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 Monday 16th March 2026
Welcome to the Best Start Family Hubs Devon Newsletter. 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!
This newsletter is published once a fortnight. The next edition will be sent out on Monday 30th March 2026
Please submit your newsletter addition requests by Friday 27th March before Midday to be included in the next edition.
📧 Email us at: business.earlyhelppartnership-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
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In our Family Hub Newsletter this week...
- Important information - Schools Wars
- Our newsletters are moving to E-shot
- Household Support Fund - Closing 19th March 2026 (Reminder)
- Children, Young People and Families. Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team
- MoneyHelper Financial Wellbeing Network
- DIAS training – Making Sense of EHC plans
- Diptford Primary School and Little Dippers Preschool 'Welly Walks'
- Phoenix Rising Drop in sessions - Newton Abbot
Important information & updates
Important information - "School Wars"
We have been made aware in the Safeguarding Children Partnership that there is a current online trend of “school wars” whereby young people are being encouraged to fight members of other schools.
This has been listed as Essentially a gamification of school fights, which started in London boroughs, but this has now been seen in Bristol and parts of N.Somerset and may become a national “trend”.
Some specific dates have appeared online about this (accuracy unknown), however with no specifics about where this may take place nationally.
What is online:
Round 1 – Friday 27th February
Round 2 – Monday 2nd March
Round 3 – Wednesday 4th March
Round 4 – Thursday 5th March
Final Round – Friday 6th March”
Please can this information be shared and if you have any information or intelligence relating to this, can you please share with Devon and Cornwall Police via the Community Intelligence portal found through this link - Share community partnership intelligence | Devon & Cornwall Police
Important information about newsletters - Our e-newsletters are moving to E‑shot
As part of our work to improve how we communicate with residents, partners and staff, we’re moving from our current e-newsletter platform, Gov Delivery, to a new system called E‑shot.
This upgrade will give us greater flexibility, a more modern user experience, and improved data protection features. It will also help us create more accessible and engaging e-newsletters across the organisation.
Although the transition mainly affects colleagues who manage mailing lists or send newsletters, we want all staff to be aware of what’s happening and when.
- From Monday 16th March newsletters can no longer be sent through GovDelivery
- The next newsletter will be published on 30th March and will be published through e-shot
Household Support Fund - Closing 19th March 2026 (Reminder)
Please be aware that the current round of Household Support Funding (HSF7) is ending, and we will not accept applications after the 19th March 2026.
We will not be able to review any applications after this date. Please ensure applications made between now and the 19th March have correct bank details and home addresses. Incorrect details will result in delays that could mean families do not receive an approved payment.
Children, Young People and Families. Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team
MoneyHelper Financial Wellbeing Network
Financial Wellbeing
“Financial wellbeing is about feeling secure and in control. It’s about making the most of your money from day to day, dealing with the unexpected, and being on track for a healthy financial future. In short: financially resilient, confident, and empowered.” (Money and Pensions Service)
Introduction
The Government’s Money and Pensions Service (via MoneyHelper) provides free, independent, and impartial money and pensions guidance to people all across the UK, whenever they need support and at any point in their lives. On the last Friday of each month I will send out a comprehensive two-pager on a relevant financial wellbeing topic, which you might use as you see fit throughout your own organisations and beyond.
Topic
27 February 2026 What the new 2025 Renters’ Rights Act means for you
27 March 2026 Family & care finances
24 April 2026 Get the debt help you need
29 May 2026 The links between money and mental health
26 June 2026 School’s out for summer & so is the money
31 July 2026 AI & financial decisions – what you need to know
28 August 2026 Your options for borrowing money
25 September 2026 All things pensions
30 October 2026 Think before you borrow
27 November 2026 The psychology of spending
25 December 2026 Break
For more information please visit - Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper
Practitioner & Family Events
DIAS training – Making Sense of EHC plans
These online DIAS training sessions give lots of tips and practical information to help parent carers get to grips with their child’s EHC plan. Split into two online sessions, the training aims to help parent carers understand their child’s EHC plan and what’s in it, how it is used and how to take part in the review process.
- Understanding your child’s EHC plan Monday 1 June 2026, 10.30am-12 midday.
- The EHC review Thursday 11 June 2026, 1.30pm-3pm.
The sessions are free. Each session is an hour for the main part of the presentation and 30 minutes for questions afterwards.
Parents can find out more and book here: https://devonias.org.uk/events
Family Events
Diptford Primary School and Little Dippers Preschool 'Welly Walks'
With Spring in the air, we are keen to get outside to make the most of our extensive outdoor learning areas!
Over the next few weeks we are hosting some "Welly Walks" for our younger families, we would be delighted to see some new visitors come along and join us to explore our exciting woodland area. All the dates and information is attached, please do get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Our next Welly Walk is this Thursday, starting at 10.30am; we also have 2 more planned. If you or your friends with young children are looking for a fun activity this week, please come along - there is always more to explore at Diptford!
Phoenix Rising Drop in sessions - Newton Abbot
Phoenix Rising have changed the address of their drop in sessions.
Drop in is every Tuesday 10-12pm any women who've experienced domestic or sexual abuse either currently or historically can attend.
Held at
Good Karma Shop
91 Queens Street,
Newton Abbot
TQ12 2BG
Family Hubs
Request for support form:
Can be completed by family, professionals / practitioners, and Front-door (if appropriate). Link:
Family Hubs advice line 0800 538 5458 (Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm).
Family Hubs for Devon website a central hub for accessing services and information.
Family hubs - Education and Families
The Family Hubs Team Managers are:
- Kate Freeman (South and West)
- Samantha King (Exeter and East)
- Cathryn Hewitt (North, Torridge, and Mid)
The following requests should be emailed to: business.earlyhelppartnership- mailbox@devon.gov.uk
- Requests for Triage
- Requests for the Early Help Pregnancy Support Pathway Meeting
- Requests for information be added to our Newsletter
- Requests for the Locality Partnership Meetings
Right for Children support (system/technical advice and support) should be emailed to: business.rightforchildrensecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Please accept our sincere thanks for your support and your ongoing commitment to supporting families that are receiving help from our Early Help Professionals across the county.
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