Family Life

Donation of toys and gifts helps to put smiles on faces

Children staying on Derriford Hospital wards have even more toys and games to play with, thanks to a generous donation from customers and staff at Mecca Bingo.

Today, representatives from Mecca Bingo in Devonport, Tracey Davies and Chloe Robbins, came up to the hospital’s Activity Centre on level 12, with the large donation of toys, teddies and books for all ages. The brand new gifts...

Track Father Christmas

Any parent who has ever been asked the question ' But how does Father christmas deliver all the presents in one night?' needs to visit http://www.noradsanta.org

This fantastic website allows its users to ' track' where Father Christmas is currently flying with his reindeer.

At 13.50 today St Nicholas had just visited Tokyo, with his next stop being Kyto.

The man in red...

Owners to spend £300 million pampering their pets this Christmas

Animal lovers are expected to spend about £300 million pounds pampering their pets this Christmas a survey by the RSPCA has revealed.

Nine out of ten owners (91%) are buying their pet a present this year with almost a fifth (18%) admitting they will be spending more on their pet than their mother-in-law.

An RSPCA poll of almost 900 pet owners revealed most (54%) will be...

Don’t miss out on the Pupil Premium!

That’s the message to parents or guardians if their adopted child was formally a ‘looked after child’ and adopted on or after 30 December 2005.

From April 2014, schools will be able to claim the Pupil Premium for children adopted from care, or who left care under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) on or after 30 December 2005. Schools can also claim the Pupil Premium for children who...

Improved support for vulnerable young parents

Vulnerable young parents in Plymouth are to get more support from an improved accommodation service funded by Plymouth City Council.

It will offer 16 to 25 year old parents with babies a safe environment and help them learn how to live independently.

Cabinet member for Public Health and Adult Social Care Councillor Sue McDonald approved the contract award to Westward Housing...

Panto brings festive cheer to children’s wards... Oh yes it did!

There were smiles on faces and lots of laughter on our children’s wards today, thanks to Starlight’s Christmas Panto.

Children, relatives and staff were treated to a performance of Sleeping Beauty by the interactive theatre group, The Panto Company, as part of an eight week tour of the country’s hospitals and hospices.

The pantomime was staged in the Activity Centre on level 12...

Royal William Yard is supporting Plymouth Food Bank this Christmas

Plymouth Food Bank is once again appealing for food donations this winter to help those most in need.

The charity provides help for local individuals and families in crisis, who may not be able to support themselves or their family with the bare essentials such as food. The Royal William Yard will be supporting this food drive and welcomes the Food Bank to collect food donations...

Devon Charities launch Surviving Winter Appeal

As forecasters predict a freezing cold winter ahead two Devon charities have linked together to help those most in need.

Hundreds of people across the county are faced with hardship and unable to heat their own homes – but the charities are offering a lifeline and they need support from local people.

The Surviving Winter Appeal, which has been launched by Devon Community...

Young people can be fostered for longer

The government has announced that children in care will be able to stay with foster families until they turn 21.

Young people in care will still be able stay with foster families after they turn 18, following a new legal duty for councils to provide support.

£40 million over the next three years has been set aside to help local authorities provide the required financial support...

Changes to opening hours at Plymouth libraries

Plymouth City Council is revising opening hours at its libraries to make them more consistent and better meet customer demand.

The improvements form part of the Council’s library service modernisation plans and follow public consultation carried out last year.

The new timetables will start on Thursday 2 January and will mean the city’s 17 libraries are open an extra 11 hours...

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