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11th December 2025
Your weekly newsletter from Devon Family Hubs, Early Help, and Partnerships at Devon County Council (DCC).
This newsletter is your go-to source for the latest training opportunities, events and resources designed to support professionals working with families across Devon. We also share helpful signposting and family activities to help you connect the people you support with the right services at the right time.
If you have something to share—whether it’s an event, a resource - or if there’s anything we can do to support you and your community, we’d love to hear from you!
📧 Email us at: business.earlyhelppartnership-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
The latest news, updates and important info from Devon Family Hubs and Early Help.
IMPORTANT
Spy Dogs/Pups and Spy Cat books written by Andrew Cope compromised
We have been made aware of the following information regarding a set of children’s books. The books involved are the series Spy Dogs/Pups and Spy Cat books written by Andrew Cope. These books contain a link to a website which contains highly pornographic content. The book asks children to explore the website to find more about the characters in the book. It appears the website identified (on the back or inside page) has now been compromised and takes users to a pornographic website with no age verification.
New MyWay Service – Early Help for Children & Young People’s Mental Health
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This service provides early help for children and young people primarily aged 11-18 with help available for SEND young people and care leavers, with a strong focus on the Getting Advice and Getting Help areas of the THRIVE Framework. The new model gives young people choice in how they access support, and provides multiple opportunities and pathways so they can receive help in the way that best meets their individual needs.
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Healthy B's - Prism Education
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The Healthy Bs ‘Review’ is a conversation to find out where your school is currently in terms of leadership and policy, staff understanding, parent and child knowledge and inclusion practices. It also includes an audit of
your school toilets! The ‘Action Plan’ and ‘Resources’ then offer a selection of quick wins to take the stress out of plugging any gaps.
For more information contact vicky.stables@prismeducation.co.uk
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Empowering Voices Project - Young Devon
Positive Growth Programme for Young People aged 8-18yrs (or up to 24 if the young person is a care leaver or has a learning disability) affected by Domestic Abuse
Expressions of interest to be sent to referrals@youngdevon.org
New Service - To support non-abusive parent / carers of children, who have suffered child sexual abuse
Charity ACTS FAST (www.actsfast.org.uk) support the non- abusing parents and carers of children, under 18, who have been sexually abused and those parenting children, under 18, with a partner who has been arrested for online child sexual abuse offences. We are currently being funded to do this work across the South West, which includes anyone who lives in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Our 10 week Trauma Support Programme, is offered one to one either online or over the phone for an hour each week. Focussing on wellbeing, psychoeducation and providing a space for the parent/carer to talk through their experience and concerns. As an experienced team we hold specialist knowledge in this area.
To make a referral into our service you can make a referral on behalf of a client or you can pass on our details so that the client can make contact with us in their own time. Head to our Make A Referral Page here to fill in the form.
Our wait times are currently 4 weeks.
Best Start in Life
If you’re an eligible working parent, you can get 30 hours childcare for your child from the term after they turn 9 months old up to school age.
The deadline to apply for your childcare code is 31 December to start using your childcare hours from 1 January.
What you need to know:
Keep your code up to date: You’ll need to reconfirm your details every 3 months via your GOV.UK account. You’ll get a reminder when it’s time.
Job Opportunity - Skill Mill Supervisor in partnership with Devon Youth Justice Service
This job role for a partnership that is happening between the Skills Mill and Devon Youth Justice Service. The job is to support a small group of young people open to the YJS.
The Skill Mill Limited Careers and Employment | Indeed.com
Library consultation to help shape the future of Devon’s 50 libraries
The campaign will run for 12 weeks and focus on a number of options, including opening hours, the use of technology, and the potential for community-managed libraries. No libraries will close under the proposal.
The consultation is available online via a Devon County Council engagement platform at:
https://devon.cc/devon-libraries-pm
Visitors will be able to:
Fill in one of two surveys (one is specifically for young people aged 13 to17 years)
View a detailed overview proposal
View an opening hours document and other information
Printed copies of the survey are also available in all libraries and Devon County Council reception areas (County Hall in Exeter, Taw View in Barnstaple and Follaton House in Totnes).
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Upcoming Family Hubs Practitioner Forums
Family Hub Practitioner Forum - Save the Dates 2026!!
Further information to follow but please keep your calendars free for 2026
- Thursday 29th January – Domestic Abuse and Healthy Relationships
- Tuesday 24th February
- Monday 30th March
More information to follow.
Free Reducing Parental Conflict eLearning Training
Domestic Abuse & Violence
A reminder that the commissioned service for supporting families with Domestic Abuse and Violence is the Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance. The alliance is made up of a number of local organisations and together they provide domestic abuse support across Devon (excluding Torbay and Plymouth), safe accommodation, recovery courses, whole family support and therapy.
Tel: 08082 816161
Email: hello@ddaa.org.uk
Website: https://ddaa.org.uk/
Young Devon- Barnstaple YES (Youth Enquiry Service)
December Timetable and poster for our FREE community Christmas tree event on 18th and 19th December.
Drug Intel Form
The form informs Public Health Devon of drug intelligence that is causing concern and warrants further investigation due to the harms reported. Professionals can use this form to submit any drug intel to the public health team
NFS - Training for professionals - SafeLives
Learn to better spot the signs, assess risk, and evidence NFS correctly. Delivered in partnership with fellow experts from the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS).Introductory sessions (non-interactive)
Sector-specific advanced sessions (interactive)*
Please note you must have attended a webinar or completed our eLearning prior to attending an advanced course.
Workshops, webinars and CPD sessions to help you grow your skills and support families
A round-up of local events, groups and activities for families
Alongside Approach training
Are you a parent in Devon who wants to support other parents?
We still have spaces on our Alongside Approach training and it’s currently completely free of charge! 🎉
If you live or work in Devon, you can join this fully funded programme. It’s 12 days of training (all online), giving you the skills, confidence and support to walk alongside families who might be struggling.
The training includes:
✨ Peer Support Worker Training (8 days) - building safe, compassionate skills to support others
✨ Alongside Approach (4 days) - exploring Parental Minds’ ethos in practice: creating safe spaces, improving communication, managing emotions, avoiding burnout and expressing emotions in helpful ways.
What you’ll get:
✔ Training and resources to help you support others
✔ A supportive peer supervision sessions
✔ Access to Parental Minds’ guides and Thrive directories
Any questions please ask, or sign up here:
https://bit.ly/AlongsideRegistration
www.parentalminds.org.uk
Parental Minds Support Text Line: 07907 614516
Winter 2025 Holiday Activities & Food Programme
We are delighted to let you know that our Winter 2025 Holiday Activities & Food Programme is now live and there are plenty of spaces available for children in Devon. This year we also have some opportunities for family pantomime tickets available to book via the booking system and, as always, a wide range of fantastic provision for all eligible families. We're now taking bookings for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme for this Winter - News
Here is the link to the Booking System https://eequ.org/devonhaf please have a look you can also view, the schemes using a map as well.
Some schemes this year also include hampers, and all provide either a hot or cold nutritious meal, alongside a variety of physical activities.
If you have any questions, please get in touch - haf@devon.gov.uk
Families in Grief - November 2025 Children's Group dates
Mental Health and Recovery Drop Ins
Devon Mental Health Alliance | Working together for better mental health
View our full timetable at: mentalhealthdevon.co.uk/learning-network/drop-ins
Annie's Stay and Play offers a variety of engaging sessions, each designed to provide unique experiences for our participants. From bouncy castles to role play, there's something for everyone! Click below to discover more about each session and find the perfect fit for you and your little ones.
Useful resources, services and support options and signposting
Safeguarding one minute guides
Useful one minute guides on a range of topics from neglect, domestic abuse, drugs, knife crime and more
Right for Children Training
Please review the Devon Safeguarding Children Partnerships for any upcoming Right for Children Training Dates
Multicultural Devon News
The quarterly newsletter of the Migration and Resettlement Team at Devon County Council (DCC). Our newsletter shares information about cultural events and celebrations, learning English, anti-racism initiatives, No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and much more. It is also an opportunity to celebrate Devon’s multiculturalism and to emphasise that DCC is here to support all residents of Devon.
Bitesize Multi-Agency Learning Action Sets available
They are suitable for anyone working or volunteering with children, young people and families, and align with the Children’s Social Care Pillars (Purposeful Contacts, Analysing Risk, Planning, Voice of the Child, Partnership Working and Recording)
My Way
SUPPORT FOR YOUR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
We know reaching out isn’t always easy, but you’re not alone. Whether you’re a young person looking for help, or a parent, carer or GP looking for more information, we are here to listen and support you.
Our Wellbeing service and has been running for over 20 years. Our team are experienced, will listen, offer information and talk about some options with you.
Tiny Happy People
- CBeebies Parenting provides top tips, activity ideas, games, advice and content backed by trusted experts.
- For all stages of parenting: parents-to-be to starting school
Got something to shout about? Let us know and we’ll include it in a future issue!
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