Blackbird Pie 2022 October

centres in

at Camel Creek, explore art at

St Ives

shows

Hub

Health: nasal flu vaccination

Introduction to Kowetha

book review

Fun - places to visit from

to

Dear Readers,

was great to hear so many of you had had a wonderful time exploring Cornwall by bus this summer and a big thank you for telling the bus people that you had seen it on Blackbird Pie’s summer cover.

autumn we have more special offers and free activities dotted through the magazine including Zombie Crawl in Newquay, Fireworks at Heartlands and lots of free children’s classes (and free entry or locals’ offers) at our wonderful museums and galleries. Tate St Ives offer free entry for under 18s and entry for local adults is only £5 for a whole year!

There are lovely child-friendly theatre shows this autumn and pantomimes coming soon, so book ahead and get the best seats.

Have a great half-term, Vanessa, Simon and the Blackbird

that all details are correct at the time of going

print but cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or

to ensure all events featured will be enjoyed

children but in some instances we cannot test this

have to rely on the opinions of the organisers.

Please mention us to advertisers

What’s on this autumn

See pages 12 to 15 for theatre shows & pantomimes.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth. Minnows Tales 11am drop-in for a lively half hour of stories, songs and rhymes for under 5s.

31 Oct: Halloween at the Museum, dress as ghosts and ghouls, explore the Museum and stumble upon spooky storytelling and treats... 11am Minnows Tales: spooky stories for under 5s. Create spook-tacular Halloween masks and wands in Make & Take 12.30 to 5.30pm. Spot all the pumpkins on the Museum Trail & win a prize. After hours, under the cover of darkness, family-friendly tricks, treats and tales from 3.30 to 6pm. Halloween activities & Minnows Tales are FREE as part of the Museum’s annual admission fee. Pay once, get in free for a year of exploring 15 galleries, jumping aboard boats, climbing the 100-foot Lookout Tower, going underwater in the Tidal Zone, uncovering ocean adventures & survival stories, and sailing miniature boats on the Waterfront Boat Pool!

Tate St Ives, see page 9.

Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance 01736 363625. Free Family Fun family activities every Saturday 2.30 to 3.30pm, PLUS Thursday in half-term, with a different activity every week. Get Penlee Inspired! Every Saturday afternoon from 15 Oct to 5 Nov, 2.30 to 3.30pm, the Penlee House Gallery & Museum team will be running workshops linked to the forthcoming Penlee Inspired exhibition. They need contributions for the exhibition and YOU could be part of it! People of all ages and abilities are invited to create works inspired by Penlee’s exhibitions and collections. (Submissions by 12 Nov, the exhibition opens 18 Jan ’23). Details on or phone 01736 363625.

15 Oct: Choose a print of a painting from Penlee and make it yours. What will you change?! 22 Oct: Many of Penlee’s paintings are very detailed. Create a simplified version concentrating on shape & colour.

29 Oct: Penlee’s People - create your version of a character from a painting, using peg dolls or modelling material.

Fisher Girl by Helen, inspired by Zandvoort’s Fishergirl

Via Ferrata Cornwall: Longdowns, Half Term 24 to 28 Oct: Adventure Holiday Club - exciting half and full-day childcare for 6 to13-year-olds, choice of climbing, zip-lining, adventure quarry games, canoeing, catapulting and archery. Family days out at Via Ferrata, a high wire adventure with a zipline. viaferratacornwall.co.uk

Trebah Garden, Mawnan Smith. From Acers to Oaks, Trebah has a magical array of autumn colour. Have a wonderful adventure exploring different parts of the garden with one of Trebah’s children’s trails, £2 per child (includes a prize). Or just get clambering and playacting in the fantastic wooden adventure play areasTarzan’s Camp for the over 5s and Fort Stuart for under 5s. Free garden entry for under 5yrs.

Historic Days Out with English Heritage. From legendary Tintagel Castle to picturesque St Mawes Castle and Falmouth’s mighty fortress, Pendennis Castle, where will you visit this autumn?

Find out more, visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/days-out-cornwall 22 to 30 Oct: Halloween at Pendennis Castle, 10am to 5pm, gather your little monsters for ghoulishly good fun with Dennis, Gnasher and friends. Solve creepy clues around the grounds and meet costumed performers with tall tales of the strange, the supernatural and the downright silly. Book online for best prices.

The Box, Plymouth’s awardwinning museum, art gallery and archive (free admission) has lovely things on this Autumn with regular storytelling sessions on Friday mornings and on 29 Oct: Halloween ‘Spooky Science’ event, 5.30 to 8.30pm, come dressed for Halloween, explore the galleries by torchlight, perform a science experiment, dance to spooky tracks, adults & children aged 5+ £7, under 5s £6, book on my.theboxplymouth.com. From 8 Oct to 23 Dec, Plymouth is hosting British Art Show 9 and this amazing touring art exhibition will be the inspiration for many of The Box’s family-friendly events - 8, 22, 23 and 25 Oct: Be part of a giant patchwork and use images and coloured paper to celebrate the ordinary and every day. 26 to 29 Oct Try YouTube sensation Gelli Plate printing. Details at www.theboxplymouth.com

Paradise Park, Hayle.

A Spooktacular Creepy Halloween Half Term 22 to 30 Oct. 23, 25, 28 & 29 Oct 10am to 12.30pm: Special appearances by Mark’s Ark with creepy crawly wildlife encounters; learn eerie fascinating facts on the Pumpkin Trail (there will be Halloween-inspired dinosaurs and skeletons lurking around the Park too) and enjoy Halloween-themed twinkly lights in the Jungle Express Train tunnel. Don’t miss the daily Humboldt’s Penguins feeding times, feed the colourful little Lorikeets in the walk-through Australian Aviaries (nectar pots £1.25), see the free flying Scarlet Macaw flock, spot the extraordinary Pesquet’s (Dracula) Parrot and Halloween-inspired enrichment food for birds and beasts! Book ‘Park & JungleBarn’ tickets to enjoy the JungleBarn Indoor Play. Return Tickets for just £4.95 per person are valid until 26 March 2023.

OFF:

Heartlands, Pool. www.heartlandscornwall.com 22 Oct 2 to 5pm: Hauntlands Screamfest Kids, trick or treat your way around the Halloween scream zone and meet scary characters; £8 per child (accompanying adults free) includes scream zone, wicked activities, ghoulish games, and a best-dressed competition.

5 Nov, Guy Fawkes Night: Heartlands Bonfire & Fireworks Spectacular - Cornwall’s largest FREE firework show provided by the Heartlands Trust charity with help and support from local businesses and people. Family fun from 4pm – fairground, tasty food & drink, live entertainment including Queen cover band Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys, bonfire lighting at 6.30pm, fireworks at 8pm.

Falmouth Book Festival’s children’s programme features workshops for all age ranges. Free events at Falmouth Library on 22 & 23 Oct include book readings, Q&As, games, craft activities, and draw-along sessions with authors like Naomi Jones, Craig Barr Green, Keith Sparrow, Justin Edwards and Emma Yarlett. Details & adults’ events on www.falmouthbookfestival.com

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Heligan Local’s Pass - pay once get in free for a year!

Tickets are now on sale for an enchanting winter lantern experience at The Lost Gardens. Discover beautiful, charming, illuminated displays of fauna and flora all around Heligan’s much-loved and iconic locations. Various dates throughout November, December and January.

Bodmin Jail Great Locals’ offer, see back cover. Calling all Junior Jailers, Bodmin Jail invites you and the family to step back in time with the grimy Georgians and villainous Victorians on a brand-new Junior Jailers Guided Tour. Every Saturday 10.30am, for brave 7 years+, £12.50 & adults £15. Enter the fascinating and often revolting world of crime and punishment with a dash of black humour, a smear of yuck and a dollop of kid-friendly nasty.

Chyan Cultural Centre, near Penryn. 07775 857677 Chyan Annual Apple Day, 15 Oct 12noon to 6pm, celebrate the harvest at the fun family day with apple juicing, archery, circus workshops, stalls, kids’ area, vegan café, crafts, live music, eco spa – hot tub, sauna, wild swim, £6 adults, £3 kids.

Head to Newquay Zoo this Howl-o-ween! With hundreds of animals and 13 acres of lush sub-tropical gardens to explore, you’re in for a spook-tacular time. Find your favourites, from red pandas to penguins, frogs to capybara, snakes to sloths, and discover rare and exciting new animals. 22 to 30 Oct: creepy half-term activities -join the rangers for ‘Fact or frightful fiction’ and bust the myths around some creepy species, enjoy fang-tastic daily animal talks, & play ‘Trick or don’t eat,’ the game featuring animals that are poisonous or venomous and species that mimic them! Free with entry - best prices online at www.newquayzoo.org.uk

Teachers, enhance your animal-related topic with a visit from Mark’s Ark Wildlife Encounters. A brilliant opportunity for children to get close to various invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals in this enthusiastic, interactive, fact-filled show for all ages.

Topics covered mini-beasts, animal classification, habitats, dragons, rainforests, predators, biomimicry, owls. Fully insured, risk assessed, and brilliant value! 07761 810900, email: markwiles3@aol.com

Available for parties, fetes and events.

Bodmin Keep 24 to 28 Oct: Join Bodmin Keep for a half-term of crafting, exploring, and learning, 10am to 4pm; make peg soldiers, a medal or poppy brooch; try on a soldier’s protective helmet, create your own and test the results! Dress-up (above) and inspect military uniforms; meet a young collector and enjoy special object handling sessions with the Trainee Curator. All included with entry (annual pass £7 adult, £3 child, under 5s free) or £2 per session without a ticket. See www.bodminkeep.org for what’s on each day.

PK Porthcurno: Museum of Global Communications. Morgy the friendly giant squid is free to explore in PK’S gardens every day. 24 Oct 1pm: Mini PK half-term tours with PK’s Learning Facilitator, find out how telegraphy impacted our environment; free with museum admission. 22 Oct 10.30am to 12noon & 25 Oct 1 to 3pm: Planet PK Champions free environmental sessions for 7 to 12 years, inspired by PK’s archive photographs of Bird Island and WW2 pigeon messengers, create birds with coloured feathers & tissue paper; no need to book.

Cornwall Heritage Trust. Discover Cornwall’s story this Autumn. There are over 100 acres of historic landscapes and heritage sites to explore with family membership - it’s the perfect day out! From just £20 a year, Cornwall Heritage Trust family membership benefits include free entry to all English Heritage sites in Cornwall - including Tintagel Castle, Restormel Castle, St Mawes Castle, Pendennis Castle, Launceston Castle, and Chysauster Ancient Village, free entry to Geevor Tin Mine Museum, 50% off entry at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, 50% off adult admission to King Edward Mine and 50% off entry to the Vale of Avalon/Arthurian Centre. Members get priority access to a packed calendar of special events and guided walks. Mention Blackbird Pie and get a free pack of Cornish fudge with your membership! www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

Dairyland Farm Park, near Newquay. dairylandfarmpark.com 22 to 30 Oct 10am to 5pm: Scaryland – a most spooktacular week with creepy craft workshops, PYO pumpkin to be carved to your design by the terrifyingly talented team, explore the Park and Bull Pen Soft Play all for £13 per person, (children under 80cm are free or with a pumpkin & craft ticket £4). Tractor ride through Witches’ Wood £3. Book on dairyland.touchtakeaway.net

Truro’s Christmas celebrations launch on 18 November with Festive Friday, sponsored by Great Western Railway. From 3pm Pirate FM’s Johnny Cowling and Lucy Start will be broadcasting from Truro with live entertainment from 5pm. The Christmas Lights (in partnership with Pirate FM and Truro BID) will be switchedon by Johnny Cowling and others at 7pm, followed by a parade of performers, music and Father Christmas. Duchy Fairs’ Big Festive Shop Small Market will be on Lemon Quay until 9 pm. www.visittruro.org.uk

MagiKats Tuition

MagiKats offer small group tuition in Maths and English for children from year 1 up to GCSEs. All learning is taught through a multi-sensory approach, which includes a com bination of teaching, discussion, hands-on activities and written work.

Fay Morris, MagiKats owner, explains:

am passionate about the mindset of every learner. I believe by connecting with the student and providing a positive, nurturing and supportive community all our students can learn and develop. Our team is dedicated to finding the best strategy for every individual to process and retain relevant information.’

The sessions are structured so that you work at your own level, whether you need extending, help with consolidat ing or a boost to your confidence.

All tutors are dedicated to creating a calm, positive environment for every student to learn. All the carefully prepared learning materials are compatible with the current school curriculum - when requirements change, so do MagiKats materials.

is very important for us. That is why we ensure all parents get regular written feedback as well as regular updates in person. We can work alongside the student’s school if the parent wishes.’

No child is limited, and all students are given every op portunity to excel and realise their full potential!

spooky Newquay

multiple workshops for families

the townpumpkin carving sessions

Legion, scary storytelling at Newquay Library, and Thriller dance lessons

dances

the Royal

hour on Newquay Piazza.

the Zombie Crawl begins at 3pm at the Fore St. carpark, finishing at The Griffin Inn and a Spooky Silent Disco from 4 to 6pm.

Hair-raising Halloweek adventures at Camel Creek Family Theme Park

Camel Creek in north Cornwall has announced an electrifying lineup of spooktacular thrills and frighteningly good fun, with a whole week of terrifying activities from 22 to 30 October.

£2 off per person online with booking code BBP22

Mini witches, wizards, ghouls and gremlins can step into a spooky version of Camel Creek this Halloween half-term.

The Witch’s Grotto, House of Horrors and Stable Surprise are just some of the activities ready to petrify visitors, alongside a range of new trails with plenty of treats (and tricks) to keep visitors on their toes.

The incredibly popular Bug Ball is back this year with an extra date. Taking place on 27, 28 and 29 October from 6.30 to 8pm, children young and old can dance the night away to a spooky disco, tuck into a food box full of treats, and immerse themselves in frightful Halloween games, before braving the scary soft play area.

Tickets for the Bug Ball are £8 for non-members or £7.20 for members (discount not applicable). Adult food options available.

Throughout the hair-raising Halloweek, bold adventurers can also visit Camel Creek’s scariest residents at the Reptile House and Crocodile Corner, and face their fears on Camel Creek’s thrilling rides, which in clude the sky-high Vertigo, Thunder Falls log-flume and Magic Dragon roller coaster.

today to test your

Ad Minoliti: Biosfera Peluche / Biosphere Plush

Until 30 October 2022

Experience the colourful and geometric paintings of artist Ad Minoliti, drawing on the rich legacy of geometric abstraction in Latin America.

Free for children. Book online https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/ad-minoliti

Toddle Tate

11 Oct 2022, 10.30–12.30

Play, explore, create and investigate art in these fun sessions for under 5s and their grown-ups, in our multi-sensory play space.

Free for children. Adults £1 admission or free with Locals’ Pass. https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/toddler-tate

Tate St Ives Birthday weekend

Saturday 15 / Sunday 16 October 2022

10:00 – 17:20

Join us as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of our new exten sion of the gallery with £1 entry. Help us celebrate the support and hard work of all involved in the local community. £1 entry. Free for children

Art Explorers

22-30 October 2022, 11.00-15.00

Have fun exploring the galleries with our Sketchbook, Explorer Backpacks and Tate Shapes activities. Peek at paintings with our Buggy Walk or pick up an Art Challenge card.

Free with admission: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-stives/art-explorers

Get your £5 Locals’ Pass!

Cornwall residents get unlimited year-round entry to Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden for just £5

https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/tate-st-ives-lo cals-pass

Photo © Tate (Sonal Bakrania)

TAEKWON-DO HAYLE & PENZANCE

First Month Free

Now in Hayle:

Passmore Edwards Institute Fridays from 6pm

Penzance:

Mounts Bay Academy

Tuesday 6-7 pm (5-11 years)

Tuesday 7-8 pm (11 years +) 07794 538018

barney_tkd@hotmail.co.uk www.tkd.co.uk

Reality - Laser Tagrazetheroof.co.uk Penryn

Mons Minnows Tales, NMMC, Falmouth, term time, drop-in 11 to 11.30am, stories, songs, and rhymes for under 5s, free, adults free with annual pass

Tues Penzance Taekwon-Do, Mounts Bay Academy, early evening classes for children for 5 to 11 years & for 11+, first month free! 077945 38018

Fridays Storytelling, The Box, Plymouth, every Friday 10.30am, free admission

Sats Brand-new Junior Jailers Guided Tours, Bodmin Jail, step back in time with the grimy Georgians and villain ous Victorians 10.30am, for brave 7 years +, £12.50 & adults £15

Free Arty Afternoons, Penlee House, Penzance, 2.30 to 3.30pm

From 8 Oct to 23 Dec

Plymouth hosts British Art Show 9, inspiring The Box’s free family-friendly events - 8, 22, 23, 25 Oct: make collages to add to a huge, paper patchwork; 26 to 29 Oct: Try Gelli Plate printing, www.theboxplymouth.com

11 Oct Toddle Tate, Tate St Ives, 10.30am to 12.30pm, play, explore, create & investigate art, fun sessions for under 5s, see page 9

15 Oct Annual Apple Day, Chyan Cultural Centre, near Penryn, 12noon to 6pm, celebrate harvest, apple juicing, archery, circus workshops, kids’ area, vegan café, crafts, live music, eco spa, £6 adults, £3 kids. www.circokernow.co.uk 07775 857677

The Goat Show, Blisland Village Hall, Bodmin, family-friendly adventure story with puppets & live music, age 6+, book via intobodmin.co.uk

15 & 16 Oct Happy Birthday Tate St Ives! Celebrate with £1 entry, free for children https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives

15 to 29 Oct Frank ‘N’ Stein’s Teddy, Soapbox Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth. A fun and inventive show for under 9s with extraordinary science, magical tricks & puppets. stiltskin.org.uk 07449 724261

15 to 31 Oct Penny Dreadful Halloween Experience , NT Lanhydrock, nr Bodmin, creepy characters from Victorian stories are alive in the nursery. Can you seek out the haunted treasure and avoid the ghostly curse? Halloween activities, printing workshop, for all ages, free with entry. Email lanhydrock@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01208 265950, please mention BlackbirdPie (BBP)

16 Oct Tales from a Haunted Bookshop, Coppice Theatre at The Old Library, Bodmin, 2pm, weird, wonderfully dark show of terrible tales, bothersome books and gruesome goings on for horrid children & irresponsible adults, tickets via intobodmin.co.uk

18 to 22 Bugsy Malone, Theatre Royal Plymouth, joyous musical comedy, 6+, 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

21 to 31 Dead of Night Dance, Rogue Otherworld at Tehidy Woods, nr Portreath 07814 558871

22 Oct Hauntlands Screamfest Kids, Heartlands, Pool, 2 to 5pm, trick or treat, Halloween Scream Zone, meet scary characters, wicked activities, ghoulish games, & best-dressed comp; £8 child (+ adult free)

22 & 23 Oct Falmouth Book Festival children’s free events, Falmouth Library, book readings, Q&As, games, craft activi ties, and draw-along sessions with authors www.falmouthbookfestival.com

22, 23 & 25 Oct Family Fun: BAS9 Paper Patchwork with William Luz, The Box, Plymouth, make coloured paper collages & add to a giant patchwork, drop-in 10.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30 to 3.30pm, for 4 to 11 yrs, free

22, 24 & 25 Oct Mini PK tours & free environmental sessions, PK Porthcurno: Museum of Global Communications. 24 Oct 1pm: Mini PK half-term tours; free with entry. 22 Oct 10.30am to noon & 25 Oct 1 to 3pm: Planet PK Champions, Clore Learning centre, for 7 to 12 years, create coloured feather & tissue paper birds inspired by archive photographs of Bird Island & WW2 pigeon messengers, free, no need to book

22 to 26 Oct Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors LIVE on stage! Minack Open Air Theatre, Porthcurno, 1 & 4pm, Birmingham Stage Co. History with the nasty bits left in! From £10, under 16s half price, suitable for ages 5+, 01736 810181

22, 27, 29 Oct

Free Family Fun, Penlee House, Penzance, drop-in 2.30 to 3.30pm, 01736 363625 www.penleehouse.org.uk

22 to 29 Oct Pumpkin Picking, Lobbs Farm Shop, Heligan, St Austell, tractor & trailer ride, PYO pumpkin to carve at home, mini tractors, trailers & wheelbarrows, meet ewes & lambs, free slice of homemade traybake & shop 10%off, 5 time slots a day, £8 child book via www.eventbrite.co.uk Autumn trail, NT Trelissick, explore with an activity pack of ideas & activities on autumn colours & wildlife, free pack & pencils, email trelissick@nationaltrust.org.uk or 01872 862090, please mention BBP

22 to 30 Oct Halloweek adventures, mini witches, wizards, ghouls and gremlins step into a spooky version of Camel Creek, £2 off pp with BBP22, see page 9 Halloween at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, 10am to 5pm, ghoulishly good fun with Dennis, Gnasher & friends; solve creepy clues around the grounds, meet costumed performers with supernatural tales. Book online for best prices www.english-heritage.org.uk

Family Art

Be an Art Explorer, Tate St Ives, 11am to 3pm, with Sketchbook, Explorer Backpacks, Tate Shapes activities & Art Challenge card; Peek at paintings with Buggy Walk. Free with entry, under 18s free entry, £5 Locals’ Annual Pass! See page 9 Howl-o-ween! Newquay Zoo creepy half-term activities, join the rangers for ‘Fact or frightful fiction’, fangtastic daily animal talks, & play ‘Trick or don’t eat,’ free with entry, best prices: www.newquayzoo.org.uk Spooktacular Creepy Halloween Half Term, Paradise Park, Hayle, 23, 25, 28 & 29 Oct 10am to 12.30pm: Mark’s Ark creepy crawly wildlife encounters; Pumpkin Trail & Halloween-inspired dinosaurs and skeletons lurking around the Park; Halloween-themed Jungle Express Train tunnel; spot the extraordinary Dracula Parrot & Halloween-inspired enrichment food for birds and beasts! paradisepark.org.uk 01736 751020 Spooky Halloween Lantern Trail, Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Charlestown, wander the dark corridors, spooky stories, creepy crafts, ghoulish games & prizes for costumes. Book www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk Creepy Crab Invasion, The National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow, is being taken over by creepy crabs, spooky games, crafts, treasure hunts, free with entry www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk/whatson Scaryland, Dairyland Farm Park, near Newquay, creepy craft workshops, PYO pumpkin & have it carved, explore Park & Bull Pen Soft Play. Tractor ride in Witches’ Wood +£3. Book on dairyland.touchtakeaway.net

22 to 30 Oct cont.

Cheeky piskies & Cornish tales Halloween trail, Cotehele NT & Harvest Celebration, Cotehele Mill, bakers’ treats, leaf rubbings & crowns, free with entry, cotehele@nationaltrust.org.uk or 01579 350606, mention BBP

Halloweden, Eden Project, bewitching torchlit trail of the Rainforest Biome at twilight, mysterious Magpie Trail, wild stories, weave a web workshops, Halloween puppet show, Pumpkin Weekend: 29 & 30th, & spooky ice rink must book www.edenproject.com

Nature trail, NT Trerice, outdoor games like Cornish kayle (skittles), nature-themed brass rubbing, email trerice@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01637 875404 please mention BBP

23 & 25 Oct Shivers & Shadows, Squashbox Theatre’s first-ever Halloween show with puppets, comedy, scary stories & songs, for brave children aged 6+. 23 Oct 2pm: Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, www.seetickets.com; 25 Oct 7pm: Acorn Theatre, Penzance, www.theacornpenzance.com 01736 363545

23 to 27 & 30 Oct

Family fun, Trengwainton NT, play autumn colours bingo, make leaf bunting, free with entry, email trengwainton@nationaltrust.org.uk or 01736 363148, please mention BBP

24 to 28 Oct Half-term fun, Bodmin Keep, make peg soldiers, a medal or poppy brooch; dressing-up; special object han dling & more, free with entry or £2 per session; for daily schedule & booking www.bodminkeep.org Adventure Holiday Club, Via Ferrata Cornwall, Longdowns, exciting half and full-day childcare for 6 to 13-year-olds, viaferratacornwall.co.uk

24, 28 & 29 Oct Family Lego workshop, Bridging the Tamar Visitor Centre, St Budeaux, 10am to noon, 2 to 4pm, must book www.eventbrite.co.uk £4 child, accompanying adult free

24 to 28 Oct Allantide Harvest Fun, Wheal Martyn, St Austell, 11am to 3pm, apple printing, corn dolly making, clay play & bug house painting, £1 to £4, email to book engagementofficer@wheal-martyn.com mention BBP

25 Oct FREE creative sessions, The Meadow Barns Centre, Par, mining stories, writing, drama, drawing & making for all ages, outdoors & in the library, gates open 10 a.m. First session 11am, must book on 07967 653346 Justin Live, Theatre Royal Plymouth, CBeebies Justin Fletcher’s all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza, 11am & 2.30pm, 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

Autumn Stories around a paper bonfire, The Poly, Falmouth 10.30am & 12.30pm, join artist Emily Luke for story workshop, ages 5+, £10.50 per child, thepoly.org/whats-on/event/2063/autumn-stories-around-a-paper-bonfire

26 Oct Katie’s Black Hole Adventure, Little Trebiggan Theatre at The Poly, Falmouth, 11am & 2pm, fun, frolics, musi cal fusion, a disappearing Dad, Blackholes and a little bit of science, thepoly.org 01326 319461

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show, Launceston Town Hall, 2.30pm, with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and howling jelly babies! Age 5+ www.tickettailor.com

26 & 28 Oct Family activity days, 26 Oct: Upper Tamar Lake, Holsworthy, 28 Oct: Stithians Lake, Redruth. Join Environ ment Rangers for autumnal crafts, campfire cooking & spooky twists. 10am to12.30pm & 1.30 to 4pm, adults £2, over 5s £3, under 5s free, must book: www.swlakestrust.org.uk/Event 01566 771930 mention BBP

26 to 29 Oct YouTube sensation Gelli Plate printing, The Box, Plymouth, make beautiful prints using household objects, drop-in 10.30am to 12.30pm, 1.30 to 3.30pm, for 4 to 11 yrs, free

26, 27 & 30 Oct Halloween, Helston Railway, Trevarno Farm, Prospidnick, spooky happenings are going on at the railway… Trick or treat? 07901 977597

26 to 30 Oct Lowender Peran Festival: Cornwall’s traditional music, dance, songs, storytelling and Celtic links, Redruth, family activities at Kresen Kernow, street performances, Shinty and Cornish Wrestling demonstrations, food & folk, music & dance workshops, music & song sessions, ticketsource.co.uk/Lowender 03336 663366

27...29 Bug Ball, Camel Creek, 6.30 to 8pm, spooky disco, Halloween games & food, scary soft play, see page 9

28 Oct Jungle Jack’s famous Halloween party! Newquay, 5 to 7pm, £10 child, £1.50 adult, tickets from 01637 852890 or from Jungle Jack’s reception

28 & 29 Oct Moana Jr. Minack Open Air Theatre, Porthcurno, 1 & 4pm, Minack Theatre & British Theatre Academy’s musical adaptation of the Disney film 01736 810181

28 to 30 Oct Tales from a Haunted Bookshop, Coppice Theatre, details see 16 Oct. 28 Oct The Library, St Ives, craft activities 2pm & storytelling 4pm; 29 Oct 2 & 5pm, Museum of Cornish Life, Helston www.eventbrite.com; 30 Oct 2pm: The Acorn, Penzance, www.theacornpenzance.com 01736 363545

29 Oct Spooky Science evening event, The Box, Plymouth, 5.30 to 8.30pm, explore the galleries by torchlight, sci ence experiments, dance to spooky tracks, adults & ages 5+ £7, under 5s £6, book my.theboxplymouth.com Spooktacular Halloween party, Raze the Roof, Penryn. 5 to 7pm, prizes for all in fancy dress, ghastly games & activities, Spoon ‘n’ Eyeball races, haunted disco. Spooks £ 11 (includes haunted hot dog and spooky juice), adults 50p. Plus ZOMBIE VR games! Book on 01326 377481 Email: hello@razevr.fun www.razevr.fun/book Autumn Rockpool Ramble, Hannafore Beach, West Looe, join local experts & search for cool crabs & stun ning starfish, 2.30 to 4pm, donations welcome, book on 07926 091345 or email looemcg.events@gmail.com

30 Oct Play Opera LIVE Dinosaur Discoveries, Theatre Royal Plymouth, WNO’s interactive family experience, 1pm free foyer activities - treasure hunt & face painting; show at 4pm, for all ages www.theatreroyal.com

31 Oct Halloween at NMMC, Falmouth, dress as ghosts and ghouls, 11am: spooky stories for under 5s. 12.30 to 5.30pm: create spook-tacular Halloween masks & wands, pumpkins Museum Trail, 3.30 to 6pm, family-friendly tricks, treats & tales, FREE with entry, pay once for a year.

5 Nov Guy Fawkes Night: Bonfire & Fireworks Free Spectacular, Heartlands, Pool, from 4pm fairground, tasty food & drink, live entertainment, 6.30pm: bonfire lighting, 8pm: fireworks, all free (local sponsors).

18 Nov Truro’s Christmas celebrations begin, 3pm Pirate FM, live entertainment from 5pm, Christmas Lights switchon 7pm & Santa’s parade. Big Festive Shop Small Market, Lemon Quay until 9pm www.visittruro.org.uk

24 Nov to 14/01

26 Nov to 10/12

to 31

Pinocchio, Theatre Royal Plymouth, the classic story combined with Stuff and Nonsense’s hallmark hilarity, puppets, music & physical tricks; for ages 3 to 10, 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sterts Amphitheatre, Upton Cross, spectacular musical under a magical, technicolour canopy. 01579 362382 www.sterts.co.uk

Free

Long John Silver, hallforcornwall.co.uk 01872 262466

Treasure Island, Hall for Cornwall, Truro, Christmas adventure starring Edward Rowe (Kernow King)

Theatre Shows and Pantomimes

Blisland Village Hall, Bodmin,

15 Oct: The Goat Show.

Running Dog Theatre & Emma Baskeyfield’s rollicking adventure story about goats, division, conflict, action & a competitive poo collection! Family-friendly show mixing puppetry, storytelling & live music, age 6+

Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth stiltskin.org.uk 07449 724261

15 to 29 Oct: Frank ‘N’ Stein’s Teddy. Frank and Stein accidently break their teddy Victor. Can our two madcap scientists put teddy back together again? A fun and inventive show with extraordinary science, magical tricks and puppets for children under 9.

Coppice Theatre on tour

16 Oct 2pm: The Old Library, Bodmin intobodmin.co.uk

28 Oct 2 to 5pm: The Library, St Ives, craft activities 2pm & storytelling 4pm.

29 Oct, 2 & 5pm: The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston https://www.eventbrite.com

30 Oct 2pm: The Acorn, Penzance

Tales from a Haunted Bookshop, a spooky show of terrible tales, bothersome books and gruesome goings on! Miss Cordelia Hemlock has tasked her assistant, Ransome Squelch, with traveling the world and snatching despicable stories to be lovingly bound into books. A weird and wonderful show for horrid children and irresponsible adults.

Theatre Royal Plymouth, 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com

25 Oct 11am, 2.30pm: Justin Live, CBeebies superstar and children’s favourite Justin Fletcher live on stage in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza.

18 to 22 Oct: Bugsy Malone, a joyously uplifting musical comedy set in Prohibition era, New York. Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s revival of Alan Parker’s acclaimed movie. Age 6+

30 Oct: Play Opera LIVE Dinosaur Discoveries Welsh National Opera’s fun and interactive family experience - meet members of WNO Orchestra, learn fun facts and enjoy great music in a relaxed setting; beginning at 1pm with free foyer activities, a treasure hunt and face painting. The show at 4pm, is for all ages and features vivid video projections, narration by Tom Redmond and Steve Pickett’s Dinosaur Rumpus, based on Tony Mitton’s children’s book.

24 Nov to 14 Jan: Pinocchio. In this adaptation expect the classic elements of the story combined with Stuff and Nonsense’s hallmark hilarity, skilled puppetry, original music and extraordinary physical tricks; for ages 3 to 10. Pyjama Party performances 2, 9, 26 Dec &

13 Jan. Relaxed performance 30 Nov, BSL Interpreted 21 Dec, Relaxed with BSL & Audio 7 Jan.

The Poly, Falmouth thepoly.org 01326 319461

26 Oct 11am & 2pm: Little Trebiggan Theatre’s Katie’s Black Hole Adventure. Katie’s 10th birthday Science kit is lethal! Expect fun, frolics, musical fusion, a disappearing Dad, Blackholes and a little bit of science.

21 to 31 Oct: Dead Of Night Dance, a wild woodland magic treat with all new dead good stories, for spirits of all ages. Wander the winding woodland path to Mrs. Logan’s underworld stage (under an open-sided canvas tent to keep you dry). After the show, shake your bones at the Dead of Night Dance Disco!

Squashbox Theatre

Squashbox’s first-ever Halloween show. Join Craig as he explores his Great Uncle Vladimir’s creepy mansion and meets some of its strange and spooky inhabitants. Expect an overflowing cauldron of a show, bubbling with ingenious pup petry and comedy, seasoned with scary stories and songs, for brave children aged 6+.

23 Oct 2pm: Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, www.seetickets.com

25 Oct 7pm: Acorn Theatre, Penzance, 01736 363545, www.theacornpenzance.com

The Minack Open Air Theatre, Porthcurno, 01736 810181 Tickets from £10, under 16s half price

22 to 26 Oct 1 & 4pm: Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors presented by Birmingham Stage Company. We all want to meet people from history, the trouble is everyone is dead! But prepare yourselves for Terrible Tudors LIVE on stage! From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and survive the Spanish Armada as they launch their attack! It’s history with the nasty bits left in! For age 5+

28 to 29 Oct 1 & 4pm: Moana Jr. Minack Theatre Production & British Theatre Academy’s musical adaptation of the 2016 Disney film. Moana and the legendary demi-god Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie, accompanied by all the beloved songs, including How Far I’ll Go, Shiny, and You’re Welcome Launceston Town Hall, 01566 773693 www.tickettailor.com

26 Oct 2.30 pm: Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies! Awarded ‘Best Kid’s Show at Edinburgh Fringe’. For children age 5+ and adults.

Sterts Amphitheatre, Upton Cross near Liskeard, 01579 362382 www.sterts.co.uk

26 Nov to 10 Dec: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

This much-loved Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice spectacular musical storms the Sterts stage this winter under a magical, technicolour canopy. The biblical story features iconic musical theatre classics including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door and Go, Go, Go Joseph. A Sterts Youth Company amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.

From 16 Dec: Elf The Musical, tickets on sale soon.

Hall for Cornwall produces Treasure Island this Christmas

Hall for Cornwall, Truro hallforcornwall.co.uk 01872 262466

1 to 31 Dec: Treasure Island Ahoy there shipmates...Ready yourself for a classic Hall for Cornwall Christmas adventure starring Edward Rowe (Kernow King, Fisherman’s Friends The Musical, Bait) as Long John Silver in Treasure Island. This Cornwall Playhouse Production is a festive treat packed to the gunnels with family fun, songs you’ll know, and enough jolly jokes to make even the sternest pirate giggle! Like all the best stories, our tale begins in Cornwall, where Jim, his Mum, and their pet chough have fallen on hard times. All looks lost until a tattered treasure map lands in Jim’s lap and their destiny is decided... if only they can find a boat, a crew, and safe passage to a mysterious faraway island...

Will they find the treasure? Can they evade steely Long John Silver, fearsome Lady Killigrew, and mischievous Brian the monkey? Join Jim Lad, his flamboyantly dressed Mum, and our motley crew of ne’er do wells and wrong-uns as we set sail for a magical island full of treasure, treachery, and adventure. With tickets from just £15 as well as family tickets and great group rates, don’t miss the boat, book your passage now for the best Christmas Adventure in Cornwall!

Miracle Theatre on:

8 to 11 Dec: St Ives Guildhall 01736 798577 stivesguildhall.ticketsolve.com

15 to 17, 20 to 24 & 27 to 31 Dec: Princess Pavilion, Falmouth 01326 211222 www.seetickets.com

Ready yourselves for a re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty and the adventures of a resourceful princess with insomnia when a resentful fairy’s wicked spell goes horribly wrong… Be transported to the stage of the Cornwall Riviera Holiday Camp in 1959 where the legendary Yellowjackets are bursting to entertain the campers with their mangled version of this classic story; told with a song and a dance; a wink and a nudge! A scary-fairy-tale for ages 7+. Lane Theatre, Newquay lanetheatre.co.uk 01637 876945

8 to 11 Dec: Snow White Odd Socks Entertainment’s traditional pantomime with the odd modern reference. Regal Theatre, Redruth. 01209 216278 redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre

11 Dec 11am & 2pm; 12 Dec 10.30am & 1pm: Santa Saves Christmas

Join Jack, Dasher the Reindeer, and Pompom the Penguin, for this festive, musical, interactive adventure, as they meet Father Christmas at his home in the North Pole and help Santa Save Christmas! HOHO-HO! The family show is designed for 2- to 7-year-olds, with plenty of festive songs including The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Merry Christmas. After the 45-minute show Meet & Greet Santa (every child will receive a wrapped present from Father Christmas)

11 to 15 Jan: Dick Whittington, book ahead for RAMPS marvelous family pantomime!

Award-winning Kidz R Us, St Ives Theatre 01736 797007 www.kidzrus.net

Fresh from their sell-out summer season production of Matilda, Kidz R Us are already rehearsing for their blockbuster Christmas production Elf the Musical JR on 20 to 23, 27 to 30 Dec 2pm & 6.30pm. This fun family musical is for all ages, with plenty of large ensemble numbers. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to a new home at the North Pole. As the wouldbe elf grows, his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth so he sets off to New York City to discover his true identity. There he finds his father is on the naughty list and his stepbrother doesn’t believe in Santa! Buddy must help New York and his new family remember the true meaning of Christmas. Solomon Browne Hall, Mousehole 01872 384448 cousinjacks.org

We are hoping that The Mousehole Cat will be returning to Mousehole for a 7th Christmas. We were enthralled by the actors, live folk music and singing, and an utterly convincing life-size cat puppet. Early booking is advised, it’s always a sell-out.

Helston Theatre Company at Epworth Hall, 01726 879500

25 to 29 Jan: Jack and the Beanstalk Jam-packed with comedy, song and dance plus a giant beanstalk.

Our reporter, Josh Talbot, caught up with the People Hub team here in Cornwall.

It sounds like an impressive pack of FREE financial and coaching aids to really give families a boost to their finances this winter. With every thing that’s happening with cost-of-living and fuel prices, this feels well timed. So what happens if someone contacts the People Hub?

When you contact the People Hub, one of our friendly team members here in Cornwall will guide you through a short and easy personal action plan, and discuss relevant courses, qualifi cations, funding and support that you can access this autumn.

What sort of help and advice do you offer?

Maybe a GCSE maths qualification could boost your job prospects, or a bit of training could help you get into accounting. Do you fancy working from home? Or maybe you just need a confidence boost and some help with CV writing and with interview skills. There are also life-skills courses to help if you’ve been out of work for a while.

What if I am worried about paying for travel and other things?

On the financial side, there’s help with transport and childcare whilst people are on courses, and sometimes we can even pay for uniforms or new tools if you get that new job.

Or do you need any help sorting your bills and rent issues? Call us. We can signpost you to the right people to help get you back on track.

Is all this help free?

To be honest, there is a lot of funded support at the People Hub. It’s available to people who live in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, it’s all free, so with the kids back at school, why not take advantage of this and give yourself (and your family finances) a boost? Just contact us on 0333 015 0699 or hello@peoplehub.info

What are people reporting back?

Lisa says: ‘I did it! Just wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to you all for your training, support and help. The training sessions have been invaluable and really prepared me for the virtual world in ways I could not have imagined. I’m pretty sure yesterday’s interview would have been a very different experience without your input over the last few months and without Sue helping me to completely revamp my CV and bring forth my transferrable skills. I got my wish to transition from part-time retail into full-time remote work and I’m incredibly grateful.’

Thank you. People Hub sounds really helpful.

Improve your life admin with confidential advice and guidance.

Free one-to-one professional time.

Life Coaching, with a focus on skills and training to gain better employment.

People Hub Connector Emma loves giving people the boost they need.

Flu Season is back…….

It has been an unsettled couple of years but, and I say this with optimism, maybe things are getting back to a state of normal. We’ve all spent much of the past 2 years social distancing and wearing masks, therefore gaining some protection from diseases such as flu.

Flu has never gone away. It isn’t a simple cold. It can be a dangerous disease with serious complications, but we are ready for our annual fight-back!

Maria Harvey - Director of Integrated Community Care Services

We in the School-Age Immunisation Team at Kernow Health, have started our busy primary school nasal flu vaccination programme. Some of you will have already received a letter from us, kindly sent out on our behalf by your child’s school, with a link to an online consent form.

If you haven’t had a letter yet, one will be heading your way over the coming weeks. This is an opt-in process which means your child will only receive the vaccine if you consent.

Don’t worry if they are absent on the day of our visit, we run community clinics as well so you’ll have every opportunity to get your child immunised.

Vaccination in schools ensures we can reach as many eligible children as possible; we can’t do this vital work without the support of our amazing Cornish schools. We’ll let you know as soon as we can about proposals for the nasal flu vaccine in secondary schools.

If you would prefer to speak with us, or if you have internet problems (not a rarity in some of our areas) and can’t access the consent form, please call us on 01872 221105 and we can complete it with you over the phone.

If you have any questions, please call us. We are always very happy to help.

Blackbird Reads

The Age of the Dinosaurs by Deborah Wright

That’s not my Dinosaur by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells published by Usborne Dinosaurs for babies and toddlers?

Well, I suppose it’s never too early to start a dino obsession, though this might appeal more to older siblings sharing with a baby. Part of Usborne’s touchy-feely series, the colours are bold and the feely patches are fun to touch, even though the furry stegosaurus plates are totally fanciful!

The Greatest Show on Earth by Mini Grey published by Puffin

To put it all in context, this fascinating book traces the 4.6 bil lion-year story of life on our planet. The stage is set on every page, with a timeline in the orchestra pit, detailed commentary in the wings, and on the stage a different scene in the life of the world. Told by a troupe of zany insects. It’s all hugely entertaining, and very in formative. Dinosaurs feature prominently of course, whereas humans are a mere blink. For 6+

100 First Dinosaur Words by Dawn Sirett, illustrated by Rachael Hare published by Dorling Kindersley Young children love dinosaur names, the longer and more complicated the better, and DK have cleverly tapped into this obsession. Pronunciation is in brackets, which is just as well when you’re struggling with Hypsilophodon, Tuojiangosaurus and Compsognathus. Are these tongue-twisters part of the appeal? Lots of brightly coloured illustrations, printed on thick board. For 3+

Age of the Dinosaurs by Jonny Marx, illustrated by Christiane Engel published by Little Hands Learning

A dinosaur activity box accompanies a nicely scary book with pop-up dinosaurs on every page baring their teeth and terrifying each other – and us. The activity box includes a tin of salt dough, grass seeds, compost, glue and a little dino, with ideas for making and baking your own fossils. Highly creative and entertaining. For 3+ There are also invstigator boxes for 6+

Dinosaur Atlas: a Journey Through Time to the Prehistoric World by Tom Jackson and Maggie Li published by Quarto

A serious fact book which will appeal to older children who enjoy lots of detailed information. Dinosaurs from every part of the world are featured, each with a useful scaled silhouette of a human being –they weren’t all gigantic and terrifying. Our knowledge of dinosaurs and how they became extinct is changing all the time, and this is right up to date with the latest research. For 8+

Rex Dinosaur in Disguise by Elys Dolan published by Walker

Frozen in a block of ice for thousands of years, Rex defrosts and ends up in modern day New York. He discovers some strange companions: Brian Bigfoot the Yeti, Nessy and the last dodo. Can they find jobs and survive in the city? This absurd, hilarious book also has a serious message about tolerance and learn ing to live with strangers. For 8+

Indoor Fun!

Penzance & Hayle TaekwonDo is an established martial arts club with early evening classes for children on Tuesdays for 5 to 11 years & for 11+, at Mounts Bay Academy and on Fridays in Hayle at Passmore Edwards Institute from 6pm. New members are welcome and the first month is free! Contact Simon Barnes on Barney_tkd@hotmail.co.uk or 07794 538018

Raze the Roof soft play, virtual reality & laser tag arena, Penryn. Huge, well-designed indoor play area including a vertical drop slide, four lane astro-slide, bash bags, rollers and rope walks, plus loads for toddlers. Zumbini with Chelsea Tuesdays from 9.30am and kids boxing Thursdays from 5pm. 29 Oct, 5 to 7pm: celebrate Halloween in ghoulish style at a spooktacular party! Prizes for all in Halloween fancy dress, ghastly games & activities including Spoon ‘n’ Eyeball races and haunted disco. Spooks £11(includes a haunted hot dog and spooky juice), adults 50p. Plus ZOMBIE VR games! Book on 01326 377481 Email: hello@razevr.fun www.razevr.fun/book

RazeVR has virtual reality games for all ages, and for parties. Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Charlestown, 22 to 30 Oct: Lights off spooky Halloween Lantern Trail… are you brave enough to wander through the dark corridors and listen to the spooky stories along the way? Expect creepy crafts for all ages, ghoulish games and a special prize for the best Halloween costume. Book on www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk

Jungle Jack’s, Newquay have 1,700 square feet of challenging climbs, rope bridge, astra-glide slide, crafty crawl tubes and a baby and toddler area. Book in advance & use discount code BBP01OFF www.junglejacks.co.uk

Free play & entry for under 1s, adult entry just £1.50. Get unlimited access with the Annual Pass at the equivalent of just £10 a month. 28 Oct 5 to 7pm: Jungle Jack’s famous Halloween party is back! £10 child, £1.50 adult from 01637 852890 or reception or email info@junglejacks.co.uk

Falmouth Art Gallery, free entry, and activities. Artist-led family drop-in workshops on the first Saturday of the month 10am to 1pm. All other Saturdays: doodle table available all day, self-led creative activity. Baby Paint, Baby Jam and Little Fingers early years’ sessions available. www.falmouthartgallery.com 01326 313863.

Wheal Play, Heartlands, Pool. Bright and colourful mining-themed soft play centre with a cheery team. Open Monday to Sunday, call 01209 707308 for times. Child £4.95 adults £1, local’s discount available for TR postcodes!

Discovering 42 - Reimagining Reality at Narisa Hall, Priory Park, Bodmin. Explore the weird and wonderful quirks of science with interactive artworks crafted from waste materials, for children and adults. Adults £5, 5 to 17yrs £2.50, under 5s free! www.discovering42.co.uk

Celtic Tossers, have fun tossing axes at targets. Tuition is provided (lightweight metal axe for 8-year-olds available), centres in Truro, Plymouth and Exeter. 01872 857330 www.theceltictossers.co.uk

Could you be a Volunteer Advocate?

Barnardo’s Advocates empower children and young people (mainly those experiencing the care system or involved in child protection proceedings) to make sure their rights are respected and their voices are heard. Advocates represent their views, thoughts and feelings in meetings. We offer advocacy to 6–18-year-old children and young people in Cornwall.

We’re looking for approachable, confident, encouraging people who are great communicators and able to listen to children and young people, supporting them to engage and to share their views.

We visit children and young people to write down their views and type these up in preparation for their meeting. Meetings are attended to represent these views to family, carers and professionals, either face-to-face or via Microsoft Teams.

You will be supported by our team of Advocates, and assigned an Advocate to be your supervisor, who you will meet with regularly.

If you have time and flexibility during school hours, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our Volunteer Co-odinator for further information: email: allison.piggott@barnardos.org.uk tel: 07517 830 730.

INCREDIBLE things happen when we believe in children