Children and Families – Page 23 – The NEN

CAMHS: Ongoing improvements to children and young people’s mental health services

WAITING TIMES STANDARD MET FOR THIRD TIME IN ROW

Latest figures highlight 146 children waiting more than a year for mental health treatment, says SCSC

For the third consecutive quarter in a row, there has been continued progress on waiting times for children and young people’s mental health care.

From April to June this year, 91.8% of those referred to CAMHS were seen within 18 weeks, according to the latest statistics from Public Health Scotland. This is a slight increase from 91.6% in the previous quarter, and above the national standard of 90%.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “I welcome the continued progress in these services – staff across Scotland are working hard to ensure children and young people are getting the support they need when they need it, and I am grateful for their continued dedication.

“We have exceeded our promise to provide funding for 320 additional staff for CAMHS by 2026, and this will have contributed to the improvements we are seeing.

“However, I am aware there is still more to do to ensure standards are consistent across the country and we are supporting all NHS Boards to meet the standard and continue development in the delivery of CAMHS and all mental health services.”

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, is calling for parity of action and parity of spend as new figures highlight 146 children and young people have been waiting more than a year for mental health treatment in Scotland.

These figures were highlighted in the latest waiting time statistics from Public Health Scotland published today (2^nd September), indicating that 146 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the quarter ending June 2025.¹

Additionally, 271 individuals have been waiting for between nine months and a year for treatment.

The figures come out following a Freedom of Information request to NHS Boards that found that in 2024/25, a patient in NHS Highland waited 1189 days – more than three years – for treatment by CAMHS, and in NHS Tayside, a patient has been waiting 1,137 days to start treatment. ²

The Scottish Government’s target, dating back to December 2014, states that 90 per cent of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS.

This comes against the background of a mental health emergency, with an increasing demand on services, exacerbated by the long shadow of the Covid lockdown and cost-of-living crisis.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, cases of poor mental health in children and young people were at unprecedented levels, with overstretched and under-resourced services struggling to keep pace with growing demand.

However, it should be noted that despite this greatly increased demand, only 0.82 per cent of the total frontline NHS budget was spent on CAMHS in the 2023/24 financial year, amounting to £134.188 million (real terms). This equates to just 82p in every £100 of the NHS budget.³

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “The latest figures highlighting that 146 children and young people have been waiting over a year for mental health treatment are extremely alarming.

“While the fact that the Scottish Government is meeting its waiting time target is to be welcomed, many children and young people are still waiting years for help, which worsens their mental health and is a sure-fire way to add to their pain.

“What we need is not just parity of esteem between mental health and physical health, it’s parity of action and parity of spend.

“We are facing a mental health emergency, and many of our children and young people are at breaking point, with stress and anxiety reaching alarming levels as they battle with the long shadow of lockdown and the rising cost of living. This is also having a negative impact on classroom behaviour, affecting the young people concerned, their fellow pupils and staff.

“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the Scottish Government to ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”

In response to today’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services figures, chief executive of Children First Mary Glasgow said: “Today’s figures show the importance of keeping the spotlight on children’s mental health.

“The reduction in waiting times is welcome, but while four months is the target, it is still too long, especially when children are suffering in severe distress.

“By urgently investing in more early help and support the Scottish Government can prevent children reaching a point of emergency.

“Every day our support line and our teams across Scotland hear from children and young people with high levels of worry and anxiety coming to us desperate for help.”

“If you are worried about your child our friendly support line team is here for you on 08000 28 22 33.”

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times – Quarter ending June 2025 – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times – Publications – Public Health Scotland

TODAY: Tiny Plates returns to PCHP

Tiny Plates is Back at PCHP!

We’re thrilled to welcome back Tiny Plates. A fun, supportive space for parents and carers of under-5s to explore healthy eating together.

Women Only

Learn tips for tackling picky eating

Try new foods before you buy

Connect with other local families

Tuesdays | 10am–11am| Pilton Community Health Project

Join us tomorrow for an introductory session

Need more Info? email katie.graham@edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk with any questions.

Let’s make mealtimes joyful again!

#Edinburgh Community Food

#WomenSupportingWomen

#FiveWaysToWellbeing

Childline counsellor to trek Great Wall of China to raise money for NSPCC

A Childline counsellor from Aberdeen is gearing up to walk 50km along the Great Wall of China next month to raise funds for Childline.

Gemma Cutler, 22, has volunteered with Childline for over two years. She will join a group of 18 fellow fundraisers on the epic challenge.

Dubbing themselves the ‘Tartan Trailblazers’ the group will set off in late September and will walk 10km on five consecutive days along the iconic site, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They will navigate steep terrain and thousands of uneven steps in aid of the NSPCC-run service.

Gemma is a recent graduate from Aberdeen University, with degrees in Psychology with Counselling Skills, and Autism & Learning. She is currently working as an education support worker at Linn Moor Residential School.

She said: “I’ve spoken to many young people through Childline and I know how important it is for them to have a safe space to talk about their feelings and be listened to without judgement.

“Childline believes that everyone matters. That’s why I’m taking on this challenge—to help ensure the service can continue to be there for children who need support, whenever they need it.”

Gemma became involved with Childline after hearing her mother talk about her experience as a Childline volunteer. She saw advertisements online looking for volunteers and decided to sign up and says the experience has been both rewarding and eye-opening.

She added: “It’s a privilege to be part of something that makes such a difference. Every donation helps Childline continue to offer that lifeline to children who may have nowhere else to turn.

“I have already raised more than £3,000 on JustGiving and I would just like to thank everyone who has donated. It’s amazing that so many people have dug deep for such an amazing cause, and it will encourage me to keep going – even during the toughest moments.”

The trek, organised through travel firm Charity Challenge, will follow the winding path along the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway, including the famous ‘heavenly staircase’—a steep climb with dramatic views and exposed conditions.

Participants will face early starts, basic overnight accommodation, and unpredictable weather, with rain, wind and sun all possible during the five-day journey.

Funds raised will go towards supporting NSPCC services, including Childline’s free counselling for children, the adult Helpline for reporting concerns about a child and to get parenting advice and support, and educational programmes such as Talk PANTS and Speak Out Stay Safe, which aim to prevent abuse and neglect.

To donate, please visit Gemma’s JustGiving page.

Young people looking for support can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.

Adults with concerns about a child can contact Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.

End of Summer Family Bash!

PARENTAL EMPLOYABILITY SCOTLAND (PES)

FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 1 – 4pm at NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS

PARENTAL EMPLOYABILITY SUPPORT FUND (PESF)

PESF offers support to:

Lone Parents
Parents with disabilities
Young parents age 25 years and less
Minority ethnic families
Families with a disabled child
Families with 3 or more children
Families where the youngest child is under 1 year

Taking a holistic Key Worker approach parents are supported to upskill and/or re-train, increasing family income, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty.

The fund provides personalised support for parents who face barriers to progressing their careers, including help to gain qualifications, improving skills or work experience; money advice, and motivational support.

You can read more about the Scottish Government’s plan to eradicate child poverty by clicking on the following link: Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Contact your local employability lead to find out more.

Additional help and support is available at www.parentclub.scot/work.

Nearly half of parents feel in competition to throw the ‘best’ birthday party, Moonpig reveals

Almost 50% of parents feel pressured to throw their baby or toddler a birthday party, even if they won’t remember it
Parents admit to spending up to £250 on their baby’s birthday
Dads feel the most pressure to throw their children the best birthday party

For many new parents, social media feeds are seemingly filled with scenes of extravagant birthday parties other parents are throwing their young children, leading to feelings of guilt and pressure to compete – but how much truth is in what we see online?

Moonpig, the UK’s leading online greeting card retailer, surveyed 1,000 parents of 0-3-year-olds to uncover how we’re really celebrating our children.

Competitive celebrations: Nearly half of all parents feel in competition with other parents to throw the ‘best’ party

The survey revealed that nearly half of all parents (49%) admitted to throwing a birthday party more for the guests and other parents than for the child themselves. Over two-fifths (43%) felt as though they competed with other parents to throw the ‘best’ party for their child.

Interestingly, the research revealed dads feel the most pressure when it comes to throwing the ‘best’ party, with more than half (52%) stating that they feel in competition with other parents, compared to just 39% of mothers. Similarly, half of Gen-Z (50%) were found to feel pressure to throw the ‘best’ party – more than any other age group.

Party pressure: A third of parents now hire a professional party planner for their toddler’s birthday

Almost half (46%) of the parents surveyed admitted to feeling pressure from family and friends to throw a birthday party for their young child. To make sure that the party lives up to expectations, one in three (30%) admitted to using a party planner to plan their toddlers’ birthday parties.

Planning stress: The majority of parents find planning their child’s birthday party a major source of stress

Over half of parents (55%) said they felt stressed when planning their young children’s birthdays, with mums suffering the most – with almost three in five mothers (57%) feeling stressed, compared to 49% of dads.

Picture-perfect parties: Social media influences parents to throw aesthetic birthday parties

Almost three in five parents (59%) felt inspired by social media to throw their young child an “aesthetic” birthday party. Gen-Z and millennial parents care the most about their child’s birthday looking picture perfect on social media, with 44% citing this as a key consideration. 14% went as far as to say the main reason they threw their young child a party was to post about it on social media.

Costly candles: Parents are struggling to stick to birthday party budgets

Brits spend on average £248 to celebrate their baby’s birthday, with 55% of parents revealing they struggle to stick to a budget for the occasion. In addition, almost two-thirds (65%) of parents agreed that birthday parties for babies and toddlers had become too extravagant.

When asked why they throw their young children birthday parties even if they won’t remember it, almost two-thirds (61%) cited that the celebration was to create lasting memories with family and close ones, and so their young child can look back on pictures and videos when they’re older.

Four in five (82%) also agreed that they prioritised creating memorable experiences for their child over an extravagant party.

Modern milestones: How parents celebrate their baby’s birthday

When celebrating their little ones, parents are likely to stick to the classics with traditional party food (66%), creating goodie bags (61%) and supermarket-bought birthday cake (61%), taking the lead on baby birthday party essentials.

Rank	Baby Birthday Essentials	% Who Have Done This
1	Offered traditional party food options (buffet, pizza, sandwiches)	66%
2	Created goodie bags for guests	61%
3	Bought a supermarket birthday cake	61%
4	Bought a custom-baked personalised birthday cake	59%
5	Arranged specific food and drink options just for adults (cocktails, nicer food)	57%
6	Created entertainment for the party myself	52%
7	Arranged activities for the guests to do (bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle course, giant slides)	52%
8	Baked my own birthday cake	46%
9	Given a party a pop culture theme (superheroes, princesses, favourite characters from movies/TV shows)	45%
10	Offered custom photo opportunities for guests (Balloon arches, custom backdrops, photobooths)	42%

Sarah-Jane Porter, Moonpig’s Global Design & Licensing Director, comments: “At Moonpig, we champion celebrating milestone moments, and early years birthdays are no exception. With growing pressure to make sure our babies’ earliest celebrations are memorable, it’s unsurprising that parents are going the extra mile to celebrate their young children.

“We know how important it is for these special moments to feel truly unique and personal to the recipient, which is why our range of personalised cards are great for celebrating your little one.

“From sharing milestone pictures and videos or including their favourite characters, our cards are the perfect keepsake for them to look back on in years to come.”

Free chickenpox vaccination offered for first time to children

A free chickenpox vaccination will offered for first time to children across England on the NHS from January – Scotland expected to follow suit

Government to launch chickenpox vaccination programme in England from January 2026, which will protect around half a million children each year
Eligible children will receive the vaccine during routine GP appointments, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
The rollout will help raise the healthiest generation of children ever, while reducing sick days and time parents take off work

Thousands of children will be protected against chickenpox for the first time in England through a new vaccination programme that will keep kids in school and parents in work while also saving the NHS vital funds.

It’s expected that the vaccination programme will also be introduced in Scotland.

From January next year, GP practises will offer eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) – the clinical term for chickenpox – as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule.

It will mean kids miss fewer days in nursery and school while parents won’t need to take time off work to care for them. Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK. The rollout will also save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the common condition.

The chickenpox vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work.

“This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child has the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help do exactly that.”

The vaccination programme forms part of the UK government’s wider ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever as part of the Plan for Change — boosting the nation’s health and ensuring the future sustainability of the NHS as we shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention.

The vaccine will help reduce cases of chickenpox and protect children from serious complications that can cause hospitalisation, such as bacterial infections like strep A, brain and lung inflammation and stroke.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal.

“It is excellent news, that from next January, we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.

“We now have extensive experience from a number of countries showing that the vaccine has a good safety record and is highly effective. The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children and also lead to fewer missed nursery and school days.”

The government’s decision to roll out the MMRV vaccine in January is based on expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), following research showing the significant impact of severe cases of chickenpox on children’s health, hospital admissions and associated costs.

Private vaccinations for chickenpox at pharmacies and clinics currently cost around £150 for a full course of two doses. This rollout will mean the vaccination will be available free of charge on the NHS to eligible children.

Other countries where the MMRV vaccine is already offered — such as Germany, Canada, and the United States — have seen substantial decreases in chickenpox cases and related hospital admissions since introducing their vaccination programmes.

Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England said: This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.

“We will work with vaccination teams and GP surgeries across the country to rollout the combined MMRV vaccine in the new year, helping to keep children healthy and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses.

“The MMRV vaccine rollout forms part of the government’s overall aim to ensure young people thrive, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan. This includes expanding access to vaccines, as well as free school meals, mental health support and dental care.”

This is the first time protection against another disease has been added to the routine childhood vaccination programme since the MenB vaccine in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Department for Education has recently announced plans to roll out Best Start Family Hubs in every local area, relieving pressure on parents and giving half a million more children the very best start in life.

The eligibility criteria for children will be set out in clinical guidance covering which age groups will get the MMRV vaccine and when, to ensure the most effective protection for children.

As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted by their GP surgery to arrange an appointment if their child is eligible.

Research reveals the average age children in Scotland are granted independence

According to new data, 12 is the age when children in Scotland are given independence, with most parents granting new freedoms, including being responsible for a pet, going to the local shop alone, and having a mobile phone, at this age.

The research, which was conducted amongst UK parents by name label manufacturer My Nametags, found that children in Scotland are granted some freedoms earlier than the rest of the nation.

At 11, children in the country are allowed to walk to school alone but children in the rest of the UK must wait until age 12.

Similarly, children in Scotland are trusted to stay home alone, use the internet without supervision, and have their own bank card by age 12, a year earlier than the national average.

The data also shows differences between families living in a city compared with those in the countryside. Across the UK, children living in the countryside experience freedom a year earlier than those in urban areas, on average. For instance, children in rural areas can play outside alone by age 11, whilst those in cities must wait until age 12.

The research also investigated the impact of mobile phones on modern children’s independence. Whilst 51% of parents in the UK feel more comfortable allowing their children independence outside of the home because they carry a phone, the vast majority of parents are afraid of the risks posed by unsupervised mobile use. In fact, online bullying (80%) and online predators (83%) are now the top risks feared by parents.

Online habits are also the most likely to lead to regret, with personal mobiles and social media access the top freedoms parents wish they had waited longer to allow. This is often due to pressure from other families, with one in six feeling pushed into granting independence earlier than they feel comfortable by other parents.

Yet, despite concerns about the risks involved, 75% of parents aim to give their children independence at the same age or younger than they did when they were a child.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, commented: “We support parents as they prepare their children for new milestones, from starting nursery as toddlers, to heading off to secondary school. So, we were interested to find out more about attitudes towards independence amongst UK families.

“The data shows that many parents opt to grant their children more freedom around the time they start secondary school. But, it’s clear this isn’t an easy decision, with families weighing up the risks and benefits, whilst also grappling with external pressures.

“And it’s no surprise, granting a child independence is one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood. But it’s also one of the most rewarding. We hope this research makes parents feel less alone as they embark on this journey, and offers some useful insight to help them make the right decision for their family.”

The official age of independence in Scotland:

Attend a sleepover – 11 years
Walk to school alone – 11 years
Have a mobile phone – 12 years
Go to the local shop alone – 12 years
Use the internet without supervision – 12 years
Have a bank account/card – 12 years
Stay home alone – 12 years
Be responsible for a pet – 12 years
Look after a sibling – 13 years
Have a social media account – 13 years
Use public transport alone – 13 years
Wear makeup – 13 years
Go into town with friends – 13 years
Try alcohol for the first time – 15 years
Go on holiday with friends – 16 years

Discover advice for navigating the journey to granting independence.

Deaf children still falling through cracks in Scotland two years on from damning report

Deaf children across Scotland are still falling through the cracks and missing out on vital support despite two years passing since a damning report laid bare the inadequacies of NHS Scotland’s audiology services, the National Deaf Children’s Society is warning.

Today marks two years to the day that the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland (IRASS), identified “multiple systemic problems” in NHS Scotland’s hearing services for both children and adults.

The most urgent recommendations were around the quality of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, carried out to identify deafness in very young children. Issues were identified in the quality of ABR testing at every single health board across Scotland. This is particularly concerning for young children, where delays or inaccuracies in testing can have lifelong impacts.

Other issues flagged by IRASS were audiology services facing barriers with recruiting new staff and addressing long waiting times.

Information obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society reveals waiting times to be referred to audiology services in Scotland are unacceptably long. In some cases, children who should be seen within 42 days were waiting up to 600 days, posing a serious risk to early identification and intervention.

One mother shared with the National Deaf Children’s Society the “heartbreaking” impact that her son’s unidentified deafness, coupled with a lack of support and intervention, has had on their family.

Melanie Wright suspected her son Dawson was deaf when he was six, despite him having recently had a hearing test, which revealed no deafness. Dawson, from Dunbar, East Lothian, then had to wait three years before his deafness was finally identified, aged nine, despite Melanie’s repeated calls for a follow-up hearing test.

Dawson’s family were told he required grommets surgery but there would be a two-year wait unless they paid to go privately, which was not an option.

Melanie recalled how exhausting it was for Dawson to keep up with conversations at home and his frustration when he couldn’t join in.

At school, Dawson missed key parts of lessons because he could not hear what was said, which made learning harder and knocked his confidence.

Melanie said: “It’s heartbreaking watching your child work twice as hard just to keep up, knowing it didn’t have to be this way.”

Dawson’s deafness also impacted on friendships, and he often felt excluded.

When the Scottish Government committed to accept all the IRASS recommendations in December 2023, it was hoped there would be a root and branch reform of Scotland’s struggling audiology services.

But progress has been painfully slow, and despite the Scottish Government previously pledging to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are “front and centre” these individuals have since been sidelined, as have deaf charities, despite their direct experience on the frontline.

Melanie continued: “This isn’t about special treatment, it’s about making sure children get the care and support they were promised, when they need it.

“This delay is costing children their education, their confidence, and their future — and no one is taking responsibility.

“I’m exhausted and totally broken by the experience.”

A coalition of charities, spearheaded by the National Deaf Children’s Society, has written an open letter to Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP, expressing concern at the lack of progress made by the Scottish Government since the publication of IRASS.

The charities warn the Minister that delayed hearing tests and inadequate care means that countless other babies and young children, like Dawson, will have unidentified deafness and lack support during this crucial period of their life. This can “severely impact a child’s ability to acquire language – whether spoken, signed or a combination of both”, the letter reads.

IRASS also found an absence of national leadership, strategic planning and workforce planning at audiology departments across Scotland and that there has been no quality assurance of services in recent years.

In their letter to the Minister the charities express their disappointment that action taken by the Scottish Government since the publication of IRASS is “yet to deliver the transformative change so urgently needed” while other recommendations “remain partially or completely incomplete”.

The charities urge the Minister to “equip audiology services with the resources, workforce, and leadership necessary to deliver the best possible outcomes for deaf children and adults”.

The Minister is warned by the charities that without “more ambitious and decisive action…we fear the current system will continue to fall short”.

The charities urge action in three key areas:

Evidence of independent safety checks.
Clear accountability for workforce planning.
Transparent reporting on waiting times.

“When every moment counts, it is time for action – not words” the letter to the Minster concludes.

IRASS was commissioned after significant failures were uncovered at NHS Lothian involving more than 150 children over nine years. Some children suffered life-changing consequences, including developmental delays in their communication, learning and social skills.

This was because their deafness was identified too late for them to receive cochlear implant surgery, or the communications support they needed.

The open letter to Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP is signed by: The National Deaf Children’s Society, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and the British Acadamy of Audiology (BAA).

Local children with disabilities excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds

Across the UK, half of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds
As well as reducing friendships and confidence, parents are turning to screentime to fill the gap
To support parents and children, Scottish housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is committing to ensure every play area they create is inclusive and accessible

New research reveals children with disabilities are excluded from playgrounds in Scotland. Across the UK, half (50%) of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to playgrounds being inaccessible to them.

In Scotland, parents of children who visit playgrounds are travelling an average of 3.77 miles from their homes to reach a suitable play area. As a result, 32% say they are relying more on screens because there are not enough suitable outdoor play areas nearby.

The research of over 2,000 parents from across the UK, showed that exclusion from play is an issue for disabled and non-disabled children alike. Almost two thirds (65%) of UK parents surveyed say their children are playing out less than they did at the same age, with similar findings reported in Scotland (64%).

Almost a quarter of parents in Scotland have struggled to find a playground that accommodates their child’s needs (23%), while others reported that their local playground is currently closed or out of order (36%).

Parents say the lack of play is negatively affecting their child’s ability to make friendships, build confidence and develop a sense of adventure, and shockingly over a third (37%) of children in Scotland now prefer to spend time playing indoors or on screens, creating barriers for children accessing outdoor play.

To get the nation playing out again, Barratt Redrow, of which Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland is a part, is making a landmark commitment to prioritise inclusive play spaces across its developments.

This new commitment will see the housebuilder incorporate inclusive and accessible play areas across their new developments in Scotland, working with children and young people to design play spaces that meet the needs of the local community where possible. As the UK’s largest housebuilder this could deliver up to 100 new accessible and inclusive play spaces for parents and children to enjoy each year.

David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Redrow, said: “This isn’t just about playgrounds, it’s about building places where families can truly thrive, and that starts by ensuring every child can safely and confidently enjoy the freedom, fun and benefits that outdoor play delivers.

“We want local authorities and other homebuilders to work together to make inclusive and accessible play the standard, not the exception. When we build with all children in mind, we can create places that work better for everyone.”

Alison Condie, Regional Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland, said: “Play isn’t a luxury, it’s something that inspires connection, confidence and childhood itself.

“This commitment will make a huge difference to parents and children in Scotland. We want parents and homebuyers to know that when they buy one of our homes, they can be confident that we’re prioritising the right things from day one.”

The New Commitments to Play

As the UK’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt Redrow is ensuring play for everybody is the standard, not the exception. In practice, its new Inclusive Play Guidance will mean communities in Scotland can expect:

1. Every play space being designed by Barratt Redrow will include inclusive equipment, accessible surfaces and be located in safe and easy to access locations for the whole community to enjoy.

2. Designs will allow for active, challenging, imaginative, sensory and quiet play for children and young people, while encouraging social interaction between neighbours and friends.

3. Play spaces will be integrated into high quality landscapes at the heart of our developments, bringing people closer to nature.

4. Wherever possible, Barratt Redrow will work with children and young people to ensure they are continually responding to the needs of the local community.

*Our teams work on planning applications for a period of six months before submission, therefore the new commitment will apply to all new planning applications from January 2026 onwards.

As well as children’s charity Whizz Kidz, the Barratt Redrow Commitments and New Design Guidelines were created with support from industry bodies, including Play Wales, Play England, play expert Tim Gill and children’s psychologist Prof. Helen Dodd.

For more information, visit www.barrattredrow.co.uk/playmaking

Jet2.com announces children under 2 will travel for free

Leading leisure airline Jet2.com has further strengthened its family-friendly offer, by announcing that children under 2 will now travel for FREE.

The announcement means that Jet2.com is the only UK airline to not charge a fee for children under 2 to travel to destinations across Europe, the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

This new policy applies to all new bookings made from today (Friday 22^nd August 2025), and children must be under 2 at the time of travel for it to apply.

With children under 2 already going free when they travel with Jet2holidays, this now means that all under 2’s travel free with Jet2 – whether on a package holiday with Jet2holidays or on a seat-only flight with Jet2.com.

In addition, Jet2.com has introduced a new family-friendly change to its child and infant equipment allowance, meaning that no excess baggage will be charged for child or infant equipment being checked into the hold. This policy is effective immediately.

Alongside an extra 10kg baggage allowance for children under 2^[i], customers can bring up to two items per child under 2 free of charge to be checked into the hold.

These can include a collapsible pushchair, pram or buggy, car seat or booster seat, baby carrier, or travel cot and the 10kg weight limitation no longer applies to these items.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “As a family friendly airline and tour operator, we are always looking at how we can make the experience even better for families travelling with us.

“By putting our customers first and making these changes, meaning that all children under 2 now travel for free whether on a package holiday or a seat-only flight, we are making travel even more accessible for millions of families.”

To take advantage of these fantastic savings, visit: