Family Life

Saying Goodbye service in Plymouth

Families from Plymouth, South West Devon and Cornwall who have suffered the pain of baby loss at any stage of pregnancy, birth or in infancyare invited to join a special service on Saturday 30th April 2016 at 7pm at Plymouth Minster.

The International ‘Saying Goodbye’services helpfamilies pay tribute to their lost babies and provide an opportunity for people to say goodbye.

The...

Adopt SW prioritises search for adoptive families

Adopt South West prepares to re-launch its TV campaign this week with emphasis falling on encouraging those who would consider adopting ‘priority’ children to come forward.

The appeal comes as Somerset County Council joins the partnership alongside Barnardo’s, Devon County Council, and Families for Children, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, to promote adoption.

With...

100 foster carers needed in Devon

At least 100 foster carers are urgently needed in Devon to help ensure children receive the best start in life.

Fostering Devon, Devon County Council’s fostering service, has launched a new carer recruitment drive to increase the number of foster carers.

The more carers they have, the better the chances of finding a good match between child and carer, with the right home in the...

Foster carers urgently needed

The Fostering Network have released figures for the number of foster carers needed in 2016: A total of 9070 fostering families are needed throughout the UK, which includes 600 families urgently needed in the South West.

Currently, over 64,000 children live with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK. Foster care provides children with a safe, secure and nurturing family...

SW children glued to their screens

Nearly a quarter of South West parents (23 per cent) struggle to get their children to “unplug” and take part in activities away from television, phone and computer screens, according to a survey published by Action for Children.

When asked which behaviour they found most difficult to control in their children, more South West parents said they struggled to limit technology-based...

Time spent with friends is decreasing

Christmas is typically a time spent with friends and family. However, nearly half of people in the South West (48%) claim to only have 1-3 close friends according to a new survey conducted by crafting company Stampin’ Up! UK.

The survey asked respondents* to state how many close friends they had and whether the frequency with which they meet up with friends increased, decreased or...

Will you know when to stop this Christmas?

The Christmas party season is almost upon us and police are encouraging anyone attending festivities to stay in control and know their limits when it comes to alcohol.

Work parties, festive drinks and family celebrations are all part of the Christmas fun but sadly alcohol-related incidents such as domestic abuse, assault, criminal damage, rape and antisocial behaviour increase during...

Search for medieval beasts at Buckland Abbey

This half-term, the team at Buckland Abbey are challenging visitors to find all the medieval beasts that are hiding around the National Trust estate.

From 24 October to 1 November, sixteen creatures will be mysteriously located around Buckland’s estate. Along the way, a trail booklet will allow visitors to capture what they discover by rubbing each creature onto the pages within. By...

Are children too old for adoption at four?

As part of this year’s National Adoption Week (19 – 25 October) campaign, Adopt South West is asking people to consider adopting an older child as they pose the question “Too old at four?”

Due to the high demand for babies, older children waiting to be adopted are often likely to be over looked as well as those in sibling groups and children with disabilities.

During National...

Would you know signs of child sexual exploitation?

Devon and Cornwall Police has launched a new campaign which aims to raise awareness, among parents, teachers and carers, of the warning signs that a child may be at risk of becoming or is already a victim of child sexual exploitation.

Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse in which a young person is manipulated or forced into taking part in a sexual act, often in return...

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