LGBT+ people across the South West are being urged to explore adoption as a potential parenting route as a part of a national campaign launching today (7 March).
With over 80,000 children in care in 2021 in England alone, LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week brings together local adoption agencies and potential new LGBT+ adoptive families. The campaign is led by LGBT+ focused agency New Family Social, with support from local adoption charity Families for Children. #BeTheChange – the theme for 2022 – asks LGBT+ people to think about the range of vulnerable children they could...
Devon County Council has produced three animations using the real voices of young people who now live in foster care.
It's the first time real voices of fostered teens have been used to help promote their fostering service.
The council hopes it will prompt people who have thought about becoming foster parents to come forward to help fill a shortfall, and encourage others to consider it.
The digital campaign features three incredible young people - Bobby, Rosie and Phill.
Local charities in Devon helped Aldi donate 14,546 meals to people in need over the summer school holidays.
The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and foodbanks to donate surplus food, with the majority of meals going to causes supporting families and children.
The donation is part of Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, in partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.
So far this year, Aldi stores across the UK have already donated over six million meals to good causes.
Devon’s health visiting teams will be handing out free magnetic notepads carrying safety advice this September to help families ensure that young children and toddlers are kept safe in the home.
The notepads feature key safety advice and will serve as a helpful reminder to thousands of busy families.
The notepads are part of the ‘Take Action Today, Put Them Away’ campaign to help protect children from the risks of everyday household cleaning products.
In Devon accidental poisonings accounted for 185 emergency admissions for 0 – four-year-olds between 2016/17-...
I don't know about you, but I am so excited about being able to go to restaurants again! The great British weather isn't really made for eating outdoors, so having the luxury of knowing we can definitely eat indoors is going to be bliss!
Even though we are all pretty excited, the thought of eating out with kids can fill some people with fear! Especially after all of the lockdowns, where some of our children's manners or eating habits may have been allowed to slide a little.
I always try to be as prepared as I can to eat out with my littles ones, so today I thought I...
A fostering organisation and social enterprise is encouraging more people to think about offering safe and loving homes to vulnerable children and young people as new figures suggest people across the South West of England are unaware of the true number of children and young people referred to social services.
This comes as the country gears up for Foster Care Fortnight, an annual campaign that raises the profile of fostering which runs from Monday 10th – Sunday May 23rd.
A report commissioned by Five Rivers Child Care , an independent fostering organisation and social...
As hugs return to our lives, a leading national charity whose HQ is in Exeter is urging separated families across Devon to ensure the children get the chance to hug both their parents.
For over a year, separated families have adapted parenting arrangements as best they could. Restrictions meant many children didn’t see one of their parents for many months on end, and for some even longer. Temporary arrangements were made, with thousands of children making do with using video conference apps.
Just under half of children waiting for adoption are in family groups of two or more with 20 groups waiting in Devon
Latest figures show there are currently 2,020 children waiting to be adopted in England and, of those, 44% are in family groups of two or more. Groups of children wait an average of 17 months to be adopted, which is 36% longer (135 days more) than individual children. More than half of these groups (56%) even wait more than 18 months for their new family. For many potential adopters, this is due to groups being slightly older and worries about financial affordability,...
Two thousand meal boxes are being delivered to families with young children this Easter holiday in an initiative designed to help those who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Devon County Council initiative, called 'The Goodie Box', sees ingredients and simple recipe ideas delivered to families’ front doors this week.
Included within the Goodie Box are ingredients for families to make:
Sweet potato curry
Super cheesy macaroni (vegan alternative - Taste of the Mediterranean pasta)
An incredible 12,000 young Devonians and their families are taking part in a lockdown skipping challenge to keep active and healthy.
Devon School Games Organisers, working with Active Devon, have been stunned by the number of participants taking part and inundated with requests for free skipping ropes. Nearly 7,000 were sent out as part of the National School Games programme.
The event runs throughout the Spring term and offers young people and families the opportunity to compete against themselves and others whilst maintaining social distancing.
