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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...

Charity ambassadors come together for first time with an official tour

Broadcaster Judi Spiers, two-star Michelin Chef Michael Caines MBE and Business Consultant Chris Lorimer were welcomed by staff at WESC Foundation, a school and college for young people and adults with visual impairment. The three newly appointed Ambassadors for WESC Foundation came together for the first time, with an official tour of the charity’s facilities to learn more about the services...

Local disabled actors star in training video for fundraisers

A new interactive video featuring local actors with disabilities reveals what it can feel like for vulnerable people when a charity fundraiser knocks on the door.

It’s been created by Plymouth-based elearning company, Sponge UK as part of an online training programme for The Public Fundraising Association (PFRA), the membership body for charities and agencies carrying out face-to-face...

Call for entries for SW Built Environment Awards 2016

The South West Built Environment Awards is to take place for the 9th year running on Friday 20th May 2016. In the form of a high-profile dinner, the evening will serve as an opportunity for your achievements and projects to be applauded alongside the best in the region.

More than 450 leaders and innovators from across the construction sector will gather at the Bristol Marriott Hotel...

Primary teacher's app aims to enhance children's reading skills

A primary school teacher and Plymouth University graduate has created a new app designed to improve children’s reading skills through interactive gaming.

Fonics, created by Sophie Cooper, is designed for three to six-year-olds and uses games as a means to teach basic language skills.

She believes it can be a valuable resource for teachers and students, but also enable parents...

Free online depression therapy in Devon

In January, the most depressing month of the year, researchers are urging people to take up free therapy courses in a bid to help them find a definitive answer to what works best in online treatment for depression.

It has long been known that online cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective in treating depression – but scientists do not know which aspects work best. Now...

Funds to improve 'unacceptable' 101 service

Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner is ring fencing up to £250,000 for the Chief Constable to make immediate improvements to the 101 non emergency phone line.

The commitment comes as Tony Hogg publishes phase two of his office’s ongoing review into the 101 service, a report which also assesses the force’s progress against the initial findings from a year ago.

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...

Half of adults in SW never speak to loved ones about family medical history

Almost half of adults in the South West are shying away from potentially life saving conversations with their loved ones about health conditions that run in the family, according to new statistics released ahead of the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Wear It Beat It campaign to get the nation wearing red to fight heart disease on Friday 5th February.

Having a family history of...

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