Looking for something to do during school break? Come along to LifeCare where we will be hosting a variety of fun filled, exciting and inspirational activities for children this summer
11am-12pm every Tuesday of July:
7th Storytelling with Fergus
Fergus McNicol brings you highly participative sessions of dance and storytelling with a focus on family fun, dance, song, rhymes, raps and tales! Perfect for lower primary and nursery ages. Contact sarahduckmanton@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk to reserve your space.
14th Playbotics (STEM)
We are here to educate and excite children about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) by providing fun and inspirational classes using K’NEX® and Lego®. Contact sarahduckmanton@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk to reserve your space.
21st Creative art drop in
28th Creative art drop in
These are suitable for children aged 3-10 and guardians must remain in the building during sessions
Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland, has written in response to the statement from all 32 of Scotland’s Chief Social Work Officers warning of an emergency in availability of alternative care options for children:
Across Scotland there is now an acute shortage of suitable homes and carers for children who are unable to remain in the care of their family.
The lack of options increases the risk of harm to children from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or exploitation and neglect, as well as placing undue and unsustainable pressure on the people entrusted with keeping Scotland’s children, young people and adults safe.
The crisis is occurring at a time of growing concerns about the impact of poverty on families, a shortage of housing, and national attention on child sexual abuse and exploitation.
We, Scotland’s thirty-two Chief Social Work Officers, are therefore taking this unusual step of issuing a joint statement to ensure that the public and political leaders are aware of the situation, and the need for urgent action.
In the absence of placement options, newborn babies are remaining in the care of hospital nurses. Children as young as three years old are being placed in residential homes with young adults; a setting characterised by frequently changing staff and other young people.
Older children are sleeping on the sofas of foster carers and residential homes. And in such scarcity, where any safe placement will do, expensive specialist options are being used for children who do not have high levels of need, making them unavailable for those children who do.
The capacity of the care system is saturated, and it is only thanks to the incredible efforts of Scotland’s carers, social work staff and other professionals that we have been able to prevent the system collapsing entirely. Some carers have not had a break in many months, and in some parts of the country social workers have had to take children home with them, as no other safe options are available.
This is an emergency for Scotland’s care system, and we ask Scottish Government and Local Government leaders to work with us to take necessary action.
Principally, we – as the leaders of social work in local government – require the flexibility to authorise placements which we deem suitable to protect the welfare and wellbeing of children.
We also need to see political commitments to alleviate the administrative demand on social work implemented at pace.
Scotland aspires to be among the best places in the world to grow up, no matter what your background or circumstances. And Scotland has made a promise to those children and families who require social work support that the experience will be positive and nurturing. We share these ambitions wholeheartedly.
But the primary responsibility of public authorities is to protect the welfare and wellbeing of people, and if we are unable to do this fundamental task, those ambitions will never be realised.
Exhilarating horsemanship and medieval hijinks made a gallant return to Linlithgow Palace over the weekend as part of Historic Scotland’s annual Spectacular Jousting event.
The event featured a range of medieval-themed experiences for visitors, including falconry displays and a historical reenactment camp.
In the jousting arena, the thundering of hooves and clash of lances accompanied four knights who battled it out to become the tourney’s champion.
Families can enjoy free ocean-inspired fun at Fort Kinnaird this summer, as the centre launches its summer holiday activity programme.
Running from Saturday 27th June until Saturday 1st August, the Ocean Putt Trail will give visitors the chance to take on a free eight-hole mini golf experience while discovering facts about local sea life and marine conservation along the way.
Located outside ODEON Cinema, the trail has been created using recycled ocean-inspired materials, including driftwood, netting and bottle caps. Visitors of all ages can take on a series of putting challenges while learning more about the local ecosystem.
Throughout the summer, families can also get involved in the Sea-to-Shore Trail. Trail sheets are available from the Ocean Putt Shack outside ODEON Cinema and will guide families on an adventure around the centre to uncover facts about the natural world and Edinburgh’s oceans.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know it’s not always easy keeping the kids entertained during the school holidays, so it was important to us to offer something free for all of the family to enjoy on a day out this summer.
“The trails are a fun way to spend time together, try something new and learn a little more about marine life and the importance of looking after our oceans. We’re also really proud that the Ocean Putt Trail has been created using recycled materials, and we hope it sparks some great conversations with visitors while they enjoy a day out with us.”
The Ocean Putt Trail is open daily from 11am to 4pm, with times subject to change.
For more information and to plan a visit to Fort Kinnaird, go to:
Family favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue in Edinburgh, offering families ample opportunity to spend quality time together now that the school year has ended.
Kickstart the summer with some playtime as Toy Story 5, the latest adventure of Woody and the gang, out now on the big screen – just in time for the start of the Scottish school holidays.
This time, it’s toy meets tech as Bonnie receives a new tablet to play with, making life for Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the other toys exponentially harder. There are plenty of heartfelt moments and joyful laughs as they go head-to-head with this all-new threat to playtime itself.
On Saturday 27 June at 2pm, Vue in Edinburgh will also host a special Toy Trip screening of the highly anticipated Disney and Pixar sequel, encouraging guests to bring their favourite toy along to watch the film with them.
As part of the experience, anyone who books a ticket for the special Toy Trip screening and arrives with a toy will receive a collectible souvenir ticket to take home.
Whether it is a much-loved childhood companion, a favourite teddy, an action figure or a toy passed down through generations, Vue is giving toys the big screen moment they deserve.
The special screenings aim to celebrate the magic of stories and the emotional connection younger audiences have with big screen experiences, inviting families to watch Toy Story 5 together and feel it forever.
There’s even more animated fun this summer as Minions & Monsters brings plenty of mischief to the big screen at Vue from 1 July. In the wonderful world of Despicable Me, Minions & Monsters sees everyone’s favourite henchmen conquer Hollywood, become movie stars and accidentally unleash monsters upon the world. Will they save the planet from their own monstrous mistakes?
Families can also catch other fantastic family hits such as Disney’s live-action Moana and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, both heading to the big screen during the summer holidays.
For the opportunity to catch recent family favourites on the big screen for a very small price, Vue’s Mighty Mornings screenings will take place every day across the break. Ideal for kids between four and 11, Charlie the Wonderdog will be showing among other titles, with prices from just £2.49 a ticket when booked online.
For younger audiences, Vue will also be bringing some of the most popular children’s characters back as part of its Big Shorts series. Aimed at younger children between one and four, the screenings are hosted in a relaxed environment with dimmed lighting. Younger viewers can look forward to a special screening of Zog & Zog and the Flying Doctors.
Vue is also inviting families to make the most of the summer holiday season with the launch of its new Summer Passport Book, a collectible adventure-style experience designed to encourage young film fans to enjoy more big-screen moments throughout the holidays.
Launching with Toy Story 5, families and children can gather stamps for their Summer Passport Book when visiting Vue for the latest families releases and are encouraged to share photos of their passport books and adventures onto a dedicated Vue Facebook post for the chance to win a £25 Vue gift card.
For the summer break, Vue is also introducing new discounted kids’ tickets in partnership with the Great British Summer Savings scheme.
From 25 June, children aged 14 and under can enjoy big screen escapes, providing a fantastic way to keep the family entertained over the summer.
Ian Chester, General Manager at Vue in Edinburgh, said: “As we head into the school holidays, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Vue.
“From live-action reimaginings to animated adventures, it’s the perfect destination for families to escape, unwind, and get lost in great stories on the big screen.”
We are thrilled to be teaming up with Muirhouse Library and our friends Art Buds Collective to bring the Macmillan Hub to life with a fun programme packed full of free activities for local children and families!
From 29 June right through to 8 August, we’ll be running creative drop-in activities for all summer long.
Whether it’s a free breakfast and a catch-up with friends, getting creative with arts and crafts, enjoying nature in the NEA Garden, singing along at Bookbug, or settling in for a film and some popcorn, there’s something on nearly every day of the week.
So grab the kids, pop down to MacMillan Hub, and join in the fun this summer!
7th Storytelling with Fergus
14th Playbotics (STEM)
21st Creative art drop in
Craigroyston CYFC U15s – Sponsorship Opportunity 
