Family Life

Play for free in Princesshay this summer

Princesshay has unveiled its line-up of summer activities, including PrincessPlay; a free playground, alongside the return of its Independent Market, street food traders and live music for visitors to enjoy in the heart of Exeter.

The start of the school holidays will see the main square transformed into PrincessPlay an all age playground and pitstop with grass and seating to create a place where people can stop, relax and spend time together while enjoying a range of free activities including table tennis, mini golf, giant chess, hopscotch, snakes and ladders and climbing...

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South West families to lose £3,000 a year as tax cuts bite, says TUC

Families will be more than £3,000 a year worse off by 2015 as a result of tax credit cuts, says the South West TUC.

With many tax credit changes that could leave families thousands of pounds out of pocket taking effect from today, the South West TUC has updated its tax credit calculator to help parents find out how they will be affected by the government’s recent changes.

The tax credit calculator – available on the TUC touchstone blog – allows working parents currently in receipt of tax credits to add their household details, such as income level and number of children,...

Plans to speed up adoption set out by councils

Children in care would be found a home with adoptive parents more quickly under new plans to reform the adoption system.

In a joint submission to Government, councillors, chief executives and directors of children's services have set out proposals to significantly increase the number of adopters recruited and speed up the process of finding new homes for children in care.

Under the reforms, councils would work more closely together to help match suitable adopters with children in other parts of the country.

Targeted support work would focus on speeding up the...

Meditation technique enhances children’s mental health

Teachers in schools across the globe are turning to a new philosophy to help improve the behaviour and well-being of students. Mindfulness, a form of meditation, has been shown to help with a wide range of mental health conditions and improve well-being in adults. However, few trials have evaluated its effectiveness in children.

Professor Willem Kuyken from the Mood Disorders Centre at the University of Exeter is presenting new research findings from a feasibility trial which show how the mindfulness technique is also effective in improving well-being in young people. Speaking at...

Stay-at-home mothers are being unfairly penalised, says the Bishop of Exeter

In the latest of a series of articles in The Telegraph newspaper looking into the Coalition Government's taxation policies affecting families, the Rt Rev Michael Langrish has said that "Mothers who choose to stay at home to care for their children are being unfairly penalised by a Government that has failed to reward their role at the heart of society."

The Bishop has also said that his views represent those of a number of bishops who are concerned by the Government’s apparent lack of support for family life.

Picking up on a speech made by the Bishop of Exeter in the House...

Kids get to explore Devon’s wilder side

A leading Devon charity is offering local children the chance to become the next Chris Packham or Kate Humble. This summer Devon Wildlife Trust is running two weeks of wildlife Discovery Days where kids will learn the skills that will help them become top nature sleuths.

Bookings are being taken now for Discovery Days which will take place at two of the Trust’s wonderful Devon venues. At Wembury Marine Centre, children aged 8 to 11 can book for a week of marine-focussed fun. The event takes place 8.30am-4pm between Monday 5 and Friday 9 August. While at Woodah Farm, near...

Fun for all the family throughout the Easter holiday

You'll find something to keep the whole family amused in our round-up of events taking place over the Easter holiday:

Killerton Estate, Broadclyst

28 March-15 April: Easter egg trails - Follow the Easter egg trail around the garden and claim your chocolate prize, 11am-4pm daily. £2 per child includes a chocolate egg.

29 March: Burrow Farm on the Killerton Estate is celebrating the launch of their farm shop’s new range of products by holding a family fun day. This free event will be open from 10am till 3pm and there will be something for everyone including a...

Make homes for bees at the Wetlands this Easter

A special workshop at Axe Estuary Wetlands is giving people the opportunity to help protect and conserve Britain's bee population this Easter.

Making Homes for Bees will see East Devon's Countryside team work with participants to construct bee houses for their gardens. It takes pace on Wednesday 3 April from 10am-1pm at Axe Estuary Wetlands in Seaton.

Ghislaine Silvers from East Devon District Council's Countryside team said: "The most important thing that bees do is pollinate – this is necessary for plants to reproduce. Plants are vital to our lives – for clean air, food,...

Cracking football fun for children this Easter

With Easter coming at the very start of the holidays, parents will be keen to encourage the kids to get out from underneath a pile of chocolate eggs and take some exercise afterwards, so Exeter City’s Football in the Community Charitable Trust’s events are a great way for them to let off steam as well as have fun.

Due to local demand, there will be a new event in Dawlish, on 8 and 9 April, as well as a return to North Tawton and Cullompton, both on Friday 12 April. There will also be four different events in Exeter, plus roadshows in Exmouth, Sidmouth, Crediton, Tiverton, Honiton,...

Second chance for kids to show their ‘quick feet’ and win a Season Ticket!

On Saturday 9 March, Exeter City’s Football in the Community (FITC) team held a ‘Quick Feet’ skills competition in Princesshay for kids to win a Season Ticket – and following on from the success of the afternoon, FITC are returning once again on Saturday 23 March!

Once again, pop down to Bedford Square between 11am and 3pm and show that you’ve picked up the moves from the pros – and the highest scoring under-12 on the day will win a child’s Season Ticket in the Stagecoach Family Stand for the 2013/14 season. There are also special offers available on the day for all season ticket...

Special Olympic Club launches this week

A new Special Olympics club in Exeter will celebrate gaining full accreditation from Special Olympics GB in an official opening this week.

Bob Billson from Special Olympics GB (a provider of year-round sports training and competition programmes for children and adults with intellectual (learning) disabilities) will make the presentation to Special Olympics Exeter & District Club at 7pm at The Stansfield Centre on Falcon Road.

The club has been running activity sessions for young people with disabilities since January and caters for the community of Exeter and its...

Family Life

Play for free in Princesshay this summer

South West families to lose £3,000 a year as tax cuts bite, says TUC

Plans to speed up adoption set out by councils

Meditation technique enhances children’s mental health

Stay-at-home mothers are being unfairly penalised, says the Bishop of Exeter

Kids get to explore Devon’s wilder side

Fun for all the family throughout the Easter holiday

Make homes for bees at the Wetlands this Easter

Cracking football fun for children this Easter

Second chance for kids to show their ‘quick feet’ and win a Season Ticket!

Special Olympic Club launches this week

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