Make it a special Father’s Day with Year of the Dad

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Have you got your Father’s Day all planned out? If not – come and join the Year of the Dad team who will be buzzing around Scotland sampling some of the best family fun on offer!


STIRLING – BIG FREE FATHER’S DAY EVENT

Our flagship Big Free Father’s Day event is the brainchild of Dave, our Head of Programmes, who has teamed up with MXP Fitness in Stirling to offer a day of family fun at the state of the art gym facilities there. There’ll be free food, tug of war, Bodyworks exhibition by Glasgow Science Centre and loads more including a Dad of the Day competition with prizes presented by BBC One’s The Voice winner Stevie McCrorie. For further details and to book your place look here.

LANARKSHIRE – FAMILY MAN FUN DAY

Giving Stirling a run for its money as the biggest free Father’s Day event in Scotland is the ever-popular Family Man Fun Day at Hamilton Race Course. Our dynamic board member Fiona is bringing Fathers Network Scotland together with the South Lanarkshire Community Learning and Home school Partnership to create an explosion of fun for the whole family. Dance displays, carnival stalls, tots and toddler zone, a treasure hunt and much more is on offer. Look here for all the details and timings.

EDINBURGH – FATHER’S DAY FAMILY TAKEOVER

Meanwhile at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Thomas, David and the team from Dads Rock will be inviting families to get hands-on with lots of exciting activities and the chance to explore the Gardens, find hidden treasures and discover more about one of the richest plant collections in the world. All the details are here.

GLASGOW, PERTH & AND THE REST!

There’s plenty more to do if none of these tickle your fancy. Among those already on our radar for Father’s Day are the Glasgow Father’s Day Big Toddle – and others in Auchingarrich and Loch Lomond Shores, all organised by Barnardo’s. And if you fancy a more spacious vibe, don’t forget there’s the whole Solas Festival weekend from Fri 17-Sun 19, near Perth, where our Head of Comms Nick Thorpe will bring a dad-flavoured strand to a cluster of talks on parenting (when he’s not taking in the live music and festival treats).

NEW Year Of The DAD ANIMATION

Meanwhile, don’t forget to keep an eye on the Year of the Dad blog and YouTube Channel for great content to help you spread the message. Our newest video is a charming 1-minute animation featuring 11-&-3/4-year-old Rosie, which puts children rightly at the heart of our campaign. Why not pass it on to a friend and help celebrate the difference a great dad can make?

That’s all for now – thanks for all your support!

The Year of the Dad Team

Year of the Dad
http://www.fathersnetwork.org.uk/

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Free summer sport and games with Edinburgh Leisure 0107

City’s young people encouraged to ‘Join In’

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With the Olympics just around the corner, Edinburgh Leisure will be inspiring the young people of Edinburgh to try out a variety of sports and games in the Meadows on Friday 1 July – plus there’s a free summer sports programme running from 4 July at various venues across the city.

At the free ‘Join In’ event, children can kick off their summer with American Football, or get into the swing of things with tennis. Old favourites like football, gymnastics and cycling will also be available for youngsters to try as well as football speed shot, tug of war, volleyball and much more. Sport experts will also be present to help them get the most out of their day in the beautiful green setting of the Meadows.

Children’s sedentary lifestyles are a ‘ticking time-bomb’ for the NHS. A recent poll of 1,039 parents conducted by ComRes, found 75 per cent of parents agree that it is more difficult for parents today to encourage children to become physically active than for previous generations, and just 47 per cent of parents thing there are enough affordable opportunities for children to be active in their local areas during school holidays.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Weight Management Development Officer, Conor McLean, said, “We all know about the positive health and mental benefits of getting active. Edinburgh Leisure is passionate about making sport accessible to young people. Last year, over 300 children turned up to experience our taster sessions.

“We run a variety of projects and classes for this age group, and this is a great chance to provide a way in to a healthy and active lifestyle for Edinburgh’s children, as well as a fun day out. And what’s even better is the day is free.”

Children are welcome to come and go as they please at the ‘Join In’ event, which runs from 1pm – 4pm on Friday, 1 July. Children under the age of 9 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children and young people aged 9 and over can attend on their own or with friends. There is no pre-registration or booking required but all young people must register at the sign-in desk on the day.

Edinburgh Leisure will also be running a free summer sports programme at different venues. Events will take place at the Meadows every Wednesday and Friday from 2 – 4 pm, starting 6 and 8 July respectively to 10 and 12 August.

There will also be sports at Saughton from Monday, 4 July – 8 August from 2 – 4pm. Younger children (primary school children, aged 5 and up) will be catered for with outdoor play sessions at Hunters Hall, by Jack Kane Sports Centre, every Tuesday from 2-4pm, which will run from 5 July.

There will be spaces for 60 children at the Meadows, 44 at Saughton and 20 at Hunter’s Hall to get involved in the free sessions. No pre-booking is required but everyone must register at the sign-in desk on the day and it will be on a first come, first served basis.

Andy McIntosh, Youth Development Officer continued: “Giving children a balanced play diet is as beneficial for their development as a balanced nutritional diet and we want to encourage all children to get active and stay active. So let’s get them off their screens and down to Saughton, The Meadows or Hunters Hall for some active fun this summer. Who knows, we may even encourage the future generation of Olympians.”

Participants enrolled in Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘2 Your Future’ project, will be helping to deliver the activities. ‘2 Your Future’, a 16 week programme, provides a combination of sports based activities and tailored employment support for young people not currently engaged in education, employment or training.

Rockin’ The Botanics on Father’s Day

Dads Rock on Father’s Day at the Botanics

Sun 19 June, 11am to 4pm

Dads Rock and friends are taking over the Botanics on Father’s Day. Come along and enjoy a day of free fun activities including arts and crafts, face painting, music, storytelling, yoga and much more. Supported by Year of the Dad.

Find out more>>>

Picture: Andrew O’Brien

Sun 19th June 11amRoyal Botanical Garden Edin