Free Move More classes for over 65s

People in Cornwall aged 65 and over now have access to free classes aimed at helping them to build strength and balance and reduce the risk of falling. 

Called Move More, the programme is provided by Falmouth-based company iCareiMove and funded by Cornwall Council's Public Health team.

Incredibly rare (and extremely cute) seahorse spotted

Cornwall Council nature recovery officer Alicia Shephard was enjoying a beach walk on her lunchbreak when she spotted a long-snouted seahorse bobbing along in the surf.

She got her phone out and managed to film the tiny armoured sea creature as it floated above the seabed. It's one of only 7 long-snouted seahorses spotted in Cornish waters in the last decade.

The species faces challenges in the wild including loss of their natural habitats, over fishing and climate change. Their poor swimming skills puts a tight rein on their roaming ability, making migration to more hospitable waters difficult.

Research shows that seahorse populations have undergone rapid declines . If you'd like to help protect biodiversity in Cornwall, you can make a Pledge for Nature. Find pledge ideas on the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Nature Partnership website.
 

Majority of Cornish children secure place at preferred primary school

Parents in Cornwall found out on Tuesday 16 April which primary school their child has been allocated, with more than 97% offered their first preference.

We received 4,830 applications for reception places for September 2024, of which 4,715 have been offered a place at their first preference school. This equates to 97.62%, which is higher than last year’s figure of 95.82% and above last year’s national average of 92.5%. (The national figure for 2024 is not yet available.) Almost every child (99.83%) in Cornwall received a place at their first, second or third preference school this year, compared to 98.99% last year.

For useful information and advice on starting school, check out our Starting School Checklist.

Join us at our ‘Listening to You’ events

Cllr Linda Taylor, the Leader of Cornwall Council, will be out and about again later this month, through into June, to hear from residents across Cornwall.
 
The first session will take place in Callington on Friday, 19 April, with further events planned for Falmouth, Helston, Perranporth, Bude, Bodmin Truro, Redruth, Penzance and Saltash.

Linda is really looking forward to meeting you and hearing what's on your mind. She's also hoping to hear about how we can work with communities for a Carbon Neutral Cornwall, where everyone can start well, live well and age well.

We hope you will be able to join us at one of the events.

New scheme to help residents fund green home improvements

West Cornwall Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre is there for you!

There are a range of locally provided places you can access health and care from every day of the week all without an appointment - from your local pharmacy, minor injury units and West Cornwall Hospital’s urgent treatment centre. 

Some places are open late including the urgent treatment centre, which is open every day from 8am until midnight and there is no need for an appointment!

The urgent treatment centre and 10 minor injury units can help you with ailments or injuries that need attention urgently but are not critical or life-threatening. From sprains and strains, minor fractures to cuts that need stitches, insect and animal bites to suspected infections these locally provided health units are there to help you.

Remember - the Pharmacy First service can also provide you with advice and treatments for minor ailments.

Insights revealed into human remains discovered along the Cornish coast

Learn more about adoption

Childcare support is expanding

Even more working parents can get help to pay for their childcare.

Is your child a 2-year-old and you earn less than £100k per year? If so, you might be eligible to access 15 hours childcare support for your little one.

And if your child will be between 9-23 months in September, you could also be eligible for 15 hours free too.

Visit the Childcare Choices website to find out more about expansion of hours and sign up for updates.

Do you need a HUG?

Warm up your home with the Home Upgrade Grant Scheme

Are you tired of high heating costs and a cold home? The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) Scheme is here to help. This grant-funded energy efficiency scheme from the Government aims to improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of homes that do not use mains gas as their primary heat source.

We're working in partnership with OVO Energy Solutions to deliver this scheme across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With a range of energy-saving measures, the scheme aims to reduce heating costs and improve general health and wellbeing.

The scheme runs until March 2025 and aims to help around 500 eligible homes.

Help to beat exam stress

Help if you're struggling to pay your Council Tax bill

If you have no income, or you're on a low income, you might be able to apply for help to pay your Council Tax bill.

You can claim Council Tax Support if you own your own home or rent.  You can also claim if you are working or unemployed.

Entitlement to Council Tax Support is based on how much income, capital and savings your household has.

If you're already in arrears please get in touch with our team. We can help you work out a plan, which might help you worry a little less. 

We also have lots of information on other financial support that might be available if you, or someone you know, is struggling on our worried about money webpage.

Norovirus is increasing in Cornwall

Cases of the nasty Norovirus are increasing across Cornwall, and we need your help to stop the spread. 
 

If you have sickness and/or diarrhoea, please do not visit a healthcare setting (GP surgery, hospital or care home).
 

Instead stay at home, keep hydrated and keep washing your hands regularly with soap and water (alcohol gels won't kill norovirus). Stay off work (or school) and away from others until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days. 

Why you should get your blood pressure checked

An estimated 4.2 million adults in England are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure. Left untreated, it can significantly increase your risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia . 

If you're aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at a local pharmacy.  Click on the yellow button below to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you. There's no need to book!

Eat well - spend less

Tune in to episode eight of our Eat Well, Spend Less cookery video series from our Healthy Cornwall team!

We'll give you tips on how to eat healthily on a budget with everyday ingredients from your local shop. In this video we create Cottage Pie - a good option for a completely adaptable meal which could be vegan or veggie - made with any sort of mince.

It's packed full of vegetables too - at least 2, or even 3 of your 5 a day. Perfect comfort food after a busy day.

Join the 'Healthy Families Pilot' Programme

Do you want to help your family live a healthier lifestyle? Do you have a child aged 5-12 who is above their ideal weight? If so, you might be eligible for a new free programme from Healthy Cornwall and Gro Health.

This programme will give you and your family access to the Gro Health app, which is an award-winning tool to track your nutrition, activity, sleep and mood. You will also get personalised support and guidance from a health coach from the Healthy Cornwall team.

To apply you need to have at least one child aged 5-12 in your household who is above their ideal weight for their height and age. You can check this using this easy NHS BMI calculator.

But hurry, this is a pilot scheme and there are only 60 places available. Don't miss this chance to make a positive change for your family's health and happiness!

New jobs and careers website for Cornwall

There’s a new website for jobs, careers, courses, and skills for residents and businesses in Cornwall.
 
The website, created by Cornwall Council, aims to boost the economy by highlighting local career and training opportunities for people of all ages.
 
As well as jobs and apprenticeship opportunities, the website is full of useful information and tools for young people, adults, employers, teachers and parents. It provides information on upskilling, exploring new careers, getting your first step on the career ladder, preparing for interviews and more.

The site also includes a dedicated Employer Hub and a Hub for people with special educational needs.

Little moments together

The more we chat, play and read with our kids, the more we help build their brains. Any time, anywhere, whether at home or out and about, it all adds up.

There’s no need to buy lots of toys or have big days out. Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your child’s questions and sharing special moments together all help their brain to grow and develop secure and strong connections. Just what they need to get off to the right start at school.

The Start for Life website is packed with simple ideas from other parents on how to build these little moments into each day. It includes lots of examples of tips and activities for you to do together with your child at different ages, as well as links to find further support in your local area.

New planning rules to limit short term lets in Cornwall

We're welcoming the government’s introduction of new rules requiring planning permission for properties to be used as short term lets.
 
The changes, announced by Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on a visit to St Agnes last week, are aimed at limiting the number of short-term holiday lets.
 
It means that a planning application will be needed for anyone renting out their main or sole home for more than 90 nights a year, and are intended to provide support in areas where short-term lets are preventing local people from renting or buying a home. The new rules also propose other changes including a national mandatory register of  short term lets.

The new rules won't come into immediate effect and we're waiting for more details from the Government. 

Stop. Think Fraud!

Criminals are great pretenders. They may contact you pretending to be a trusted person or company.

A new national campaign Stop! Think Fraud aims to help you understand the different types of fraud and the tactics which criminals can use against you. 
 
The website helps you learn the tactics criminals use so you can see the different types of fraud, how to better protect yourselves and the people you know, as well as ways to report if you have been a victim of fraud. 

Free NHS talking therapies can help

Are you or someone you care about struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety?

Free NHS Talking Therapies could help. They're confidential, delivered by accredited NHS practitioners, and can help if you're suffering with excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

You can access free help - in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course - by referring yourself to an NHS Talking Therapy service, or by asking your GP to.

A brilliant place for children

Pupils from 9 primary schools helped launch a new wellbeing journal at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro this week.

Called My Brilliant Place to be ME! the journal has been created for the young people of Cornwall. It’s all about helping them learn to look after their wellbeing and feel good!

Headstart Kernow have created the journal with help from primary school children across our communities and it contains a range of activities and information that young people can work through at their own pace, at school, at home or on the move. The launch coincided with this week's Children’s Mental Health Week.

The journal is free and available to everyone online. Printed copies will also be available to local children through schools.