children

Separating, divorcing? Get a fresh start to 2020 with the right legal help

Separating, divorcing? Get a fresh start to 2020 with the right legal help

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Mon, 01/27/2020 - 11:50am

PARENTS who are separating or divorcing but are struggling to make arrangements to see their children are invited to get in touch with a new legal practice this month (January 2020).

Children in the Middle is the only legal practice in England and Wales specialising solely in giving parents direct access to barristers to represent them in court, and outside.

Family barrister and co-founder, along with fellow Exeter barrister Sarah Evans, of Children in the Middle, Elizabeth McCallum explains: “If you are in a situation where you’re finding it difficult to agree with your...

The top biggest parenting trends for 2020 and the top five worries mums and dads have about their children

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Sun, 01/12/2020 - 9:17pm

The UK’s leading online platform for parents and childcarers has revealed the top parenting trends for 2020, along with the biggest worries for UK parents going into the new year.

A survey of more than 5,000 parents and guardians of 0 to 16 year-olds has found that limitations on children’s social media use and screen time is the biggest trend for 2020, followed by dismantling gender norms, and plant-based diets. The anti-vaccination movement has been revealed as the biggest worry among parents.

A survey of more than 5,000 parents and guardians of children aged 0 to 16 has...

Avoid flu – book your child’s vaccination appointment

Amid warnings that new cases of flu could peak over the busy Christmas period, the parents of a nine-year-old boy from Devon who died from the illness in January last year, are calling on parents to vaccinate their children.

The request follows the release of data from Public Health England (PHE), showing that GP consultations across the country for Influenza-like illness have risen in the last few weeks.

In Devon, community clinics are being scheduled for school age children, who missed their initial school appointment for a nasal flu spray. Parents who would like to book...

Childline prepares to support children during their darkest hours at Christmas

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 12/19/2019 - 12:31pm

Childline volunteers are preparing to work day and night over the festive period to help young people from the South West who are struggling to cope with serious mental health problems.

In 2018/19 the NSPCC service delivered 7,157 counselling sessions across the 12-day period over Christmas and New Year – with almost 900 of those sessions happening between midnight and 7am.

More than half of those seeking support through the night across the festive period were struggling with mental health issues, self-harm and in the worst cases, suicidal thoughts and feelings.

In...

No ‘Holly, Jolly Christmas’ for parents separated from children

No ‘Holly, Jolly Christmas’ for parents separated from children

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Mon, 12/16/2019 - 4:25pm

AS THE famous festive song crooned by Andy Williams proclaims ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ but not for all families says a unique legal service (December 2019).

Children in the Middle warns of Christmas heartache for estranged parents and asks others to spare a thought for those who are prevented from seeing their children this yuletide.

Family barrister, Elizabeth McCallum, who co-founded the legal service with her fellow Exeter barrister Sarah Evans, says: “It’s important to remember that not everyone will be having such a ‘Holly, Jolly Christmas’ this year...

Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister and co-founder of Children in the Middle.

Barristers warn parents not to fall into the parental alienation trap

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Wed, 12/11/2019 - 4:24pm

A UNIQUE legal service giving separating or divorcing parents direct access to barristers says it wishes to raise awareness of parental alienation before cases reach the courtroom.

Children in the Middle says it wants to highlight the issue to ensure parents are aware of it and catch it in its early stages, so children aren’t fully alienated.

Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister and co-founder of Children in the Middle, along with fellow Exeter barrister Sarah Evans, explained: “Parental alienation is when, following divorce or separation, a child, for no good...

Record number of schools legging it to Lapland to reduce carbon and congestion

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 11/25/2019 - 11:02am

A record number of schools across Devon are taking part in this year’s Leg it to Lapland challenge.

Starting on Monday (25 November), over 5,000 children from 20 primary schools in the county will be collecting ‘leg miles’ for every human powered journey they make to and from school, in a bid to be the first to travel 2,100 miles - the equivalent distance from Devon to Lapland. Walking, cycling and scooting all count towards the goal.

The challenge aims to decrease the number of cars used on the school run and is organised by Sustrans – the charity making it easier to walk...

Co-founder of Children in the Middle, Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister, with fellow barrister and the legal practice’s other co-founder Sarah Evans.

New legal service launches to give parents direct access to barristers

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Tue, 10/15/2019 - 9:53am

A NEW legal service has launched giving separating or divorcing parents wishing to make arrangements to see their children direct access to barristers to represent them in and outside of court.

The recently formed Children in the Middle is the only practice solely specialising in this line of work nationally in the UK.

Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister and co-founder of Children in the Middle, along with fellow barrister Sarah Evans, explained: “We’re a unique legal practice offering parents direct access to barristers to advise and represent them when making...

Two adults and two children run through trees in the dark

Shaun the Sheep is on the run this Halloween at Haldon Forest Park

Join Haldon Forest Park this Halloween for a Shaun the Sheep Farmageddon Glow Run !

To celebrate Aardman’s new film A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, in cinemas 18 October, Shaun the Sheep welcomes all the family to enjoy this spooktacular 3km glow run on 30 October.

The route through the trees is lit up with fantastic colour and characters from the film are there to guide your way... but beware the Hazmats! Runners each receive a pair of Shaun the Sheep ears to decorate with UV paint to really make you glow before you venture into the forest.

Music and chat...

CLIC for Christmas 2019

Event Date: 
14/12/2019 - 7:30pm
Venue: 
Exeter Cathedral

This is our fifth annual CLIC for Christmas concert raising funds for CLIC Sargent. Once again, we will be hosting a celebration of Christmas in the beautiful Exeter Cathedral and will be joined by one of the winners of our Devon Schools Choir Competition, Exmouth Community College. In addition we are again thrilled to be welcoming the CLIC Sargent singers, a group of exceptionally talented young people who have all benefitted from the support of CLIC Sargent and will be sharing their stories with us as well as their beautiful music. Come along and get your Christmas off to a magical start...

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