Thumbbuddies - DeCouto 'Forward Thinking People'

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The Thumb Buddies are proud to support Child-Safe

Child-Safe is a registered international children and young person's charity involved in travel, sport, community groups and specific school programmes.

Our aims are to provide practical advice, promote the safety, welfare and pastoral care of children and young people involved in such activities.

This initiative (originating from work within the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, UK)

is about empowering young people, improving care and reducing opportunities of abuse in it's widest sense. Our product portfolio promotes good practice, provides support and advice to parents, organisers, volunteers, schools and, most importantly, children and young people themselves.

We at DeCouto urge everyone who is concerned with preventative action for our children to support this dedicated organisation. Your donations are truly appreciated! Please contact Child-Safe directly for invaluable information and your contribution. Stay Safe!

Thumb Buddies in the Media!

Supporters of a new Plymouth business have gathered on the Hoe to applaud its socially-responsible values. DeCouto, based in West Hoe, was set up earlier this year with the aim of devising and manufacturing children's clothing, products and games.

Director Paul DeCouto, who had previously worked in catering and in sales, wanted to set up the business with his wife, Lorna, because of their belief in social values and in the educational sector.

Many of DeCouto's products are based around characters called Thumb Buddies devised by Paul and Lorna which aim to promote positive messages to children.

As well as T-shirts bearing pictures of Thumb Buddies and positive slogans, the company is working with Plymouth College of Art and Design on plans for a board game which would give children safety tips in a fun, educational way.

Paul DeCouto, front left, with David Jeffery, front right, and, from left, Jamie Robinson, Lorna DeCouto, George Cheadle, Sonia Jeffery, and Anna-Maria DeCouto with Yazmine Jeffery at front

The game is presently at the design stage and Paul is hoping to manufacture it and to see it in schools and commercially available.

He is also keen to develop the Thumb Buddies as animated characters and has been approaching US-based studios to try and find a partner to move this forward.

Paul, a father-of-two, was born in Portugal and has spent time in America and Canada before moving to the UK seven years ago.

He said: "We have been developing these products for a number of years because we wanted to do something that would bring us Positive satisfaction. Children are facing more challenges now than they have ever have before."

Liz Parks, reporter for The Plymouth Herald

Stressed?

Did you know that on average, adults laugh 4 times a day? In comparison, kids laugh 142 times a day!

Wow!!! That says it all. We are too stressed! Speaking from my own experiences, too much stress causes you to loose focus on what is truly important - Health, Family and Spirituality!

I know this life can be very challenging but find a positive way to cope. Life is fleeting my friends - carpe diem! (Seize the day).

I suggest smiling and laughing a great deal more. You will be suprised at what laughter will do for the soul. It just makes you feel great!

More importantly, it puts things into proper prospective.

Nothing is insurmountable, and all things are possible when the mind is open.

It's taken me a long time to learn this, and I must admit that I'm still learning.

Let those wrinkles show with pride and laugh!!!!!!!!

Paul Decouto

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We are the DeCouto Group 'Forward Thinking People'. Our group of people have a distinct belief - 'to accomplish the impossible - you have to go there'

©Copyright 2003 - 2008 By Paul And Lorna DeCouto. All Rights Reserved.

Thumbbuddies are trademarks of Paul and Lorna DeCouto