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Getting involved in your local community

Join local groups, find activities and other ways to feel connected with your local area

Being part of your local community has many benefits, including  

  • helping you to feel a sense of belonging 
  • enhancing your support networks 
  • helping you to feel valued.  

To support you in being a part of your local community, we will share opportunities with you regularly, including offering advice, information and support.  

Your pathway plan will help you access and become a part of your community. This includes identifying specific resources, groups, clubs and activities that you enjoy or would like to try.  

Discounted activities

We have developed strong working relationships with many local businesses. We regularly update our database with new opportunities, events, social opportunities and work experience/training opportunities. This includes free or discounted football tickets, zoo passes, aquapark tickets and swimming sessions.  

Work experience and training

A growing number of opportunities are now becoming available for work experience, training and apprenticeships. This includes a cost-free lifeguard course that will enable you to qualify as a lifeguard. Please speak to your personal advisor about the latest exciting opportunities.  

Participation groups

We feel it is important to offer you opportunities to be heard, to help shape services and have opportunity to meet other young people.  

Our Children in Care Council is open to young people in Torbay aged 12 to 25 and help to shape council services and support 

You can also give feedback about the service you have received from us, by contacting the Point of You feedback service. 

Find out more about our participation groups 

Registering to vote

Voting is a way to participate in decision making around local and national issues that are important to you. To be eligible to vote you must be 18 years of age. Your personal advisor will fully support you with the voting process, making sure you can access a voting polling station and advise on what you need to take with you in the form of identification. If you are 18 and have not yet registered to vote in Torbay, you can register to vote online 

Transport and travel

We recognise that access to transport is important to many of our care experienced young people. We are working hard with our local transportation companies to enhance our offer to make sure this is more financially accessible for you. If you are struggling to pay for transport, including to attend important cultural events, to see people important to you who may live some distance away, to get to job interviews or to travel to collect prescriptions, please contact your personal advisor who can offer you support.  

Learning to drive

If you would like to learn how drive, please speak to your personal advisor, who will incorporate it into your pathway plan. They will also discuss a support package, which could include support towards the costs of your provisional license, theory test, driving lessons and the practical test.