Family Life

Your Guide to Bringing the Sparkle to Memorable Family Gatherings

Family gatherings are an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and create memories with loved ones. From casual weekends to festive holidays, bringing a little extra sparkle to your event can make it truly unforgettable. Here’s a guide to help you add that special touch, ensuring your family and friends enjoy a gathering filled with warmth, laughter, and joy.

  1. Set the Scene with Thoughtful Decor

An inviting atmosphere can set the tone for your gathering, making guests feel welcomed and relaxed. Try stringing fairy lights around the room or garden, setting up...

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Ellie Green

Ellie Green

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Go batty at The Donkey Sanctuary this summer 

The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth will host East Devon’s new travelling creative space – the Creative Cabin on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 August, offering visitors free hands-on activities and the chance to learn all about one of the UK's rarest bats - the grey long-eared-bat.

Activities at the 'Completely Batty' event include making flying bat models and bat masks, as well as putting together wildflower ‘seed bombs’, to create wildflower gardens at home.

Visitors will also be able to join a Bat Discovery trail around the sanctuary with the charity’s Ecology and Conservation...

How to make raising a large family easier

Raising a large family can be difficult, especially when you are trying to juggle the needs and schedules of multiple people at once. Then, to make sure that you can make raising a large family easier and improve your family life, here is a selection of some of the best top tips for large families.

  • Invest in a Large, Reliable Car

When you have a large family, one of the most important necessities that you should have is a large and reliable car. Not only will a spacious car ensure that you can go on family day trips and even the school run without a problem...

How to Get Your Dream Family Life on a Budget

Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Wed, 07/07/2021 - 6:33am

Sometimes, it can seem impossible to get the life you have always dreamed of for your family, especially if you have financial worries. However, it is possible to give your family the wonderful life they deserve no matter how much money you have. Then, here are some top tips that can allow your family to get their dream life on a budget.

Invest in a Used Car

When you imagined having a family of your own, along with the perfect home, you might also have dreamed about the perfect car. Although you might not believe that a vehicle can be essential to your family’s happiness, getting...

How are people in the South West celebrating Father’s Day 2021?

Authored by karl_young
Posted: Fri, 06/04/2021 - 8:27am

Father’s Day is on the horizon and, for those in the UK, it just so happens to fall on the 20th of June –the day before all lockdown restrictions are set to ease on the 21st.

So, how is this affecting plans for Father’s Day for those living in the South West? A survey carried out by gifting retailer Find Me a Gift set out to find out just that, speaking to people across the UK about how they’re spending Father’s Day in the times of COVID.

How do people in the South West feel about Father’s Day?

The survey found that almost a quarter (24%) of people in the South West are...

Emergency foster carers needed for Devon’s most vulnerable children

Emergency foster carers needed for Devon’s most vulnerable children

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 05/20/2021 - 5:32pm

Devon County Council’s fostering service, Fostering Devon, is calling for people to consider offering emergency foster care to vulnerable children.

The new ‘Emergency Bed Scheme’ provides rapid support for children and young people, aged between 0 and 18 years old, who are unable to remain living in their current home and need an immediate place of safety at a time of crisis.

Foster carers providing emergency placements must have no other children at home so that they can accept any child or young person that needs a bed for up to seven nights.

The scheme is run...

young family eating out

Top tips for eating out with kids

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Thu, 05/20/2021 - 12:01pm

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...

Foster carers needed to stem the current shortfall across Exeter

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...

What about children in Devon's separated families who want to hug BOTH their parents? 

What about children in Devon's separated families who want to hug BOTH their parents? 

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 05/17/2021 - 11:20pm
Free one hour co-parenting Zoom support meeting

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.

“Now is the time to rebuild co-...

Birthday planning tips for your little princess

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Fri, 04/30/2021 - 8:49am

Are you nervous about planning the upcoming birthday party for your little princess? Or maybe you have no idea how to start.

We feel you.

Planning any party can often be daunting. No wonder we always tend to feel overwhelmed while attempting to organise a "perfect party".

If your princess is under ten years or less, you have the extra burden of planning a safe, happy and successful party for young children guests who may be cranky or just plain unruly. Many questions will arise like:

  • Will you have enough food?
  • How will you keep track of
    • ...

Devon adoption agencies need families for brothers and sisters who need to stay together

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,...

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