective gloves and collection bags to support the event.”

“The Green Group at Arena Park are active...

Cycle training for 7,500 Devon schoolchildren

More Devon schoolchildren than ever before will receive Bikeability cycle training in the coming financial year.

Devon County Council has successfully secured £300,000 of funding from the Department for Transport to train around 7,500 schoolchildren in the county.

Bikeability is a national initiative providing “cycling proficiency” for the 21st century which has been adopted by Devon County Council as the cycle training standard in the county.

Around 7,000 Devon pupils have taken part in the training over the past year. Since Devon County Council started delivering...

Buddies offer support for those in recovery

A new project in Exeter has launched 'recovery buddies' – volunteers who are ready to work alongside those recovering from addiction, and provide them with friendship and support.

The buddies are now ready for referrals from a variety of local agencies.

The initiative, formed with Addaction, Devon Drugs Service, Devon Drug and Alcohol Team, Exeter Drug Partnership and other local recovery agencies, includes partnering churches in the city. It was recently awarded a grant from the Office of the Crime and Police Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall to extend its work.

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Family Life

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

Young wallaby rescued by Devon’s Crealy

Mothers are not always rewarded for helping their child

Woodland Adventure Club at Haldon Forest Park to hold Easter Holiday Club

Pensions wake up call for divorcees

Family mediation is about to take off

New family adventure club coming soon

Exeter locals love their living rooms

Neighbourhood improvements a community effort

Cycle training for 7,500 Devon schoolchildren

Buddies offer support for those in recovery

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