We’re inviting schools, youth clubs, families and carers of children and young people to visit us at our stand at the Devon County Show next month, on Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 May 2023.
We’re making ‘children and families’ the theme of our stand as part of our commitment for Devon to be the best place to grow for children and young people; a safe and green county that provides young people with the best possible start in life; that educates its children well, equipping them for employment or training and successful futures that enable them to live and thrive in Devon.
And we’ve got a wide selection of exhibitors on our stand this year, with activities, competitions, support and advice for young people and their families and carers.
For the first time we are excited to announce that Sound Communities will be bringing their ‘Boom Bus’ to the stand, and will be using music, radio and creative media production to demonstrate and teach visitors new skills that can help build self-confidence and improve young people’s mental wellbeing.
There will be opportunities for digital music and podcast making, DJing, rapping, beatboxing and more. There’ll even be a silent disco!
If you enjoy music then don’t forget to visit The Music Hub stage on Avenue K and listen to live musical performances from Devon schools and youth groups across the three show days.
For parents and carers of younger children through to late teens, our Public Health Nursing team will be on the stand. They’ll be offering health advice to help your family, children and young people to grow and flourish, including information on mental health and wellbeing as well as a comfortable baby-friendly feeding area.
Tiny Travels, also on our stand this year, will be offering families a fun, interactive educational opportunity to learn about different world cultures, featuring instruments, crafts and play food from around the world. There will also be a colouring table, reading corner, puzzles and music.
Our Fostering service will be there to talk to people who are interested in the vital, positive role that foster carers play in the lives of the children in care in Devon. They’ll be offering advice on how you can plan your fostering journey, and the difference you could make to the life of a child or young person that needs a home.
This year, Fostering Devon will be proudly supported by the Exeter Chiefs Community, and they’ll be joining the team on the stand on Friday with fun games and the chance to win a signed Exeter Chiefs rugby ball.
Recycle Devon will be also there, helping families to learn recycling skills to input into everyday life.
They’ll be encouraging young people to take part in gaining their Recycle Devon Guides and Scouts badges. And they’ll be providing activities and competitions, with a prize draw every hour; and recycling games teaching people how to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost more of their waste.
They’ll also have guidance on what people should and shouldn’t be putting in their bins.
And by way of refreshment, we’ll have The Coffee Stop – a local converted mobile coffee van serving freshly ground barista-made coffee alongside a variety of delicious locally made cakes and savouries. Plus, South West Water is providing one of their FREE water refill stations so you can stay hydrated throughout the show.
You’ll find our Devon County Council at Stand 325, Road 8.
But if that’s not enough, families with younger children will want to find our Farmwise stand, on Road 9, where there will be goats, sheep, cows, rabbits and pigs!
Farmwise is all about connecting children with the sources of their food, so on the stand will be lots of activities that children and young people, parents and carers can all role up their sleeves to get involved with, including:
- turning cream into butter
- thrashing corn to get the corn from the stalks
- milling the corn into flour
- milling oil seed rape to turn it into oil
- turning apples into juice
Visitors will also be able to make pasties and experience a lambing simulator!
Please come and find us!
How to get to the Devon County Show
Devon County Show, Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ
By Car – the show ground is just 1 mile from M5 Junction 30 on A3052 – just follow the signs.
By Bus – from Exeter Bus Station (Sidwell), Sidmouth, Seaton, Honiton, and Lyme Regis.
By Bike – the show ground is just 1mile from the edge of Exeter and accessible from the city by an off-road cycle path. Click here for interactive Devon cycle map.
There is free cycle parking at every entrance.