Young people leaving care are now able to travel for free on Cornwall’s buses to give them better access to work, training or study and getting to appointments, as well help improve mental health and reduce isolation. ...“[As care leavers] we’re independent from a young age and need to be able to get out and about to places.”   ...It will help care leavers struggling to meet friends as well as help them to access employment and training opportunities.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/transport-streets-and-waste/more-transport-streets-and-waste-news-stories/free-bus-travel-scheme-for-young-people-leaving-care-officially-launches/

Last updated: 23/07/2024 07:20:44

A launch event was held in St Newlyn East last month for the six foster families and seven children in care who make up the constellation.  ...The launch comes as numbers of children in care nationally continue to rise, while foster care applications in most areas are dwindling....At any one time there are up to 40 children or young people in Cornwall who need a place to call home.    

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/cornwall-s-third-mockingbird-support-network-for-foster-families-now-up-and-running/

Last updated: 29/09/2025 09:18:21

A new discount card scheme has been launched to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. ...The card features a design by 10-year-old school pupil Logan Baker, who won a competition run by the FIS team to draw a picture promoting inclusivity. ...Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools, said:  “The Access4ALL card gives eligible families access to exclusive discounts and priority offers helping to make everyday life more affordable and inclusive. 

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/new-discount-card-launched-to-help-families-of-children-and-young-people-with-send/

Last updated: 04/09/2025 07:24:47

Cornwall Council has purchased a five-bedroom house near Carnon Downs with the aim of converting it into a much-needed children’s home.Run in tandem with another home the council already owns in the Liskeard area, the properties will each accommodate three young people who need to be brought into care.The move means that fewer children will need to be housed in expensive, privately run homes, most of which are outside Cornwall.This will greatly improve their quality of life while also saving the taxpayer up to £1.3 million a year.Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools, said:“Looking after our children in care, and ensuring they have the best facilities and opportunities, is of the utmost importance which is why I am so pleased we have made the decision to buy and convert this property into a children’s home....“Historically, we have only ever directly provided residential children’s homes for disabled children so this will represent the first time we’ve owned and run homes for children who do not have disabilities....“Directly provided children’s homes create a safe and stable home for children and young people who have experienced trauma and abuse.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/new-children-s-homes-will-support-young-people-who-have-experienced-abuse-and-trauma/

Last updated: 22/06/2026 10:25:33

A plan to transform health, care and education provision for children and young people with SEND has today been approved by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet.The Cornwall SEND Reform Plan outlines how the council and its partners intend to incorporate the government’s sweeping reforms to the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system.It focuses on identifying and responding to children’s needs at the earliest opportunity meaning they are then less likely to require costly specialist intervention later in life.In line with the new Education For All Bill, the plan also stresses the need to strengthen SEND support in mainstream schools....Research shows this approach gives young people the best chance of both academic success and social confidence.The SEND Reform Plan has been developed jointly with partners across the education, health and care system following comprehensive engagement with relevant groups and organisations, including Cornwall Parent Carer Forum and Cornwall Youth Council.It aims to bring education, health and family support into a more joined‑up approach, so families experience clearer and more consistent pathways to support.Publication of the plan comes as Cornwall continues to experience a soaring demand for SEND services, which creates increased pressure on the education sector, NHS, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, community health and adult social care.The government requires all local authorities to submit a SEND Reform Plan to secure the High Needs Stability Grant, which will pay off 90% of their historic SEND deficit.Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families..., said:“Cabinet approval of Cornwall’s SEND Reform Action Plan marks a clear commitment to putting children and their families at the heart of everything we do.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/cabinet-approves-plan-to-transform-send-provision-in-cornwall/

Last updated: 17/06/2026 13:17:53

Schoolchildren from across Cornwall came together to celebrate Kernewek during a special event held during Speak Cornish Week.Children from 10 schools gathered at Lys Kernow (New County Hall) on Thursday, June 25 for a Go Cornish Celebration.The children performed songs, rhymes and stories in Kernewek during the colourful event, which was organised by Cornwall Council’s Fifth Nation Members’ Working Group to showcase the impact of Kernewek in our schools and communities.Four of the schools also received their Bronze Go Cornish award.Over 6,000 children from 30 schools are having fun with the Cornish Language through the Go Cornish programme, which is commissioned by Cornwall Council and delivered by Golden Tree Productions.Councillor Hilary Frank, Cabinet member with responsibility for Children, Schools and Families at Cornwall Council, said: “It’s wonderful to see these young people celebrating our language and having so much fun with it....“When children learn even a little of the language, they get a deeper understanding of the place they call home and the generations who came before them.”Councillor Sarah Preece, cabinet member with responsibility for Culture and Cornish Language at Cornwall Council, said: “Kernewek is a beautiful and expressive language, and it gives us a strong feeling of belonging and connection – to Cornwall’s history and to one another....“This year we secured Part III recognition under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and we are currently finalising our Cornish Language Strategy, which will provide us with a framework to promote and protect the language over the next ten years.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/communities-and-housing/children-take-part-in-kernewek-celebration-during-speak-cornish-week/

Last updated: 26/06/2026 11:26:16

As part of the Council’s Devolution Deal with the government, Cornwall is set to benefit from £10.2 million of funding to directly commission Adult Education from 2025....Barbara Ellenbroek, the council’s portfolio holder for children and families and with responsibility for adult education, said:  “The devolution of the £10.2 million Adult Education budget to Cornwall from the Department for Education, is clear recognition from government that the Council is in the best position to shape local skills provision to ensure that the needs of the local economy and businesses are met, particularly for skills in local emerging industries such as renewable energy. ...Let's Talk Adult Education Budget devolution Story posted 13 February 2024

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/council-budgets-and-economy/council-asking-for-views-on-future-delivery-of-devolved-102-million-adult-education-budget/

Last updated: 13/02/2024 11:55:09

More carers are needed to provide short breaks for children and young people with disabilities.Cornwall Council’s Family Based Short Break (FBSB) service began more than 20 years ago supporting just three children.Since then, it has grown from strength to strength and now supports more than 40 across our communities.The service is now in such high demand that more carers are needed to open their doors to young people with complex needs for anything from an afternoon to a full weekend.Family Based Short Breaks provide much needed rest for parents and carers, while also offering their children the opportunity to experience new surroundings, build friendships and gain confidence.As part of our recruitment drive for more carers, we spoke to two carers and two parents about their experiences....You can watch their videos here:Kirsten’s storyChris’s storyMel’s storyLisa’s storyCllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said:“Family Based Short Break carers make a huge difference to children and young people with disabilities, as well as their families....“We are incredibly grateful to our existing carers.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/more-short-break-carers-needed-to-support-families-of-children-with-disabilities-in-cornwall/

Last updated: 09/09/2026 10:36:09

The findings also reveal that Cornish residents are more concerned about climate change than the rest of the UK but need the right support from government to make pro-environmental changes....The one-year research project, led by the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath in collaboration with Cornwall Council, investigated Cornwall residents' willingness to change their behaviours in favour of low-carbon alternatives. 859 residents responded to the public survey and were asked about four key lifestyle areas: travel, home energy use, products they buy, and food....It also revealed that Cornwall residents are highly aware of what is happening with the climate crisis.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/environment-culture-and-planning/new-survey-shows-cornwall-residents-more-concerned-about-climate-change-than-national-average/

Last updated: 16/06/2025 07:29:36

Thousands more children in Cornwall will now receive free school meals thanks to a new Council process.Introduced in July, the Free School Meals (FSM) Auto Award automatically checks whether some children are eligible for free school meals and enrols them if they qualify.The process has identified and signed up a further 14,000 children who may otherwise not have been receiving them, saving their families a total of £6.9m a year (£495 per child).This means there are now 17,485 children across Cornwall who receive free school meals.It also means schools stand to receive substantially more money as ‘pupil premium funding’ from the government is directly linked to how many of their pupils receive free school meals.In fact, Cornish schools are set to receive an extra £11.9m because of the extra 14,000 children now enrolled for free meals.Over the six-year period for which FSM eligibility can attract pupil premium funding, this equates to around £71.3 million in additional funding for schools.The...FSM Auto Award process sees the Council use information it already holds to identify children who may qualify, such as households that receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said:“It’s fantastic news that 14,000 more children across Cornwall will now receive free school meals, without their families having to fill in any paperwork.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/together-for-families/new-council-process-sees-14-000-more-children-receive-free-school-meals-in-cornwall/

Last updated: 28/09/2026 10:48:53