Friday 9 August 2024
 (L-R) Dr Karen Kenny (University of Exeter), Flo Bessé-Jones (University of Exeter), Teddi (Care Leaver), Ella Baker (participation worker), Ellie (Care Leaver), Robin (Care Leaver).
Devon care leavers are helping the University of Exeter create better support for care experienced students
A group of our care leavers has been working with the University of Exeter to help the University gain a better understanding of life in care.
It follows an independent report last year saying that just 14 per cent of care leavers under the age of 19 progress on to higher education, compared to 47 per cent of all other children.
The overall proportion of care leavers attending Russell Group universities was just 0.4 per cent, the report by the educational charity, Civatas, said.
The University of Exeter wants to be a more accessible place for care experienced young people so that Devon’s care leavers aspire to attend and feel supported in higher education.
So, we invited a group of care leavers to work with the University to highlight the challenges that care experienced people can face, and how best to support them at university.
Over the course of a week, they worked with university staff to develop a better understanding, to identify good practice, and to help bring together a training resource pack for university tutors and recruitment teams.
You can read more about what our care leavers got from the week, and how valuable it was to the University in the story on our news page.
 Spray foam insulation removal scam warning
Trading Standards is warning consumers to be wary of cold callers pressuring them to pay to have spray foam insultation removed – insulation that in many cases was only installed in the last couple of years.
It follows a recent increase in complaints to Trading Standards about the way these products and services are sold.
Last year, the service warned householders that some businesses were aggressively selling spray foam insulation, irrespective of whether it was suitable for the property or not. Customers were pressured into having unnecessary work costing thousands of pounds.
Now, Trading Standards has noticed a steep rise in complaints about cold callers offering to remove the insulation, claiming that it was installed incorrectly and that it will cause problems with insurance, damp, and future house sales.
Sometimes, the company that installed the insulation has stopped trading, and a new company offers to come to the rescue to remove it, for a price. But sometimes, the two companies are the same or have close links and have passed clients' details between them.
Read more about this, and what Trading Standards recommends, in the story on our news page.
We have been awarded almost £200,000 in Government funding to explore new ways of reducing carbon emissions in the county.
The funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero aims to support local authorities in the region to increase the number, scale, and quality of net zero projects in the region.
The funding will be split between two projects: the decarbonisation of an industrial estate, and a solar energy scheme.
Some of the money has been awarded to create an investible decarbonisation plan for the Heathfield industrial estate in Bovey Tracey, in partnership with Teignbridge District Council.
And some of it has been awarded to look into the feasibility of developing solar energy on redundant landfill sites.
You can read the full story on our news page.
We've still got some places left on our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme this summer, and have the extended eligibility criteria.
HAF is a Government-funded programme to provide activities and nutritional meals during the holidays to children aged five to 16 years old who receive benefits-related free school meals.
But because we had places and funding still available, we've extended the criteria to include children in that age group who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children in care or who have been in care, and young carers.
We've heard back from ten parents so far whose children have just attended, and they all rated the scheme as excellent!
From arts and crafts workshops to sports tournaments and outdoor activities, the programme is designed to keep children engaged, active, and well-nourished during the school break. All clubs will be operating for a minimum of four hours and will include a hot meal. We have also increased the number of places for secondary school aged children, with some sessions taking place during the evenings and at weekends.
Simply search for a provider in your area using the interactive map on our website, see what they’re offering, and book a place directly either by using your unique HAF code or by letting them know that you are asking for an extended criteria place.
For more information, visit our website.
 Childcare is expanding!
The Government has said that that from September 2024, you can expect to see an increase in the number of wraparound childcare places available across the country.
What is wraparound childcare?
Wraparound childcare is before and after school childcare, such as breakfast clubs and after-school provision for primary school aged children in England.
The provision typically runs from 8am until 6pm, during term time, either on a school site or another local setting such as a community centre, a nursery, or a childminder.
This is different from out-of-school activities, or school clubs, which are less frequent and can be a one-off activity.
Who will be eligible for wraparound childcare?
All parents in England with primary school aged children should be able to access wraparound childcare by September 2026.
You can find out more on our childcare webpage.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced its advice to the Government for the COVID-19 vaccine programme in autumn this year.
Similar to previous spring and autumn campaigns, the Committee’s advice is to offer the vaccine to those at high risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.
Vaccination continues to help protect against severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths arising from COVID-19.
The JCVI advises that the following groups be offered a COVID-19 vaccine this autumn:
The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around six months after the last vaccine dose.
Read more on the UK Health Security Agency website.
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