Tag: Children and Families

Creative expert reveals five fun crafts to do this Easter with your Kids  

With Easter approaching, craft experts from Crafty.net reveal five fun crafts that families can do at home on a budget this Easter.  

You don’t have to be an expert in crafting to create something fun with your kids this Easter, but sometimes it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start when creating something from scratch. To help find inspiration, think about the season and what colours or animals you associate with it; this can be a great way to put you in the right frame of mind.   

If the ideas don’t flow easily, you can find that extra boost of inspiration in many different places. Whether you’re searching the internet on sites like Pinterest or YouTube, the ideas for Easter DIYs will begin to flow.

Start by seeing which supplies you have to hand already, or see what you may be able to re-purpose. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on crafts to produce something incredible; here are a few ideas to get you started:    

  • Easter crafts with lolly sticks  

This craft is a fun way to entice your kids to recycle after their sweet treats; if you don’t have any lolly sticks in your home, you can find some at your local craft store. Be as creative as you desire, whether that’s creating bunny or chick faces, bunny bookmarks or lolly stick baskets.

Some fun extras alongside your lolly sticks and PVA glue could include some paints of your choice, pipe cleaners and pom-poms; using embellishments is where the creativity flows.   

  • Easter crafts with construction paper  

Construction paper is a fun way to create your Easter crafts on a budget. A fun keepsake such as ‘paper handprint bunnies’ involves taking a piece of paper and tracing your kids’ hands, cutting around the outline and folding the pinky finger and thumb to the centre. Next cut to the base of the middle finger giving the shape of bunny ears and paws. From here, you can have fun with what extras you add to embellish your bunnies with pens or goggle-eyes.   

Alternatively, create some Easter decorations by tracing an outline of bunnies on pieces of construction paper with different prints and placing a white pom-pom as the bunny tail. You could put these on a piece of yarn you have lying around to create some colourful bunting.   

  • Easter crafts with paper plates  

For chick paper plate craft, start by painting a paper plate yellow and add some goggle-eyes for fun, along with a piece of orange paper that can be used for the beak and chicks’ legs. This craft can be easily created for bunnies or other spring animals you have in mind.   

As an alternative craft, you can make an Easter Wreath by cutting out the middle section of your paper plate to achieve your wreath shape. Now it’s time to add your creative flair; adding ribbon wrapped around the wreath adds fun texture and colour, or egg-shaped coloured paper is a great way to personalise your easter wreaths. Whether it’s decorative or a fun craft for your kids, there are many options with paper plates, so have fun.   

  • Easter crafts with egg cartons  

Using egg cartons is another excellent way to encourage recycling for your little ones. Using the egg cups, you can paint them to add some colour, and use pens to decorate the cups as a face. Why not make this craft extra fun by adding some easter treats inside the cup, such as chocolate mini eggs.   

You can create flowers by cutting your egg carton into a quad, adding colour paint of your choice to the container, and yellow to the middle of the carton or add a fluffy pom-pom for the pollen along with a green popsicle stick for the stem of the flower. These can be displayed in many ways, either a spare jar or a floral foam brick – then you have a lovely bouquet of recycled flowers.   

  • Easter crafts plastic eggs   

This craft offers a great option to get creative, finding colourful plastic eggs at your local craft shop and pipe cleaners; you can make bunny ears; alternatively, on an orange egg, you could add green pipe cleaners to make a carrot for this Easter season.

Another great craft you can do at home is to open the plastic egg up and glue the larger flat base to the pointed top, creating a fun plant pot where you could incorporate some of your favourite flowers.   

Musical instruments are always a win; how about crafting some simple maracas by filling up your plastic eggs with household objects such as rice. Next, take two plastic spoons, hold them against the plastic egg securing with a piece of tape, then you have your musical instrument.   

Crafty is a Premium Craft Membership designed to deliver quality SVG Cut Files and Designs for one low monthly price.  

NHS Lothian launches innovative digital Wellbeing Hub

NHS Lothian Children’s Services is giving thousands of children and young people across Scotland access to important wellbeing resources with the launch of a new digital Wellbeing Hub.

Following the launch of the new Children’s Services website, a Wellbeing Hub has been developed to provide an interactive, engaging platform with expert support for young people aged 12–17 in Scotland. A children’s section for 5–11-year-olds has been launched at the same time.

The Wellbeing Hub was designed in collaboration with 10 key partners including CAMHS, the Children’s Rights Commissioner for Scotland, Young Scot, Chalmers Sexual Health Services, and Sleep Scotland who were all instrumental in providing outstanding resources and offering guidance in the development of a Wellbeing Hub that would be fit for purpose for children and young people across Scotland.

The new hub features a wealth of information to support a young person’s physical and mental wellbeing with topics such as anxiety, body image, social media, sleep, healthy relationships and consent featuring on the website.

The Wellbeing hub also incorporates Children’s Health Scotland’s SMS self-management service, advice about drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and support for young carers.

Young people will be able to access tools and resources, including top tips, videos and animations to help manage their own wellbeing.  With an increasing focus on the benefits of youth work, the Hub also includes a tool to ‘Find a Youth Club’ along with how to speak to a youth worker while in hospital.

NHS Lothian worked with Passion4Social, a social enterprise that nurtures the talent of people with disabilities, to develop and build the site with funding made available through Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.  

Zoe Paige, Project Manager, Children’s Services, NHS Lothian, said: “Protecting and providing for the wellbeing and health of children and young people is a priority for the Children’s Services at all times and we know that there is a growing need for people to have digital choices if they are struggling and need to reach out, and the pandemic has only made this need more urgent. 

“Colleagues and partners have been eager to bring helpful content together and make our Wellbeing Hub a reality.  It was really important that we made our Wellbeing Hub as engaging and interactive as possible.

“The Wellbeing Hub encourages young people to feel empowered to seek out information on many things they might be struggling with or need advice online within a few clicks.

“The Children’s Services team at the RHCYP are always looking for ways to improve access to wellbeing support and we’re proud to continue to expand our Children’s Services website to support children and young people and their families. We have ambitious plans for its continued development.”

Professor Cathy Richards, Lead Clinician and Head of Psychology at CAMHS, said: “At CAMHS, we are thrilled that children, young people and families in the Lothians and across Scotland will benefit from access to the Wellbeing Hub.

“Young people who use the new platform can access mental health resources and information that are designed to keep them engaged and they can find recommendations for additional resources based on their needs.  

“The new hub contains information that has been created or recommended by the NHS Lothian CAMHS Psychology team. This includes some newly developed online information sessions for parents on supporting children with anxiety and access to computerised CBT.” 

Leanne Hughes, Communications Officer, Healthy Respect (Chalmers Sexual Health Services), said: “Young People can sometimes be embarrassed or unsure about accessing Sexual Health Services.

“We hope that the Wellbeing Hub will help to normalise using our services and highlight what is available locally for those 13+. The hub signposts to key Sexual Health information and resources in a way that makes sense to young people.” 

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said: “Children and young people have the right to good healthcare, to have decisions made in their best interests and to be a part of those decisions. They should also get all the information needed to make choices about care. 

“Good healthcare means that children can get the care they need, when they need it and that adults support them to get all of their human rights. The Wellbeing Hub will help children grow in confidence and understanding about the rights that they are entitled to in healthcare settings and will signpost them to extra support.”

Alyson O’Brien, Sleep Services Manager at Sleep Scotland, said: “Sleep Scotland is delighted to be working with the Wellbeing Hub.

“Children’s Services are committed to the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland, and we wanted young people to understand that a lack of sleep can be detrimental to their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Find out more information on @LothianChildren. These channels will share the latest news and updates from the Wellbeing Hub.

Asylum-seeking mums’ and babies’ human rights breached in unsuitable housing unit, says Children’s Commissioner

Mothers and babies seeking asylum in Scotland are still being housed in cramped and unsafe conditions that pose a significant risk of violating their human rights, according to a new report. 

The office of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has found that despite assurances from provider the Mears Group in November 2021, many women and their children have not been moved to more suitable housing. 

They are currently placed in bedsit accommodation in Glasgow’s southside, by the Mears Group with full approval of Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership (HSPC).

Mothers have told the Commissioner and his staff that there is no space to feed their babies, limited washing and cooking facilities, and little support. Cookers and heaters in the rooms are close to babies’ cots and it’s not safe to let them play, crawl, or stand. 

These conditions pose a significant risk of violating the children’s human rights, including the right to survival, safety and development; an adequate standard of living; the best possible health; family life, and the right to play. 

In April 2021, charities and grassroots organisations raised human rights concerns about the unit, formerly used to house single men. In June, the Commissioner’s team visited the accommodation and met mums and their children.  

Following discussions with the Mears Group, COSLA, and the HSPC, the Commissioner called for the mothers and babies to be rehoused and for Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the HSCP to withdraw their support for the Home Office and Mears Group’s placements in the unit. 

A mum who lives in the unit with her child said: “The worst part is knowing my child isn’t safe. I’m in a new country, a new mum, and I don’t have support. I worry about my child far more than I worry about myself.” 

Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, said: “I was shocked when the mothers in the unit showed me the conditions they are living in with their babies. This accommodation is totally unsuitable for mothers and babies, particularly those who have the added vulnerability of seeking asylum.  

“Asylum accommodation is a reserved matter to Westminster, but use of this unit has been approved by Glasgow City Council and the health board. Scottish public bodies have human rights obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and must ensure that all their decisions are consistent with the UNCRC. They could have withheld or withdrawn support and advocated for more suitable accommodation.  

“We must make sure all refugee and asylum-seeking children are treated with dignity and respect for their human rights. No child should live in conditions that violate their human rights and the Scottish Government should legislate urgently to create human rights-based statutory minimum housing standards for children.” 

The Mears Group advised the Commissioner’s office in November that the unit would be repurposed for single people only – but they have failed to move all the babies and their mothers to more appropriate accommodation. 

Mr Hobbs added: “We want the Mears Group to urgently relocate all the mothers and babies in this unit to suitable accommodation in Glasgow. They must also be given the support they need for that relocation and helped to integrate into their new communities.

“We also want the council, the health board, and HSPC to make a commitment to not approve asylum accommodation for children that violates their human rights.” 

Yvonne Blake, co-founder of Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment (MORE), said: “All mothers and babies should live in conditions that are conducive to the nurturing of their babies and the mothers’ health and well-being. 

“The unit is wholly unsuitable to have mothers and babies living there, especially during the first year of their lives which is crucial for development. They need to be housed where the mums have support and the children can play. 

“The authorities, including Glasgow City Council, must act on the recommendations in this report and act on the numerous calls by the mothers and supporting groups to rehouse the mothers and babies into suitable accommodation in the community where they have support.”  

Graham O’Neill, Policy Manager at Scottish Refugee Council, said: “We echo the Commissioner’s call for the women and children to be moved urgently to proper accommodation that is safe and fit for their needs as new mothers, babies and toddlers.  

“Too often, people’s needs are forgotten or neglected within the asylum system. Unfortunately, we are seeing inappropriate and substandard housing being used more often, including long-term stays in what should be very temporary accommodation and an increase in institutional settings such as hotel rooms and army barracks. This is completely inappropriate for people who have fled violent conflicts and are living with the ongoing effects of trauma.” 

Amanda Purdie, Head of Strategy and Public Affairs at Amma Birth Companions, said: “It is crucial that every parent and child in Scotland is supported to experience positive mental health and wellbeing throughout the perinatal period.

“We remain deeply concerned that the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of both mothers and babies in this unit is suffering as a direct consequence of their living environment.  

“We hope the findings of this report will incite swift action from Mears and all relevant authorities – not only to relocate current residents to suitable accommodation, but also to ensure that no child in Scotland is again placed within an environment that violates their human rights.” 

Following the report, the Commissioner recommends that:  

  • All mother and babies in the unit are urgently relocated  
  • COSLA and partners must amend procedures to ensure human rights duties of statutory agencies 
  • The Scottish Government should legislate to create human rights-based statutory minimum housing standards for children  
  • Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the HSCP must commit to not approving any asylum accommodation for children that violates their human rights
Mother-and-Baby-Unit-ReportDownload

Delivering The Promise

Blueprint to ‘transform’ the care system

A major plan containing 80 actions to improve the lives of children, young people and families in and around the edges of care has been published.

The ‘Keeping The Promise Implementation Plan’ aims to significantly reduce the number of children in care, with at least £500 million over this Parliamentary term to help families stay together.

The Scottish Government will also introduce a national allowance for foster and kinship carers and provide a £200 grant each year for 16 to 25-year-olds with care experience.

Other commitments include:

  • redesigning the Children’s Hearings System
  • redesigning the governance of the care system
  • ending the placement of 16 and 17-year-olds in young offender institutions
  • reducing the use of restraint in residential or secure care

Minister for Children and Young People Clare Haughey said: “More than 5,500 people – half of them children and young people with experience of care – told the Independent Care Review that change is needed. This plan sets out, for the first time, over 80 actions that the Scottish Government will take to keep The Promise to deliver that change.

“These ambitious actions will help families to thrive so they can safely stay together. They will also support carers and families engaged with the care system, as well as care leavers and care experienced people in education and employment.

“Alongside The Promise Scotland, the care community, local government, and many others, we are building on work that is already under way to bring forward change as quickly as possible.”

In February 2020 the Independent Care Review published The Promise setting out recommendations to improve outcomes for those with care experience.

Keeping the Promise Implementation Plan

Community Festival launched at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

The first ever North Edinburgh Community Festival will be a free, family friendly community-led day full of fun and entertainment with the opportunity to find out about learning new skills in a relaxed and interactive way.

The day will feature performances from local groups and there will be stalls and activities for all ages. There will also be local organisations, the emergency services, Edinburgh College, community groups and employers giving young people and their families an insight into the work they do and the opportunities they have to offer.

The programme was launched this afternoon at an event in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Depute leader Cammy Day said: “This is going to be a great day for the North Edinburgh community to come together and learn more about what local groups and organisations can offer people of all ages in the area. They’ll be loads happening to make the festival fun as well as having educational elements with local employment opportunities being showcased.

“If you live in or around the area, I’d encourage you to come along to enjoy the local bands and find out more about local groups and organisations offering a whole range of activities from Arts for Grown-ups to nature play activities and storytelling.

“The day is being organised by the community and a dedicated group of local organisations and groups and I’d like to thank everyone involved.

“It’s also part of our £1.3bn project to regenerate Granton Waterfront and transform currently unused land to become a new sustainable neighbourhood.

“This will be a key part of our network of 20 minute neighbourhoods across the city, with affordable environmentally friendly homes, excellent transport and active travel links and access to lots of open and green space, arts, sports and culture.”

Willie Black North Edinburgh Community Festival Planning Committee Chair said: “I’m proud to be part of the planning committee for the Festival, creating a celebration of North Edinburgh and its place in our Capital city.

“The Festival is open to all ages. It’s going to be massive a boost to the area bringing our community together and is particularly welcome as we all start to recover from the Covid pandemic.”

Michael Jeffrey, Edinburgh College Vice Principal, said: “We are delighted to be a part of the North Edinburgh Community Festival and look forward to working with all the partners to showcase the fantastic talent, opportunities, and facilities on offer in the local community.

“We encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the day with us.”

Jed Milroy Assistant Director Tinderbox Orchestra said: “Tinderbox Orchestra is thrilled to add North Edinburgh Community Festival to kick off our Summer touring schedule.

“There is so much creativity in this brilliant community and it will be a real joy to see everyone coming out to celebrate it all together.

“We’re especially excited about young people from Tinderbox Music Club and Granton Youth performing on stage, many for the first time ever! It’s never been more important to come together as a community and look at all the positive things that are going on. Get it in your diary!”

Highlights of the programme include:

  • A music line-up featuring local acts and performers including local youth orchestra Tinderbox Orchestra, young musicians from the Granton Youth Mixtape Music Club, a fun and energetic concert for all the family from Fischy Music, a family rave from Big Fish Little Fish, a musical medley from the Forth Children’s Theatre, performances from local schools including Broughton High School, St David’s R. C. Primary and Pirniehall Primary School and performances from local punk rock band Yer Local Bams, DJ Dynamite and Newhaven Community Choir.
  • Family events and activities will include Bookbug with Muirhouse Library, nature play activities led by The Green Team, storytelling and book making with the Super Power Agency and arts and activities curated by North Edinburgh Arts.
  • Workshops for all ages including an Arts for Grown Ups drawing class led by artist Alice Betts and drumming and rhythm workshop with Moving Music. As well as a parade led by Low Income Families Together.
  • Stalls featuring around 30 locally based groups and third sector organisations.
  • Learning and upskilling opportunities from local employers and employability support organisations, including course taster sessions from Edinburgh College Granton Campus, employability advice and support from Robertson Partnership Homes, CCG Construction and Crudens, as well as advice and support from Capital City Partnerships and Smart Works Edinburgh.
  • Food demos and “pay what you can” food available from Edinburgh College, local charity Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and social enterprise Scran Academy.

Festival Programme: Tinderbox Orchestra, Fischy Music, Big Fish Little Fish, Yer Local Bams, Granton Youth Mixtape Music Club, DJ Dynamite, Broughton Music School Jazz Quartet, Rai Williams, Newhaven Community Choir, St David’s R C Primary and Pirniehall Primary School Music Club, Forth Children’s Theatre, Ama-zing Harmonies, Pulse of Place Samba Band, Bookbug, arts and crafts, The Green Team, Super Power Agency, Moving Music, Play Rangers, Arts and Dance classes, Art Bugs in Muirhouse, Spartans Community Football Academy, Low Income Families Together Parade.

Community Stalls: West Granton Community Trust, Muirhouse Library, Project Esperanza, Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies, Pennywell Pantry, Community Renewal, Venture Scotland, Vocal, Fresh Start, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust, Granton Goes Greener, NHS Lothian, Pilton Equalities Project, Learning Disability team and NHS Lothian, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Active Travel Team, Police Scotland, U-Evolve, Wasps, Girlguiding Edinburgh, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, ESES Communities, Muirhouse Housing Association, Grassroots Remedies and much more.

Jobs and Skills: Edinburgh College, Capital City Partnerships, Smart Works Edinburgh, Robertson Partnership Homes, CCG Construction, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, Royal Navy.

Food: Scran Academy, Empty Kitchens, Edinburgh Food Social, North Edinburgh Arts.

About North Edinburgh Community Festival Planning Committee: The event is being run in partnership with a consortium of organisations who meet fortnightly, including: The City of Edinburgh Council, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, North Edinburgh Arts, Edinburgh College, Police Scotland, Low Income Families Together (LIFT), Granton Youth, Tinderbox Orchestra and Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Funders and Sponsors: The City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, Edinburgh College Development Trust, Muirhouse Resident Association and Immediate Waste.

Instagram : @northedinfest
Facebook : @northedinburghfest
Twitter : @northedinfest

Increase in social security payments

Social Security Scotland: Payment rates for benefits increase from April

EIGHT of the benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland will now increase by 6%. The increase in payments for low income households and carers comes as the cost of living continues to rise.

Benefits and assistance including Job Start Payment, Young Carers Grant, Funeral Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance Supplement were due to be increased by 3.1% for 2022/23. Subject to parliamentary approval, the increases will now be almost doubled to a 6% uprate.

In addition, the three Best Start Grant payments, which we had not previously planned to uprate, will also now be uprated by 6%, and Child Winter Heating Assistance, which was previously set to rise by 5%, will now also rise by 6%.

From tomorrow (1st April), there will be a 100% increase in Scottish Child Payment, which will double from £10 per week to £20. Best Start Foods was already increased from £4.25 to £4.50 a week in August (5.88%).

Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment will still increase by 3.1% on April 11 in line with the equivalent benefits (Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment) which are still administered by the Department for Work and Pensions under agency agreement.

This is to avoid creating a two-tier system where individuals paid by Social Security Scotland are paid more than clients whose cases have not yet transferred to the Scottish system.

Payment rates for 2022-2023 are:

BenefitRates 2021-2022Rates 2022-2023New rates 2022-2023 (6% uprate)
Best Start Grant
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (1st Child Payment)£606.00£606.00£642.35
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (Subsequent Child Payment & Extra Payment for Twins/Triplets)£303.00£303.00£321.20
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment£252.50£252.50£267.65
Best Start Grant School Age Payment£252.50£252.50£267.65
Child Winter Heating Assistance
Child Winter Heating Assistance (annually)£202.00£212.10£214.10
Funeral Support Payment
standard rate for other expenses element£1,010.00£1041.30£1,070.60
other expenses element where there is a funeral plan£123.25£127.05£130.65
removal of implanted medical devices£20.55£21.20£21.55
Job Start Payment
Job Start Payment (one-off) standard rate£251.25£260.35£267.65
higher rate£404.00£416.50£428.25
Young Carer Grant
Young Carer Grant (annually)£308.15£317.70£326.65
Carer’s Allowance Supplement£8.90£9.15£9.45
Child Disability PaymentRates 2021-2022Rates 2022-2023*
Care Component Highest Rate£89.60£92.40
Care Component Middle Rate£60.00£61.85
Care Component Lowest Rate£23.70£24.45
Mobility Component Higher Rate£62.55£64.50
Mobility Component Lower Rate£23.70£24.45
Adult Disability PaymentRates 2021-2022Rates 2022-2023*
Daily Living Component Standard Rate£60.00£61.85
Daily Living Component Enhanced Rate£89.60£92.40
Mobility Component Standard Rate£23.70£24.45
Mobility Component Enhanced Rate£62.55£64.50

* 3.1% increase in line with the equivalent benefits (Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment) which are still administered by DWP under agency agreement.

New funding to support social prescribing art therapy

Over £85,000 awarded to 12 organisations from Foundation Scotland’s PHP Community Impact Fund

Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has announced a dozen community projects in Scotland have received a funding boost thanks to the new PHP Community Impact Fund.  

The fund, established by Primary Health Properties, launched last Autumn to offer support for health and wellbeing initiatives in the communities served by its medical practices.

Managed by Foundation Scotland, one of only two community foundations in the UK to pilot the new initiative, the fund is designed to provide additional and innovative services for those most in need from the patients served by practice buildings owned by PHP across the country. 

Social prescribing enables a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing and is increasingly being used to complement the work of GPs and their teams.

The approach continues to play a vital role in helping communities recover and rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic, with a particular emphasis on services to support mental health and combat loneliness.

As one of the UK’s leading investors in modern primary healthcare facilities, PHP created the Community Impact Fund to support GP practices and their communities with this model of care. 

Two Edinburgh-based projects – Thistle Health and Wellbeing (£10,000) and Carr-Gomm (£5000) – have received PHP Community Impact funding.

Jennifer McPhail, Fund Adviser from Foundation Scotland,  explained: ““We were delighted PHP chose Scotland to pilot this innovative new fund. With 38 properties spread across the country we were able to reach community projects from the Lothians up to Aberdeenshire.

“The Community Impact Fund launched at a critical time following the height of the pandemic. As our NHS continues to be under immense pressure, this is a fantastic initiative from PHP to help improve patient wellbeing outcomes, quality of life and emotional wellbeing” 

Teapot Trust, a mental health charity in Musselburgh that provides support for children and families coping with chronic conditions received £5,000 from the fund for a new social prescribing project providing one-to-one art therapy sessions for children and young people.  

Working closely with Community Link Workers, Teapot Trust will encourage self-referrals from children, young people and families in need of support in order to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Sarah Randell, Chief Executive, Teapot Trust, said: “We are most grateful for the support of Foundation Scotland. The funding we have received from the PHP Community Impact Fund is extending the reach of our one-to-one art psychotherapy service for children and young people struggling to cope with a chronic physical condition.  

“The Teapot Trust self-referrals scheme enables families to get the support they need when they need it most. This funding is supporting referrals from either a PHP owned GP Practice or directly from one of their patient families for the first time.

“Teapot Trust is delighted to help children and families build resilience, develop healthy coping mechanisms and improve mental health and wellbeing through this work across Scotland.”  

Across Scotland, a total of £86,927 was distributed among 12 organisations delivering a range of health and wellbeing programmes for their local communities.

These include services to support young people’s mental health and social inclusion, art therapy for children with long-term chronic conditions, gardening activities to promote wellbeing. This is an excellent example of true partnership working with GP’s, social prescribers and community groups coming together to deliver targeted solutions to their patients. 

Harry Hyman, CEO of Primary Health Care Properties, commented: “We were delighted with the range and scope of the applications to our new Community Impact Fund.

“It’s clear that social prescribing is an important area of growth in promoting health and wellbeing and we look forward to hearing how the organisations we have funded are able to develop their services over the coming months.”

Thousands of families can receive help towards Easter childcare costs

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working parents in Scotland to not miss out on the opportunity to get up to £2,000 a year to pay for regulated childcare, including holiday clubs and other out-of-school activities, during the Easter holidays. 

Tax-Free Childcare provides thousands of eligible working families with up to £500 every three months (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) towards the cost of holiday clubs, before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, and other approved childcare schemes.

For every £8 deposited into a Tax-Free Childcare online account, families will receive an additional £2 in government top-up, and it is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability.

More than 19,800 working families used the scheme in December 2021, in Scotland. Overall, HMRC paid out more than £34 million in top-up payments, which was shared between nearly 328,000 families across the UK.

With recent research estimating that around 1.3 million families could be taking up this government support, parents and carers can check their eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare via GOV.UK. 

This scheme can help working families including the self-employed and is one of many ways the UK Government is supporting households to reduce their costs and keep more of what they earn to help pay for other bills. 

Helen Whately, HM Treasury’s Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “There are lots of brilliant holiday clubs and childcare providers to help working parents during the Easter holidays, and Tax-Free Childcare is a great offer that can help cut the childcare bills. 

“I urge families across the UK to take advantage of this support and put extra pounds in their pocket – sign up now and save on your childcare costs.” 

By depositing money into their accounts, families can benefit from the 20% top-up and use the money to pay for childcare costs when they need it. Accounts can be opened at any time of the year and can be used straight away.

For example, if parents and carers have school-aged children and use holiday clubs during school holidays, they could deposit money into their accounts throughout the year. This means they could spread the cost of childcare while also benefitting from the 20% government top-up. Any unused money that is deposited can be simply withdrawn at any time.

Tax-Free Childcare is also available for pre-school aged children attending nurseries, childminders, or other childcare providers. Families with younger children will often have higher childcare costs than families with older children, so the tax-free savings can really make a difference.

Childcare providers can also sign up for a childcare provider account via GOV.UK to receive payments from parents and carers via the scheme.

The Nickleodeon Experience is coming to Saughton Park this summer

Nickelodeon has announced a brand new outdoor immersive event, The Nickelodeon Experience, set to launch this summer in Saughton Park.

This first-of-its-kind experience promises to be an epic adventure for the entire family, with it also being the first time in ten years that a Nickelodeon event has taken place in Scotland. 

Kicking off in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful green spaces, Saughton Park, the experience will be touring the UK from July 2022 making further stops at Knebworth House and Heaton Park in Manchester.

Adventure seekers, aged 2-14 years old, can explore the worlds of their favourite Nickelodeon TV shows and discover ten activity zones. From multi-sensory and interactive adventures to creative and skill-based challenges, kids get to map their own journey and curate their own fun.

Kids can go behind the scenes of some of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows including The Thundermans School for Superheroes where they’ll learn to acquire their own super-powers. Step into an episode of Henry Danger, where Nick fans must navigate Henry Danger’s Maze full of secret twists, turns, puzzles and passages. They can also race against the clock to solve the Hunter Street Escape Room mystery, which puts teamwork to the test in an attempt to crack the code and find the key. 

The adventures don’t stop there! From a trip to Adventure Bay with an opportunity to meet PAW Patrol’s fan-favourites Chase and Marshall, to a sub-terranean adventure in The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ underground lair, complete with ooze covered tunnels, Nick fans will be utterly captivated in this immersive outdoor adventure.

What’s more, an arts and crafts zone featuring Baby Shark’s Big Show and Blue’s Clues themed activitiesawaits all budding artists. Attendees can also jump on a giant pirate ship, play in rock pools, and make a splash in an immersive play zone based on the swashbuckling world of Santiago of The Seas.

For the perfect finale to the experience, you’re invited to the Slime Time Party to finally know how it feels to get SLIMED – the ultimate Nickelodeon honour!

Alongside these immersive zones, children and their parents can relax at SpongeBob SquarePants’ Bikini Bottom Beach, where they can also sample delicious delights from the many themed food and beverage stalls and visit the Nickelodeon store and take home the perfect memento from an incredible range of exclusive Nickelodeon Experience merchandise.

Capacities are limited but you can book your tickets now at: 

www.thenickelodeonexperience.co.uk 

Kids tickets start at £29.50 and infants under two years old go free.

THE NICKELODEON EXPERIENCE LOCATION AND DATE

  • SAUGHTON PARK, EDINBURGH – 1st July – 14th July
  • HEATON PARK, MANCHESTER – 23rd July – 5th August
  • KNEBWORTH HOUSE, HERTFORDHSIRE – 14th – 27th August

The Nickelodeon Experience is proudly produced by The Luna Cinema and suitable for children aged two to fourteen years old.

George Wood, founder of The Luna Cinema says: “We cannot wait for the launch of The Nickelodeon Experience in Edinburgh this summer!

“For years we’ve wanted to develop a truly interactive experience that allowed kids to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite TV shows, just as we do with Friends fans at FriendsFest and film lovers with our Luna Cinema screenings, and it’s amazing to be able to bring Nickelodeon to families in Scotland for the first time in ten years!

“To have such an iconic catalogue of shows, including global brands like PAW Patrol, The Thundermans and SpongeBob SquarePants under the Nickelodeon umbrella is a treasure trove of content to explore and bring to life, and we’re really excited to make it happen.” 

Virginia Monaghan, VP, Events and Experiences, ViacomCBS UK, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering with The Luna Cinema to bring our hugely popular Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows to life through this uniquely immersive experience.

“This is a chance for children to make new memories with friends, in a safe and fun setting, and with their favourite characters. Nickelodeon hasn’t been to Scotland for ten years now, so it’s going to be extra special to be able to kick-start the nationwide tour in Edinburgh.”

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: 

https://www.thenickelodeonexperience.co.uk/ 

New programme at Leith’s Dr Bell’s Family Centre

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Our new programme is live

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Starting Monday 25th April. If you live in Leith, have at least one child under the age of 5 you can sign up to some of our fantastic groups. If you would like to know more information or sign up, please drop us an email at info@dbfc.org.uk

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Dr Bell’s Family Centre@drbellsfamily

Our new programme is live Starting Monday 25th April. If you live in Leith, have at least one child under the age of 5 you can sign up to some of our fantastic groups.

If you would like to know more information or sign up, please drop us an email at info@dbfc.org.uk