Magic and circus acts are among the more unusual activities Cornwall Council hope will help attract people to fill the 30,000 jobs in social care that is estimated will need to be filled by 2025.

A free event is being held next month to attract more people into the profession, which is already overstretched due to the county’s ageing population.

To find ways to meet this demand Cornwall Council has joined forces with social care providers and health organisations, including Royal Cornwall Hospital, under the banner of Proud to Care Cornwall.

They will host the Proud to Care Festival during half-term in Truro to showcase the opportunities available to work in care and celebrate the work currently being done.

The family-friendly festival will also feature face painting, a magician, circus acts, dancing and food, all between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday, October 24, at Lemon Quay in Truro.

The event is being supported by social enterprise Pluss through its ‘Positive People’ programme which, together with Cornwall Council, is the main event sponsor.

Chief executive of Pluss, Steve Hawkins, said: “There has never been a better time to join the care sector with a range of rewarding roles with great career prospects available.

“Our Positive People programme provides support to people across the region to build up their confidence and access activities in their communities. Some of our participants will have both experienced and provided care at some point in their lives so it is very important that we support more people into the care profession.”

More information on activities will be released as they are confirmed; find out more on the Proud to Care Cornwall Facebook and Twitter pages.