Tag: Children and Families

Fund to Leave scheme investment doubled to £4 million

Support for women experiencing domestic abuse

An initiative supporting women and children to escape abusive relationships will see its funding doubled from £2 million to £4 million for the current year.

The Fund to Leave scheme has supported 1,519 women and 2,094 children to leave unsafe situations since its launch in February 2026 –  an additional £2 million will be made available in 2026-27, taking total investment up to £4 million, to ensure that there is no cap on support and to help more women and children leave abusive relationships safely and rebuild their lives.

The initiative provides immediate financial support for essentials for women leaving an abusive partner – removing the financial barriers that can trap women in harmful relationships by giving them the means to act quickly and safely.

The Scottish Government has also pledged further support for survivors of domestic abuse to ensure they are not unfairly burdened by Council Tax debt resulting from an abusive relationship. The Scottish Government will consult on creating a statutory exception to joint and several liability rules to protect victims of domestic abuse. Further details will be announced in Parliament next month with a public consultation expected in 2027.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “There is absolutely no place for domestic abuse in modern Scotland – it is one of the most harmful and pervasive forms of violence against women and girls.

“We are determined to break down financial barriers that will often stand in the way of leaving an abusive partner. Our Fund to Leave scheme provides immediate financial help for women so they can begin to safely rebuild their lives and protect their children from harm.

“Since its formation last year, the initiative has already helped more than 1,500 women rebuild their lives – I am pleased to provide further support for this initiative to remove the cap and help more women benefit from its significant impact.

“Nobody should have to face additional harm as a result of domestic abuse. We recognise that joint and several liability for council tax can create very difficult circumstances for those experiencing or who have experienced abuse.

“We will take forward work with local councils to ensure solutions are in place to protect victims of abuse from unfair council tax debt – I will provide further detail to Parliament on these measures next month.”

Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: Information for Families

The need for school uniform support doesn’t just happen at the start of the term—growth spurts, changes in circumstances, or unexpected hardships can happen at any time of the year. 💛

We want every family in Edinburgh to know that support is available, whether you need emergency help or a discreet option right inside your school.

Are you a family needing support?

Please see the information page for families on our website: https://edinburghuniform.org/information-for-families/

Are you a school or support professional?

Head to the following link to find out more about how our referral system works or how your school can partner with us: https://edinburghuniform.org/packs/

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre AGM

MONDAY 9th NOVEMBER at 6pm

It’s that time of year again!

The AGM is on Monday, 9 November at 18:00.

If you would like to help shape the future of the centre, maybe you would like to join the Management Committee. Or maybe you have a skill that you can share?

Come along and tell us about it!

Kids eat free deals and family fun on offer at Fort Knnaird

Fort Kinnaird is inviting families to make the most of the October week, with a range of activities, offers and seasonal treats available across the centre.

Whether families are planning a full day out or simply looking to fill a few spare hours, there’s plenty to enjoy this autumn, from discovering the latest seasonal fashion trends to trying new menus and making the most of family activities.

This includes:

  • Kids eat free offers: Families can enjoy a meal out for less, with Kids Eat Free at Frankie & Benny’s until 25th October, where children can tuck into a free main, two sides, a drink and a dessert with every paying adult main. Over at Wagamama, children can enjoy the £7.50 Kids Bento, a mix-and-match meal served with gyoza and crispy prawn crackers.
  • Family films at ODEON: Big-screen favourites have hit cinemas in time for rainy days, including the animated Minions & Monsters, action-packed Avengers: Endgame Encore and Halloween favourite Hocus Pocus. Families can also look out for ODEON Kids screenings, with discounted tickets available for selected family films.
  • Halloween crafting at Hobbycraft: Hobbycraft has everything needed to get creative this Halloween, from pumpkin-decorating kits and paints to costume-making essentials and spooky decorations – ideal for keeping children entertained on rainy afternoons.
  • Pumpkin spice and autumn treats: For those who love a seasonal drink, Starbucks has brought back its popular Pumpkin Spice Latte, alongside new additions including the Iced Apple Crumble Matcha Latte and Pumpkin Marble Loaf Cake. Frankie & Benny’s autumn menu also features the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Burger, Pumpkin & Ginger Sponge and Spiced Pumpkin Latte.
  • Autumn fashion inspiration: From UGG boots and suede styles to oversized knits and burgundy shades, there are plenty of new-season trends to explore ready for autumn. Families can browse the latest footwear at schuh and OFFICE, or pick up inspiration from Primark, M&S and Next for everything from chunky jumpers and autumn accessories to fluffy slippers and pyjamas for a cosy night in.
  • Halloween treats from M&S: Shoppers can stock up ahead of Halloween with themed biscuits, chocolates and sweets for trick or treaters, as well as seasonal baking kits and ingredients for making treats at home.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know keeping the kids entertained during school holidays can be a challenge, particularly when the autumn weather isn’t on your side.

From a trip to the cinema and a family meal out, to getting creative with some Halloween activities at home, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the October break.

“Whether families are planning a full day out or just looking for a few hours of fun, we hope these ideas help them make the most of their time together.”

To plan your visit to Fort Kinnaird, please visit https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Granton Library gets ready for Halloween

We’re getting the library ready for Halloween!

We have found lots of spooky books for you to borrow, but our two wee ghosts are quite lonely on the display board!

Will you help us create some ghostly or magical friends for them?

Come along for our craft sessions this weekend!

-Friday 3:30pm

-Saturday 11am

North Edinburgh Arts: Bear With Me

Coming up next Monday (19 October) at 1:30pm – Bear With Me

Join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Toby Hawks for the tale of the young hero Beloved and his Bear.

This event is part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival; and is dementia inclusive and family friendly (age 8+).

Entry by donation (suggested donation £5), with all donations going to support our dementia friendly Sunshine Social Club.

Family-friendly craft session with Granton Goes Greener

MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 10 – 12 at GRANTON CHURCH

Some exciting event during October holiday!

We have taken into account all your feedback and will now run a FAMILY FRIENDLY SEWING/CRAFT session on Monday 19th October.

The class will take place during our regular sewing session between 10-12 noon at @GrantonParish

Monster Head Quarters lands at the Centre Livingston this Halloween

Families are invited to enjoy a monstrously fun time at The Centre, Livingston, this month as Monster Head Quarters arrives at the shopping centre.

From hunting down mischievous monsters hidden throughout the shopping centre to getting creative with Halloween-themed arts and crafts, interactive games and face painting, there’s a whole host of spooky surprises to keep little monsters entertained during the October school break and the lead up to Halloween.

Every day from the 19th – 31st October, Monster HQ will be inviting little monsters and their families to embark on a creature-spotting adventure around the mall. Visitors can collect a monster trail sheet from the HQ, located opposite Lush, before setting off to discover eight colourful creatures hiding throughout the shopping centre.

Once they’ve tracked down the monsters, families can return to Monster HQ to enjoy a host of Halloween-themed activities, including interactive games and arts and crafts designed to spark creativity and bring out their spooky side.

Activities include creating monster clay creations, masks, hats and decorations, monster scratch art and stone decorating.

There will also be Halloween face painting on Saturday 31st October, from 12pm to 4pm, giving little visitors the chance to complete their spooky transformations.

Monster HQ will be open daily from 11am to 4pm and all activities are free, with donations optional for The Centre, Livingston’s charity partner, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (CHAS), which provides specialist palliative care and support to babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions and their families.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We’re delighted to bring Monster HQ to The Centre, Livingston this October, giving families a fun and memorable way to celebrate Halloween together. 

“From discovering hidden monsters around the mall to getting creative with spooky crafts, there will be plenty to keep little ones entertained during their visit.

“It is also a great way for us to raise funds for our charity partner, CHAS.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We’re very grateful to The Centre, Livingston for supporting CHAS through this fun, family-friendly event. 

“Every little bit helps us to continue providing vital care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across Scotland. 

“We hope everyone enjoys the Halloween activities and thank all those who choose to donate and support our work.”

Once-a-year high ropes after dark are coming to Go Ape Dalkeith as part of Dalkeith Country Park’s WinterFest

Go Ape’s highly anticipated Sundown Adventures at Dalkeith Country Park’s WinterFest are back

It’s your time to shine. Go Ape’s unmissable winter adventure is coming soon for a second year at Go Ape Dalkeith near Edinburgh, and it’ll be the highlight of your festive season. Take on tree-to-tree crossings illuminated by glowing lights.

Feel the thrill of ziplines in the dark. It’s Go Ape’s signature tree top adventures taken up a level.  

On for a limited time from 27th November until 30th December, starting from sunset around 4.30pm. Minimum age 6 years old. Minimum height 1.2 metres. Sessions are ready to book now.

Secure your spot on this once-a-year adventure at:

https://goape.co.uk/locations/dalkeith-edinburgh/sundown-adventures/

Tomorrow: Last Monday Cafe at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

All good things must come to an end!

This Monday (12th October) will be our last Monday Café, and what a lovely few months it’s been! We’ve loved cooking for our community, meeting new people and trying out new recipes. Together, we’ve served 412 meals, all freshly prepared each Monday using lots of rescued food and produce from our garden. 🌱

A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who have helped make this project possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!

But don’t worry, our community lunches aren’t going anywhere! 🎉 We’ll be moving them to Friday afternoons, making it easier for more people to join us, including families after school pick-up and anyone popping along to Dr Bike at the centre. We’ll share more details about timings over the next week or two.

Fancy getting involved in cooking up our community lunches? We’re starting a cooking group where people can come together, share skills and learn new recipes on a Friday morning. If you’re interested, get in touch with Rebecca at rebecca@drylawnc.org.uk to find out more.

And we’re going all out for our final Monday Café! 😋

🥓 Breakfast: All your usual favourites, plus homemade blueberry scones.

🍽️ Lunch: Bangers and mash, followed by an indulgent Banoffee Pie.

Come along, enjoy some good food and help us give the Monday Café a lovely send-off. We’d love to see you there!