One of Musselburgh Racecourse’s most popular family events returns on Tuesday (23 JUL) with the Luca’s Ice Cream Family Raceday.
On the turf seven competitive Flat races will keep the adults on their toes but off the track a whole host of fun activities will entertain younger family members.
Gates open at noon and one hour before the first race (provisionally scheduled for 2.15pm) the next generation of jockeys will compete in pony races, while a dedicated Clip Clop zone offers free fairground rides for all ages and free face painting.
Hosted with support of Honest Toun ice cream producer Luca, each child will receive a free ice cream – more than 1,200 were handed out last year.
The day will also feature the Mini Queen’s Cup which will see 5 year olds take to the track on happy hopper inflatables.
Musselburgh Racecourse’s Head of Marketing, Aisling Johnston, said: “We know the kids love to dance so we have organised a kid’s disco which will take place in between the racing throughout the day.
“For the pony loving children or those youngsters who want to try their hand at horse riding, we will also have free pony rides.”
Two of Australia’s favourite furry TV pups will also make a popular return to the East Lothian track to say “g’day” to young racegoers.
Aisling added: “Luca’s Ice Cream have kindly donated one free ice cream per child, and with free entry for children aged 17 years and under when accompanied by an adult, it really is the perfect day out for all the family.”
Gates open at noon on Tuesday, first race is scheduled for 2.15pm and the last race at 5.20pm. A courtesy bus from Wallyford and Newcraighall rail stations will take racegoers to and from the racecourse.
Use funding from adding VAT to private school fees to support pupils with additional support needs (ASN) in state schools
Concerns raised over impact of adding VAT for those with ASN, with increased movement of pupils into an under-resourced state sector
Near doubling in the number of pupils in state schools with additional support needs since 2013
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has called on the Scottish Government to use funding from adding VAT onto private school fees to increase support to those with ASN in state schools.
The UK Labour Government reiterated its manifesto commitment to increase VAT on school fees – at the standard rate of 20 per cent – in the recent King’s Speech. This could potentially boost Scottish Government education spend by £150 million (although it should be noted that this figure does not take account of pupils leaving the independent sector and thereby not contributing).
In addition, the SCSC has raised concerns over the impact that potential displacement of those with ASN from private schools into the state sector will have.
A high percentage of children in private education, estimated at around 9,000, have ASN, and many will have their learning disrupted, by being forced to leave their school, causing them significant problems.
Local authorities will also have to accommodate more pupils in already under-resourced schools and be required to increase funding to support these.
There has been a near doubling (96.8 per cent) between 2013 and 2023 in the number of pupils identified with ASN in state schools, from 131,593 to 259,036, amounting to 123,628 individuals. This includes those with mental health problems, learning disability, autism and dyslexia, and currentlyrepresents more than a third of all pupils (36.7 per cent).
However, this comes against a background of spending cuts and reductions in specialist support.
The Scottish Government’s annual teacher census, for example, indicates that between 2013 and 2023 the number of ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,290 to 2,898, a decrease of 392 teachers, representing a cut of 11.9 per cent.1
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “We would urge that any additional funding that comes through adding VAT to private school fees is used to support those with ASN in our state schools, giving those who need it the care and support that they need, and supporting closing the educational attainment gap.
“However, we would urge caution when it comes to adding VAT on fees for those with ASN, as this will have a potential major impact.
“Many of these will be forced to leave school, with their learning disrupted and further exacerbating pressures on an already over-stretched state sector, which is having difficulty coping, and brings further costs to local authorities.
“Clarification is needed from the Scottish Government as to how it intends to address the issue of adding VAT to fees for those with pupils with ASN.”
1 Scottish Government, Pupil Census 2023 supplementary statistics, 19th March 2024, table 1.5.
Family Action announces the expansion of its FamilyConnect service, managed by the country’s largest adoption support agency PAC-UK, to support people affected by adoption and to help reunite families before it is too late.
FamilyConnect was launched by national charity Family Action in 2020 and is delivered by its adoption support agency, PAC-UK. The online resource was developed to support people looking to find out about their history, their family members and to gain understanding about why they were separated from their birth family.
With funding from Adoption England, FamilyConnect will now provide a funded intermediary service for adult adoptees, and birth parents/relatives who were affected by adoption pre-1976, and who wish to reconnect with each other. The service has also been expanded to offer a specialist telephone advice line and additional online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Sir David Holmes CBE, CEO of Family Action said “I am proud to be able to announce the launch of this enhanced support from FamilyConnect and I am grateful to Adoption England for the additional funding that has made this possible.
“We know from the number of enquiries we receive that there is a huge need for good quality and accessible adoption support services, and we have seen huge demand for the support provided by FamilyConnect since we launched the service four years ago.
“I am delighted that we are now able to offer even more support and practical help before it is too late for many families. I hope that this positive investment in FamilyConnect will pave the way for further investment in vital adoption support services, like this, in the future.”
Birth mother Jill Killington was reunited with her son following a forced adoption in 1967. Jill said: “The services available through FamilyConnect are extremely important to support families disconnected by the adoptions of the past to navigate the often-emotional journey of reconnection and reunion.
“Adoption for so many birth parents and adoptees inevitably leave scars – some we can hope to heal, sadly others might take a lifetime to bear. It is still painful.
“Time is not on our side. Many birth mothers are now in their late 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. And very sadly many will end their lives still being affected by their terrible loss, unless they and their children receive the support they deserve and need to make that first step to recover from the trauma of the past.”
FamilyConnect is an 18-month pilot that includes, intermediary services for adoptions that took place between 1949 and 1976*1, (subject to eligibility criteria being met), a specialist telephone advice line on services and funding available, and new online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Emma Crowther-Duncan, North Adult Services Regional Manager at Family Action/PAC-UK, said: “For people to have access to funded intermediary services, through FamilyConnect, will help those people who were not able to access this service previously, due to cost.
“FamilyConnect helps remove a barrier that shouldn’t exist and allows people the freedom of choice, it sends the message that “we are invested in you, your story and your future”.
Jill Killington concludes: “We can never change the past, but hopefully with FamilyConnect, there is much-needed support for those affected by adoption both now and in the future.”
FamilyConnect was originally developed with the insight and leadership of experts Sir David Holmes CBE, Julia Feast OBE, University College London’s MIRRA project and the Care Leavers’ Association.
For more information, including current advice line opening times:
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Act commences
Children’s rights will now be at the heart of decision making in Scotland as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) Act comes into force.
The UNCRC Act requires public authorities to protect children’s human rights in their decision-making when delivering functions conferred by Acts of the Scottish Parliament. It also allows for children, young people and their representatives to use the courts to enforce their rights.
It aims to mainstream the participation of children and young people in decision making across society, with public services playing a vital role in delivering for children, young people and their communities.
Marking Commencement of the UNCRC Scotland Act, Minister for Children and Young People @NatalieDon_ has welcomed its impact on ensuring children are at the heart of decisions which affect them. pic.twitter.com/J7f9lLurMS
Minister for Children and Young People Natalie Don said: “This is a milestone for advancing children’s rights in Scotland, delivered by the Scottish Government. We want all young people to grow up loved, safe and respected and the UNCRC Act aims to do just that.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are at the heart of decisions that affect them and that they have the confidence and skills to get involved.
“The Scottish Government is proud that we are the first devolved UK nation to incorporate the UNCRC into law, helping to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1813098741571985591
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland Nicola Killean said: “Today is historic! The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is now part of Scots law, making children’s rights legally enforceable in Scotland!
“Let’s celebrate this huge milestone & thank all the children & young people who campaigned to make this possible!”
COSLA has today welcomed the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into law in Scotland.
Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament said: “I hope that the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act coming into force today sends a message to children and young people that they live in a country which aims to respect their human rights.
“Today is not an endpoint though, this is just the beginning of the next step of Scotland’s human rights journey. Scotland now moves from incorporation to implementation and this is a chance for decision makers to address the human rights issues impacting children and young people and create a culture where their rights and meaningful participation are put at the forefront of decision making.
“I’m looking forward to supporting and, where needed, challenging decision makers to stand up for the rights of all children and young people in Scotland.”
Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Associate Head of Policy for the nations, said:“Today is a momentous day for babies, children and young people in Scotland, as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is incorporated into law.
“This is a significant milestone in making sure that all children’s rights are recognised, respected and upheld.
“Among its provisions, the Convention sets out children’s right to be safe and their right to access support services to help them recover from abuse or neglect.
“Enshrining these rights in law should lead to significant changes for Scotland’s children, be it better including recognition of infants’ rights and lived experiences in the Children’s Hearing System, more protection for children from abuse online or suggest and better provision of therapeutic services for children across the country who have suffered abuse.”
I am delighted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will come into effect on 16th July (writes TIM FREW, CEO of YouthLink Scotland).
‘UNCRC has long been the foundation of good youth work, ensuring a children’s human rights approach. It is built into the National Youth Work Outcomes and Skills Framework. It remains at the heart of what youth workers do and the mechanism practitioners use with children and young people to hold those in power accountable for budgets, community planning, and local service provision.
‘The sector has helped drive the UNCRC journey in Scotland from training and campaigns to partnership work, policy, influencing, and working directly with young people. As we call for the growth and protection of the youth work workforce, the sector has repeated its ask for a legal right to youth work, as the most direct route to delivering all UNCRC commitments and turning the Scottish Government’s flagship policy into a reality.
‘Youth workers educate young people about their rights, including specific rights such as education, protection from harm, and leisure and recreation. Based in the heart of our local authorities and across the third sector, youth workers are keenly positioned to empower young people to become advocates for their rights and the rights of others and to campaign for change effectively.
‘Participation is embedded in the non-formal youth work approach so practitioners can ensure that young people have a voice in the decision-making processes that affect them.
“Youth workers create platforms such as youth councils, forums, and workshops to discuss their views and experiences, helping to ensure that policymakers and stakeholders hear their voices.
“Youth workers are strategically positioned to train other professionals on how to incorporate the principles of the UNCRC into their practice.’
Last year, the NSPCC’s Helpline made over 230 referrals to a local agency or service in Scotland where concerns about a child being left home alone or unsupervised was mentioned.
This summer holiday, the NSPCC is signposting parents and carers to advice on the charity’s website around leaving children home alone.
The NSPCC Helpline has made twice as many referrals in the last year to local authorities in Scotland about children being left home alone or unsupervised.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the service, which provides help and advice for adults with concerns about the wellbeing of a child, sent 238 referrals to local authorities in Scotland following contacts about the issue. This is compared to 110 referrals during the previous 12 months.
Last year, the Helpline received 7,802 contacts about the subject from adults from across the UK, compared to 4,717 contacts between 2022 to 2023.
The increase in the number of contacts on this issue to the Helpline and the referrals made could be due to a number of factors, including a recent NSPCC Helpline marketing campaign, increased service capacity and greater public awareness about the risks of leaving children home alone.
More than half of these contacts (51%) on children being left home alone were deemed serious enough for the NSPCC Helpline to make a referral to a local agency or service with a view to further action being taken.
With schools in Scotland currently closed for the summer holiday, many adults might feel unsure about whether their child is ready to be left unsupervised or have concerns about another child being left alone.
For many parents, July and August can be particularly difficult as they are forced to balance the competing pressures of work and childcare. These challenges are likely to be even more acute this year as the cost-of-living crisis continues, forcing some parents and carers to work increased hours or take part-time jobs.
One adult contacted the Helpline with a concern about their neighbour, saying: “It’s two little girls I’m worried about, they must be about four and six; they’re left home alone quite a lot and that means they’re unsupervised with the family’s dogs.
“I’ve knocked a few times to see if they’re ok and they always say, ‘daddy will be back soon’ but it’s usually hours later when one of the parents comes back.”
There is no legal age limit for leaving children home alone, but the NSPCC would not recommend leaving any child under the age of 12 at home unsupervised, especially for extended periods of time.
A child who expresses concern about being left alone should never be without a parent or carer and for those young people who do feel comfortable, it is vital they are left with contact numbers for a parent, carer or trusted adult. Long periods of being unsupervised can lead to children feeling afraid or neglected.
One young person aged 14 told Childline: “I’m sick of being left on my own, mum expects me to just look after myself.
“There isn’t always food I can cook, I can’t go and see my friends or do anything fun, but she can.”
Should leaving a child alone be the only option for an adult, then the NSPCC’s website has tips for parents to help ensure the young person feels safe, as well as a quiz to assess if a child is ready to be left unsupervised.
Kam Thandi, Head of the NSPCC’s Helpline said: “It can be hard for parents and carers to know the right age to leave their child home alone as every child is different, and the first time being left unsupervised will differ for every family.
“It is vital that both the child and adult feel comfortable with any decision that is taken, and that if a young person is to be left home alone, they know how to contact a trusted adult and what to do in an emergency.
“For anyone who may need advice or is concerned about a child who might be at risk, our Helpline service can support you and the NSPCC website has a range of tips.”
Tennis fever may be over but as the world hots up for the next big sporting occasion, Paris 2024, Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging kids to go for gold this summer with their own mini-games challenge.
Featuring a variety of kids and family summer activities including AquaDash, Clip n’ Climb, soft play, Come & Try Coaching sessions, Holiday Camp & Coaching programme, racquet sports and more, kids are being encouraged to try as many activities as possible to complete a Game Card, which will be entered into a prize draw for some amazing prizes.
Go for Gold Game cards can be picked up from any participating Edinburgh Leisure venue. Each game card has a 5 x 5 grid of activities. Once an activity is completed, children will receive a bespoke gold sticker to fill their card. After completing at least one activity from each column, the finished card can be submitted at any participating venue to enter a prize draw.
The prize draw will take place during the week commencing 19 August.
*There will be three winners who can choose from a choice of:
Soft play membership for one month for up to 2 children
Clip ‘n Climb for 2 children or 1 adult and 1 child
Aquadash for 2
1-1 35-minute dive lesson with European Junior Athlete
Angela McGowan, Edinburgh Leisure’s Coaching Programme Manager said: “Few of us will ever be Olympians, but we know that keeping active is good for everyone and our Go For Gold summer mini games is Edinburgh Leisure’s way of encouraging kids to get the active habit in a fun and sociable way during the summer holidays, while encouraging kids to achieve their own medal.”
The Go For Gold promotion will run at most Edinburgh Leisure venues from 15 July – 11 August 2024.
Do you remember we had an Easter Drawing competition? Well we were so impressed by ALL your eye-catching, creative and imaginative entries that we decided to have a SUMMER DRAWING COMPETITION!
We want to know what summer means to you? Ice cream? Football at the park? Swimming? Movies? Daydreaming in the garden? Trips to the seaside? Sunny sandpits? Waterfights? Fun times with your family and friends? Long walks with the dog?
Looking forward to seeing all your entries pouring in from Monday onwards!
PLEASE ASK FOR YOUR ENTRY SHEET AT THE DESK or bring in your drawing from home but remember to add your name, phone number and age on the back! :0)
Seven years after the introduction of the two-child limit, there are almost 1.6 million children in 440,000 families affected by the policy. These families are missing out on up to £3,455 a year per child.
The two-child limit restricts support through universal credit (UC) or child tax credit to the first two children in a family, for children born after 6 April 2017.
Parents having a third or subsequent child after that date are not eligible for support for that child.
The majority of families affected by the policy are living in poverty, despite 59 per cent of these families having one or both parents in paid work.
Affected families report not being able to provide for children’s basic needs, including food, clothing and heating. The policy also means families struggle to pay for housing and childcare.
The policy affects every area of children’s lives. Parents report that children’s education, mental health, and learning and development are all negatively affected by the two-child limit.
Children are also missing out on the ‘everyday’ experiences of childhood such as days out with their family, being able to go on holiday, or having the occasional treat such as an ice cream.
Abolishing the two-child limit is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty, and the most urgent action the government must take to reduce child poverty.
It would lift 300,000 children out of poverty and mean 700,000 children are in less deep poverty, making a significant difference to the lives of over a million children at a cost of £1.7 billion.
The two-child limit will continue to drive up poverty as more children are born. Child poverty is already at a record high, with 4.3 million children in poverty in the UK today.
This means in an average classroom of 30, nine children are living in poverty.
Over 300 children, parents, and fun-loving family members joined us for an unforgettable Open Day last week (Thursday 4 July). It was a day filled with laughter, joy, and a whole lot of fun!
In collaboration with our fantastic partners at Places for People Scotland, we transformed PY into a wonderland of activities:
From face painting that turned kids into their favourite superheroes, to glitter tattoos that sparkled brighter than the stars, we had it all!
And who could forget the bouncy castles and sumo wrestling? Not to mention the mouth-watering hot dogs, delicious cakes, and sweet treats that had everyone coming back for seconds (and thirds)!
But the fun didn’t stop there! We took creativity to a whole new level with our outdoor painting activity.
The children left their colourful handprints on our newly painted wall, turning it into a vibrant mural that will remind us of this special day for years to come.
A big shout-out to Police Scotland for joining in on the fun! And a massive thank you to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle.
Our event was made even more special with the presence of Fat Brestovci, the charismatic Capital Breakfast Show presenter who supports PYCP. He was there to hand out prizes and his energy was simply contagious!
We couldn’t have pulled off such a successful event without the unwavering support of our funders who have stood by us year after year.
A heartfelt thank you to all our dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a hit.
And of course, a huge round of applause for all the families who joined us. You are the reason we host events like this and your participation means the world to us.
17 JULY FROM 12 – 4pm at AT MUIRHOUSE MILLENNIUM CENTRE
Liftfest was the idea of our fab volunteers Tyler, Stacey and Wendy – they organised everything from asking for donations, organising the band, wee singer, DJ, and food donations.
Everything will be priced cheaply and affordable.
There will be table sales in the hall and lots going on outside
We would like to be able to supply the kids with either free cartons of juice or free diluting juice so if any nice person wants to donate cartons of juice or diluting juice and cups we would really appreciate it.
This has al been organised on a very low budget as everyone knows money is tight but the volunteers wanted to have something in Muirhouse for the families, the kids and their community.
Well done everyone involved in planning this day
I’m dreading to see what they have planned for me but whatever it is I’m sure they will all enjoy taking the mick out off the CEO!
