Tag: Children and Families

Wondrous Woods launches charity partnership with Maggie’s

Scotland’s spectacular lighting trail proud to celebrate cancer support charity’s 25th anniversary  

Scotland’s dazzling lighting trail Wondrous Woods is proud to announce its charity partner for 2021 is the inspirational cancer support organisation Maggie’s.  

Maggie’s celebrates 25 years of providing expert support to people with cancer and their friends and family and Wondrous Woods is inviting centre visitors at Maggie’s to the lighting extravaganza to help raise vital funds.  

The lighting trail, which runs from October 21st to November 14th, will illuminate Hopetoun House, just outside Edinburgh, and light up a magical woodland journey through its beautiful grounds.

This year visitors will help to pay tribute to Maggie’s vital work  with the chance to donate to the charity which relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to support people living with cancer, their family and friends. 

To celebrate the organisation’s 25th anniversary, on the 4th November a Maggie’s logo will appear illuminated against the magnificent backdrop of the House and orange lasers will punctuate the trail. 

Wondrous Woods is also offering discounted tickets to 250 Maggie’s newsletter readers and running a social media competition to win family tickets for the event and the opportunity to experience the grandeur of the ancestral home with a sumptuous evening of drinks, plus a hamper of food courtesy of Maggie’s, served in the Tapestry Room. 

Designed and produced by the team at 21CC Group, this year’s celebratory trail includes several sound and special effects installations and showcases a host of new and exciting festival-themed features including Kaleidoscope, Rubik’s Cube, Loo Lane and UV Madness. 

Geoff Crow, Director of 21CC Group says: “Maggie’s do a truly amazing job providing support centres and information for people who are coping with a terrible change in their lives.

“And the fantastic thing is that their services are absolutely free. But they constantly need funding to provide these and we’re hoping that people who come along to Wondrous Woods will not only have a wonderful experience but also take the opportunity to combine that with supporting this inspirational charity. 

“We are thrilled to be associated with Maggie’s and hope to do them proud in their silver anniversary year.”  

Visitors who opt to support Maggie’s will be able to choose from different levels of donation when they purchase tickets for the trail. 

Maggie’s Andrew Anderson at Maggie’s Edinburgh said: “We are honoured that Wondrous Woods  has chosen to support Maggie’s this year. Maggie’s has been there for people with cancer and their families during the most difficult of times. 

“Maggie’s Edinburgh was the first centre to open in 1996 and this year we are celebrating 25 years of expertise. 

“We rely almost entirely on voluntary donations to support people living with cancer, as well as family and friends, so we are so grateful for your support.” 

For further information about Wondrous Woods and to purchase tickets, visit www.wondrouswoods.com 

Wildlife Watch: Go Batty with North Edinburgh Arts

🦇 There are still places on North Edinburgh Arts’ September Wildlife Watch next Friday 17th September, 2 – 4pm at Gypsy Brae 🦇

Join the group and take part in all sorts of fun activities, from mini beast hunting to natural crafts.

There’s something for everyone and a chance to learn new skills too!

This month we’re focusing on bats.This outdoor session is free for 8-12 year olds , with a snack provided.

To book go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/168559153967

Dad runs two marathons in two months for charity that helped his daughter communicate again

Robin Gibson from Edinburgh, has signed up to take on the Brighton Marathon and London Marathon over the next two months to raise money for The Children’s Trust. Robin was inspired to take on the challenge after his daughter, Floss, received brain injury rehabilitation at the charity’s specialist centre.

In May 2019, Floss was celebrating her 17th birthday in her hometown of Barnard Castle when she was a passenger in a high-speed car accident.

Floss suffered a devastating brain injury which put her in a coma for a month and with limited awareness of the world around her for nearly a year. Prior to the accident, Floss was a fit and healthy A-level student and keen rugby player working towards a career as a lawyer. The accident left her with a severe brain injury, unable to walk, communicate or feed herself.

Nine months after her brain injury, aged 18, Floss moved to The Children’s Trust in Surrey where she received a combination of intensive physio, speech and language, occupational therapy, aquatics, play therapy and music therapy to try and relearn the skills she had lost.

Floss also attended The Children’s Trust School, a non-maintained special school supporting children and young people aged 2-19 with a wide range of needs.

Robin said: “With the first week of focused rehabilitation, my daughter showed responses not seen before and, three months later, she was clinically declared conscious and on the road to recovery.

“In the following nine months, The Children’s Trust helped my daughter to start to communicate, start to look after herself, make her first steps in trying to eat and even put her back on her feet with a few tentative and supported steps. Most importantly, The Children’s Trust gave my daughter her smile back.”

Robin has already reached his target of £3000 and now aims to continue his fundraising efforts and raise the bar even further.

He added: “I’m very excited to take on this challenge and raise vital funds for a charity that has given our family so much. We’ll be forever grateful for how the staff helped Floss with her recovery and I’m pleased we can give back in some way.”

If you would like to take on a challenge in aid of The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury, visit: 

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/events

To donate to Robin’s Just Giving page, visit: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/robin-gibson3

Communities across Scotland to take part in COP26 climate action

With just over 50 days to go until COP26 comes to Glasgow, details of Scotland’s COP26 community engagement programme have been announced.

The programme of climate change activity will engage communities in the journey to net zero and empower them to take action.

It will include activity targeted at communities that have not previously engaged in climate action, helping to make Scotland’s COP26 engagement inclusive.

The programme also includes activity for young people, including schools and youth groups such as the guiding and scouting movements, to help ensure children and young people from all backgrounds can participate.

Scotland’s climate festivals will support local communities to plan and deliver their own festivals and events across the country.

Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Glasgow Science Centre will lead on delivery, backed with almost £500,000 of Scottish Government funding.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: “COP26 coming to Scotland is a unique opportunity to advance the society-wide transformation demanded by the climate crisis.

“That’s why we are determined to make sure the event reaches out far beyond the negotiations in Glasgow, into every community in the country.

“Scotland has made great progress in delivering its world-leading climate targets and is already over half way to net zero. To end our contribution to climate change within a generation, we will all need to play role. Our communities and young people will be at the heart of that action. This programme will help empower everyone to take action to tackle climate change – especially those that might have not previously engaged.”

Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Scottish Government and partners to ensure everyone is empowered to navigate the climate emergency challenges ahead. 

“COP26 happening in Scotland must be a catalyst to broaden and intensify climate conversations nationally and locally.  We want to bring the issues discussed at the summit to the heart of communities by unlocking opportunities for those currently not engaged in climate change action to make their voices heard, and to provide much needed energy and support.”

Dr Stephen Breslin, CEO Glasgow Science Centre, said: “Our World, Our Impact aims to make climate science relevant to day-to-day life, inviting everyone to explore how we can all play a part in the discussion as Glasgow prepares to host COP26.

“We are also delighted to be working together with our colleagues from Scotland’s other science centres to look at how we can engage underserved audiences in the climate conversation across Scotland.”

Christmas at the Botanics unveils more surprises for festive trail

The winter spectacle, Christmas at the Botanics, has confirmed more installations for this year’s trail when it opens on 25th November, including a new festive finale.  

Running for 32 nights at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, friends and family will be able to come together to explore 15 dazzling installations along the one-mile route and experience the outdoor twilight trail.   

The latest installations confirmed for this year include Digital Rain, Fireflies in the Wood and the cascading Sea of Light (above) which will feature as the festive finale:  

  • Digital Rain – is an immersive installation by Bespoke Lighting and Video, featuring LED pixels that ‘rain down’ on those below to create a shimmering shower of light.  
  • Fireflies in the Woods – is an enchanting installation from Electric Foundry, containing 100 points of light that twist through the tress to create a magical woodland wonderland.  
  • Sea of Light – brings an enthralling mix of sound and light technology, from award-winning company ITHACA, that flows across the landscape in spectacular, glittering waves.  

To meet current Scottish Government guidelines, reduced capacities and a one-way system will be in place for the comfort of visitors coming together to celebrate the festive season. Health and safety measures, in place to protect visitors, will be monitored throughout the run. 

Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “This year’s trail promises the arrival of new, exciting and atmospheric installations enabling visitors to enjoy the Garden landscape in a completely different way.   

“As we begin our landmark restoration programme, Edinburgh Biomes, we greatly appreciate the contribution that the trail makes to funding our plant research and conservation projects. By coming to the trail, visitors help to support our important work in Scotland and around the world. 

“I look forward to welcoming visitors from within the capital, Scotland, the UK and overseas to the Garden to experience this magical moment in Edinburgh’s festive calendar.” 

Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “This year’s easing of restrictions will allow more people within Edinburgh and beyond to safely visit this enchanting spectacle.

“We are excited to welcome new artists and a brand-new festive finale that is bound to impress. There is so much to look forward to and we can’t wait for people to visit this magical winter experience.”  

Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.

A timed entry system will remain for the trail this year with visitors encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment.  

Christmas at the Botanics is one of 15 illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the trail is created by Culture Creative.   

For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram. 

Barnardo’s Scotland appeals for more foster carers with focus on keeping siblings in care together

Barnardo’s Scotland is appealing for more people to consider becoming foster carers and in particular, for people who would consider caring for siblings.

A new YouGov survey for Barnardo’s encouragingly shows that 15% of adults in Scotland would consider fostering a child aged 18 or under in the next five years. However, that figure drops to just 8% when asked the same question about fostering siblings. 

The survey also shows respondents feelings on how vital they believe it is for siblings to remain together – 66% of adults said it was important that they and their sibling/s were together in the same household when they grew up, with 55% of respondents who had a sibling saying it would have had a negative personal impact on them if they had been separated while growing up. 

Barnardo’s Scotland is looking for more foster carers to ensure that when a child needs a loving, stable and safe family, there are local carers available. 

The appeal comes as part of Barnardo’s Fostering Focus Month, and the charity hopes to hear from people from all backgrounds across Scotland, including BAME and LGBT communities. It is vital to increase the numbers of foster carers to ensure that when a child needs a family, the right carer is available to meet their needs and give them the care, stability and happiness they deserve. 

The charity particularly hopes to hear from people willing to foster siblings, to enable Barnardo’s to continue supporting The Promise Scotland’s commitment to stop the practice of separating brothers and sisters in care, unless for reasons of safety.

Sue Brunton, Assistant Director for Barnardo’s Scotland Family Placement Services said: “We are asking for people to please give serious consideration as to whether they could give a home to a child when they need it most. Your love and support can allow brothers and sisters to stay together and make a huge difference to their life – and to yours. 

“Research into outcomes for children has found that when we separate siblings it is much harder for them to settle, and they have poorer wellbeing. Our survey shows that many people would consider fostering and we urge people to come forward to find out more about what being a foster carer involves – there’s no obligation.  

“We welcome passionate individuals from all walks of life. If you are over 21, have a spare room, are a UK resident and most importantly have the time and commitment to support a child – you could be the special person they need.” 

Barnardo’s has 100 years of experience in fostering. Experts provide all the training needed, which is ongoing, and offer support 24/7. Foster carers will also get financial support, including a carer’s allowance to help make a positive difference to a child’s life. 

For further information about fostering with Barnardo’s Scotland, please contact your local fostering team:

Barnardo’s Fostering Edinburgh and South East Scotland / Tel: 07717 807403.

Meet the Squirrels!

Scouts annnounce exciting new programme for 4 and 5 year olds

We couldn’t be prouder to announce Squirrels: our new programme for 4 and 5 year olds. It’s also a historic milestone for the UK Scout movement. As the first new age range in Scouts for 35 years, we’re helping young people gain skills for life where and when it matters most.

Following two years of pilots and pioneering work in Northern Ireland, 200 Squirrel Dreys have opened in locations across the UK. We’re prioritising communities most affected by the pandemic, and supporting families and young people who’ve fallen behind.

We’re particularly proud to welcome those young people from underrepresented communities, including those who haven’t tried Scouts before.

Promoting key skills when it matters

Research from Ofsted tells us that children hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking basic skills and learning. We know that what happens in these critical early years, when vital connections are being made in the brain will fundamentally shape their future.

Our programme’s therefore designed to support informal learning and help 4–5 year-olds catch up. It’s about promoting key skills like working together, communication, and language, as well as creativity and community awareness.

Squirrels get active, explore nature and have fun learning with friends, all while earning badges – just like other Scouts. New badges include Feel Good, Be Active, Explore Outdoors, Brilliant Builder and Exciting Experiments.

It’s a positive, safe environment for young children to develop essential skills for life, starting them on a journey to become the active citizens and leaders of the future.

Matt Hyde, Scouts’ CEO, said: “Squirrels is part of our commitment to help young people, families and communities come back stronger from the pandemic. Our mission is to equip young people with skills for life.

“What we learn up to the age of 5 lays the building blocks for everything that follows. If you’re 4, you’ve spent a third of your life in lockdowns. That’s why we’re opening the first Squirrel Dreys in those communities that need it most.

“But to scale up this new programme, we need support from volunteers, partners, donors and MPs, to help us reach even more young people.”

To support the roll out of Squirrels, we’re now calling for adults, including parents and carers to step forward as part of our #GoodForYou campaign, designed to recruit over 5,000 new volunteers.

We’re showing adults how volunteering for Scouts not only helps young people, but is good for them too, supporting wellbeing and building skills for employment and education.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, is helping launch the new age range: ‘I’m so glad that younger children no2w have the chance to join our family of Scouts,’ he said, ‘and develop skills for life.

“‘We know from our pilot programme that 4–5-year-olds can really benefit from the activities that we offer. We believe that by offering opportunities at this early age, inspiring a sense of wonder, fun and curiosity, we can have a long-lasting, positive impact on young people’s lives.”

Charmaine, the mother of Alexia, a 5-year-old in an early years’ pilot group, shared the positive impact being in Scouts has had.

“Alexia has loved coming to the meetings. She’s learnt so many skills, like confidence, independence, and learning to tidy up after herself. During lockdown, she set up a tent in the living room and camped there for two nights. The socialising has also helped her. She doesn’t go to school with the children here, so it’s good for her to meet other children.”

Charmaine agrees that parents and carers get actively involved too: “If the children are making something then the parents can make something as well, so they know how to do similar activities at home.

“The leaders are very encouraging and very child focused. During lockdown they kept in touch and dropped off packs of activities for Alexia to do. The best thing coming to Scouts is the skills they learn, the discipline it gives them, and the chance to get outside, play and interact with other children.”

Alexia said: ‘I’ve been to every single meeting and I love everything. I like being outside, going to the park and playing.”

Get involved

If you’d like to volunteer, find our more, or support the roll out of Squirrels, we’d love to hear from you. Join us as we start this exciting new journey, on the newest branch on Scouts’ family tree.

Find an opportunity that’s #GoodForYou >

Children’s Commissioners urge UK Government to stop violating children’s rights to an adequate standard of living

The Children’s Commissioners of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have repeated their calls to the UK Government to end its two-child limit on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit warning that the policy continues to violate children’s human rights. 

All three have also called on the UK Government to abandon the scrapping of the £20 uplift, which would compound the poverty issues facing children across the nations, and urge the prioritisation of children’s rights in any further changes to Universal Credit.  

Giving evidence yesterday  (Wednesday, September 8) to the Public Services Committee at the House of Lords, the Commissioners again pointed out that the two-child limit policy – which disallows benefits payments to third and subsequent children born after April 2017 in most circumstances – is a discriminatory policy contrary to the government’s obligations under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child.  

Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland said: “We remain deeply concerned that the two-child policy and the scrapping of the £20 uplift breaches childen’s rights to an adequate standard of living and is contributing to a rising gap in poverty levels between families with three or more children and smaller households.  

“The two-child limit in particular has a disproportionate impact on social groups where larger families are more common, such as some minority faith and ethnic groups and in Northern Ireland where families are larger than the rest of the UK.”  

The Commissioners – Bruce Adamson for Scotland, Sally Holland for Wales, and Koulla Yiasouma for Northern Ireland – remain concerned that UK benefit rules prevent devolved governments from fully tackling child poverty.   

Speaking after the Committee session, Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, Bruce Adamson said: “The Scottish Government had an opportunity yesterday within the Programme for Government to do all that it can to mitigate against the worse of the UK Government’s benefit rules.

“While new commitments on housing, food and the new Whole Family Wellbeing Fund are welcome, not increasing the Scottish Child Payment with immediate effect was hugely concerning as children need this money now.

“Poverty is a human rights issue and while UK benefit rules continue to play a significant part in keeping families in poverty, the Scottish Government plays an important role in ensuring children’s rights are met. The effects of the pandemic – which are still becoming clear – have only served to make a dire situation worse for those in poverty or only just getting by. Both governments must do more.”

Commissioner Sally Holland said: “Children are hungry and living in sub-standard housing in the UK in 2021 and that is a disgrace. Poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life, from their health – both physical and mental – to their education. How can a child concentrate properly at school and learn if they are hungry? 

“The State has an obligation to children and every child has the right to an adequate standard of living. Families have a right to social security. These polices are a clear breach of children’s human rights.”  

  In May, the Children’s Commissioners of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland wrote an open letter to the Right Honourable Thérèse Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, calling for an end to the two-child limit of Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit and for the £20 uplift in universal credit amounts to be maintained.  

New fund to help keep Scotland’s families together

Fewer children and young people should end up in care, thanks to a £500 million fund to help support families to stay together. Announced as part of the latest Programme for Government, the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund will help families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point.  

The fund aims to significantly reduce the number of children and young people in care by 2030 and will provide support on a range of issues, including:

  • child and adolescent mental health
  • child poverty
  • alcohol and drugs misuse
  • educational attainment

In 2020 the Scottish Government made a commitment to thousands of care experienced children and adults to Keep The Promise. This included ‘where children are safe in their families and feel loved they must stay – and families must be given support together to nurture that love and overcome the difficulties which get in the way’.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “We want to create a Scotland where more children will only know care, compassion and love, and not a ‘care system’.

“The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, backed by at least £500 million over this Parliamentary term, will help us to make this a reality and prevent families reaching crisis point.

“Our ambition is that, from 2030, we will be investing at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend in preventative whole family support measures that will enable us to continue to Keep The Promise.

“This fund, focused on prevention, will enable the building of universal, holistic support services, available in communities across Scotland, giving families access to the help they need, where and when they need it.”

Chair of The Promise Scotland Fiona Duncan said: “The Whole Family Wellbeing Fund is welcome and The Promise Scotland looks forward to working with the Scottish Government and others to ensure it leads to more children and young people staying together with their families, wherever it is safe for them to do so, to feel loved, and to receive the help and support they need, when they need it.

“The Promise Scotland continues to work to ensure Scotland Keeps the Promise and work is on track to deliver the first part of the transformative route map by 2024. This funding is a step in the right direction towards ensuring we all Keep the Promise.” 

It was also announced in Programme for Government that as part of the work to Keep The Promise, young people who leave care will be able to access a new Care Experience Grant.

The £200 a year grant for 16 to 26 year olds, backed by annual investment of up to £10 million, recognises the financial disadvantages often experienced by those in care.