East Devon District Council will be re-opening 12 play areas from Monday (13thJuly) following the relaxation of restrictions around the coronavirus lockdown.
The district council manages 71 play areas and eight outdoor gyms which were all closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the coming weeks, the council will assess the remaining 59 play areas and outdoor gym equipment and will phase the re-opening of these sites once safety inspections, risk assessments and mitigation measures have been put in place.
A national research collaboration has been awarded £1.85 million to investigate children’s health and maternal wellbeing.
Researchers from PenARC (NIHR ARC South West Peninsula) based at the University of Exeter Medical School have collaborated with colleagues from ARC Yorkshire and Humber to develop the national research programme.
PenARC is one of the leading Applied Research Centres (ARCs) funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), conducting research to improve the health and needs of patients in the NHS. The new £1.85 million collaboration is...
TWO family law experts have launched a virtual Arbitration Service for divorcing or separating parents to get legally binding decisions potentially remotely about their children rather than going through court.
Founders of the Westcountry legal service, Children in the Middle, family barrister, Elizabeth McCallum and Exeter-based barrister, Sarah Evans, have set-up the service to offer people quick decisions with the same enforceability as a court order.
Elizabeth says: “When there are disputes about children, such as how much time is spent with each parent, what their...
Parents in South West are being offered an online ‘sports day at home’ pack thanks to a leading housebuilder’s partnership with Team GB.
With the current Covid-19 crisis still unfolding, many parents have had to get used to home schooling amid the uncertainty of when their children will return to school.
Now Persimmon Homes South West, thanks to its ongoing partnership with The British Olympic Association, is offering parents the chance to download special sports packs for free and start planning their own sports day at home.
SEPARATING/divorcing parents making arrangements about their children during the lockdown can get direct access to barristers to represent them in and outside court thanks to a unique remote legal service (June 2020).
Westcountry-based Children in the Middle, which is the only practice solely specialising in this work nationally, offers access via online video and voice calls to family barristers who can help.
Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister and co-founder of Children in the Middle, along with fellow Exeter barrister Sarah Evans, explains: “We offer parents,...
A LEGAL service giving separating/divorcing parents direct access to barristers says it’s seeing an increase in emotional abuse during the lockdown and is worried about the damage it’s causing children.
Children in the Middle says it wants to raise awareness of parental alienation to ensure it’s recognised, so youngsters at home under COVID-19 restrictions are less vulnerable to it.
Elizabeth McCallum, who is a family barrister and co-founder of Children in the Middle, along with fellow Exeter barrister Sarah Evans, explained: “If, following divorce or separation, a child,...
Caudwell Children, the national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, has announced that it is to extend its programme of online activity sessions, for disabled children, across the UK.
The 'LifeSkills' programme, open to disabled children and those with additional needs aged 8-18, will be delivered through online video calls, three times a week, and has been designed to encourage children and their families to participate in activities outside a school setting.
“The activity sessions, currently only available in...
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week [w/c 18 May] is kindness. At this time of upheaval where our worlds have been turned upside down, acts of kindness now are more important than ever. Here, former primary school teacher Catherine Lynch of leading education resources and lesson planning experts PlanBee has ten tips for parents to improve the mental health of their children
Create a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and safe
Even during lockdown, we need connection with others so that we feel valued and safe. While the need...
Despite the Coronavirus restrictions, Devon’s schoolchildren will still be able to take part in the popular School Games this year. In fact, it’s ‘virtually’ the same as normal!
Active Devon, working with partners, is launching the ‘Virtual’ games which get underway with a Walk, Jog, Run challenge starting on Monday May 18th. Primary School pupils will have 20, 30 and 40 mile targets, while those in Secondary Schools will aim for 40, 60 and 80 miles. All those taking part will be able to compete at home, in the garden, or by adhering to social distancing rules and using safe open...
