“Hey Foster Carer”: A celebration of children’s voices in fostering

Warwickshire residents are invited to attend a celebration event to launch the ‘Hey Foster Carer’ booklet in Old Shire Hall on Wednesday 28 February.

Created in partnership with Warwickshire’s Children in Care Council, the booklet is a collection of voices from care-experienced young people for current and future foster carers, to further understanding of what is important to them and what they need from their foster carers.

The event is an opportunity for anyone interested in fostering to come along and find out more. At the event a care-experienced young person will be giving a talk and copies of the ‘Hey Foster Carer’ booklet will be available.

To book a place at the event, email fosteringenquiries@warwickshire.gov.uk. The event will be held on Wednesday 28 February, 6-7.30pm at Old Shire Hall, Warwick.

Fire service urges people to be alert to dangers in the kitchen

Warwickshire residents are being reminded to have safety at the forefront of their minds following a rise in kitchen-related fires in the county.

The kitchen might be the ‘heart of the home’ to many, but it is also the room in which fires are most likely to start, so it’s vital that all members of the family know of the dangers and how to keep themselves safe.

That’s the message coming from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS), who saw a rise in the number of accidental fires related to cooking, as well as white goods that can often be found in kitchens, such as tumble dryers.

For top kitchen safety tips from WFRS to reduce the risk of fire, click on the button below.

Three local organisations presented with the Kings Award for Voluntary Service by Warwickshire’s Lord Lieutenant

The remaining Warwickshire organisations announced as KAVS recipients for 2023 – Rugby Autism Network, The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, and Veterans Contact Point – will all be formally presented with their KAVS by Warwickshire’s Lord Lieutenant later this year.

Share your views about Warwickshire Libraries in new customer satisfaction survey

Residents across the county are invited to share their views about library services in Warwickshire.

The online customer satisfaction survey asks residents to share how often they visit libraries, whether they have a library membership, and which library services they find the most useful and valuable to support their needs as a library customer.

Complete the survey today: Warwickshire Library & Information Customer Satisfaction Survey 2023-2024. The survey closes on Thursday 29 February.

New pathway to be trialled for improving outcomes for children and young people affected by Emotionally Based School Avoidance in Warwickshire

The new EBSA pathway seeks to respond to the growing number of children and young people who experience emotional challenges in attending school, an increase which has been seen both in Warwickshire and nationally.

The impact of EBSA can be far reaching. In the longer-term, EBSA has been shown to negatively impact children and young people in terms of their mental health and wellbeing and can also influence educational achievement and limit social and employment opportunities.

The EBSA project is part of Warwickshire’s SEND and Inclusion Change Programme (SICP), which aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities by promoting inclusion in mainstream settings, giving schools the skills and resources to meet the needs of learners and building the confidence of parents and carers. You can read more about the SICP here.

Have a conversation about mental health

Sometimes it’s easier to tell people we’re ‘fine’ than it is to say how we really feel.

One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year, according to MIND, the mental health charity responsible for the annual Time to Talk Day on 1 February 2024.

This year’s theme for Time to Talk Day is all about helping people to talk about how they really feel. Open, direct, and honest conversations can break down barriers and help to end the isolation, shame, and worthlessness that too many people feel when experiencing a mental health problem.

The ongoing cost of living crisis has had a big effect across society and many people will be feeling a strain on their mental health as a result. This time of year also presents challenges in the form of post-Christmas financial pressures, cold weather and dark winter nights which add to people’s stress levels and affect their moods, so it is vital to speak up and let other people know how they are feeling.

Apprenticeships: A great way to grow and develop your workforce

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (5 -10 Feb) we are highlighting the Warwickshire Skills Hub.

Warwickshire Skills Hub supports businesses, schools and communities to create a well-skilled population that meets the needs of the county’s evolving economy. An important element of this support is help for businesses to access the right apprenticeships for them and funding opportunities to make them happen.

Taking on an apprentice is a great way to develop and grow your workforce. Apprenticeships offer the perfect combination of study and job training. The training can be adapted according to the needs of any business which is considering an apprenticeship as an option to develop their workforce.

To find out how you can get involved or take on an apprentice click on the button below.

Voting is open for Warwickshire’s next young politicians

Voting is taking place at schools from 1 February to 28 February and 64 young people have put themselves forward to becoming a Warwickshire Youth Council member by presenting their own manifesto around the issues most important to them.

We are encouraging young people across all communities to get involved and cast their vote, with the support of their teachers, parents and carers.

The process of voting is really easy, simply click on the button below to read through all of the candidate’s manifestos. Make a note of the three young people that you would like to vote for, and finally, cast your vote.