Friday 31 January 2025
 Online support sessions for young people moving into adulthood
As we get older, the things we do and the opportunities available to us change. And when we turn 18 years old, and legally considered to be adults, there are opportunities and responsibilities that present themselves. It can be a very exciting time, but for young people with additional needs, there are added challenges.
So, to help young people with disabilities and their parents understand what’s ahead of them, we are launching a series of online support sessions as an opportunity for people to learn about the support available to young people as they approach adulthood and turn 18 years old, as well as advice and resources for parents, carers and professionals who support them.
The sessions, for young people and their parents, will take place throughout the year and be led by subject matter experts, covering topics such as:
- the differences between Devon County Council’s Adults’ and Children’s Services, and the support they provide (aimed at parents and carers)
- training and employment opportunities (aimed at young people)
- independent living and housing options (aimed at young people)
- mental capacity and decision making (aimed at young people and parents)
- money management (aimed at young people)
- good mental health and resilience (of interest to both young people and parents and carers)
- support for parents and carers (aimed at parents and carers)
The first session takes place on Tuesday 11 February, and will be about understanding the differences between Children’s and Adult’s Services, the support they give, and how this will impact young people during their transition into adulthood.
Find out more and book your place, through our website.
Stover Country Park Local Nature Reserve is looking for a freelance Learning Consultant to help the team refresh their learning programmes and resources for local primary schools.
Specifically, the learning programme and resources are for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage One, Key Stage Two and primary school pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The person would be working with Stover’s Community Engagement Officer and Ranger team to develop and write the content for a range of school visits.
You can find out more about the job vacancy and how to apply on our Devon Jobs website. If you have any questions, please email Emily Cannon at emily.cannon@devon.gov.uk Please send your application to: Emily Cannon, Restoring Stover Park Project Officer at emily.cannon@devon.gov.uk by 12pm, Monday 17 February 2025
Forty primary schools across Devon including Plymouth and Torbay have been selected to work more closely with local education authorities, NHS Devon and Parent Carer Forums to improve the way that young neurodiverse pupils are included in school.
The term neurodiverse includes, but is not limited to, conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, anxiety and other forms of developmental learning differences and needs, whether diagnosed or as yet undiagnosed.
It’s thought that around 15 per cent of children and young people in Devon have a diagnosis of neurodivergence, or neurodivergent needs, equating to at least 30,000 children and young people across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.
Twenty-six primary schools in Devon County Council’s area, nine in Plymouth, and five in Torbay, have been chosen locally to be part of the NHS England and Department for Education-funded PINS project (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools).
You can find out how the project is going in the full story on our news page.
One thousand trees have been planted by 65 volunteers at Gatefield Community Grassland on the Londonderry Estate in Bideford in a bid to build a new community woodland and improve the local environment.
The programme was organised by Torridge District Council and Parklife South West as part of our Local Authority Treescape scheme. The scheme was fully funded by the Forestry Commission and was delivered with an aim to create better habitats for wildlife and capture carbon emissions as part of efforts to tackle global warming.
You can read more in the story on our news page.
We published the January edition of the Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Partnership newsletter earlier this week, packed with information and news of interest to parents and carers and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
If you missed it in your inbox, here is a link to it.
We are seeking dedicated people, aged 18 and over, to join our Devon Youth Justice Service as volunteer Referral Order Panel members.
As a panel member, you will participate in Referral Order Panel meetings that serve as community sentences for children convicted of criminal offences.
The meetings bring together the child, their parents or carers, and the views of the victim(s) to discuss what has happened, how they can repair the harm caused, and to identify the support needed to prevent reoffending and help the child move forward in their life, positively.
As a volunteer, training is provided to prepare you for the role, with ongoing training opportunities and support. We’re looking for volunteers across the whole of Devon, of all ages, (18 and over), and all backgrounds.
To apply to be a volunteer, or to find out more about the role, please contact andrea.brend@devon.gov.uk
Closing date for applications is Friday 14 February 2025.
Interviews will be held in Exeter on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 February; and Barnstaple on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 March.
 Encouraging children to express their emotions for Children's Mental Health Week
It's Childrens Mental Health Week next week, Monday 3 to Sunday 9 February. It's an initiative launched by the children's mental health charity, Place2Be, with the aim to give a voice to all children and young people in the UK.
The year's theme is 'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'.
The charity has published a range of free resources for families, and schools, and is encouraging people to take part.
The free resource pack for families includes top tips about encouraging children and young people to keep a journal to describe how they're feeling and what they're thinking; making time and space for reflection; using imagery, such as emojis or flashcards to help children and young people to recognise their feelings; to practice mindfulness; and keeping communication open.
They also have other useful advice to help parents to support their children, from Frequently Asked Questions to downloadable packs.
To find out more, visit Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week website.
Overnight road closures on the A379 at Brixton will start on the evening of Monday 3 February, while essential drainage repairs and resurfacing work gets underway.
Site investigations have identified severe damage to the drainage system and the road needs to be excavated to replace pipes where necessary and repair others.
Due to the extent of the work needed, and the width of the road, the road needs to be closed for the safety of the public and site staff while work is carried out.
Read the full story on our news page.
Devon Local Nature Partnership is inviting people to nominate an outstanding group or individual who deserves recognition for their community action for nature in the past year.
It's for the Wild About Devon Awards, which celebrate projects, schemes or initiatives that, in the last year, have taken steps to improve the wildlife value of an area, and engaged their community.
The awards have three categories:
- Wildlife Community Group of the Year (for example, a local volunteer group, school, charity, Scout or Guide group, church group, or another similar organisation)
- Wildlife Parish and Town Council of the Year
- Outstanding Individual Award
Closing date for nominations is Friday 28 February 2025.
If you know of a group or individual who deserve recognition for their community action for nature, nominate them here by completing the simple nomination form. You are able to submit for each category, and can nominate yourself (your group) or someone else (another group).
This time of year can be difficult for many. If you are struggling with low mood, anxious thoughts, sleep difficulties or aren’t quite feeling yourself, help is available through the NHS.
TALKWORKS is Devon’s free and confidential NHS Talking Therapies service, here to help adults over the age of 18, living in Devon (Plymouth is covered by Plymouth Talking Therapies), improve their mental and physical wellbeing. Treatment and support includes one-to-one sessions with a therapist or counsellor, interactive group courses, wellbeing workshops and access to online self-help.
You do not need a referral from a GP to access TALKWORKS services, you can refer yourself online or over the phone. For more information on the different treatment options and therapy services, please visit the TALKWORKS website or call 0300 555 3344.
A section of Drake’s Trail connecting to Gem Bridge near Tavistock will be closed for up to four days next week.
The cycle route (National Cycle Network 27) is due to be closed from Anderton Lane, Tavistock, to Gem Bridge, near Horrabridge, from Tuesday 4 February until the end of Friday 7 February.
The closure is essential to enable Ash Dieback infected trees to be removed for the safety of the public.
During the closure a signed alternative route will be available, via Whitchurch Road, to and from Horrabridge.
The route is scheduled to be open for the weekend (Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February).
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