The Scottish Government yesterday launched a new Future Me campaign as part of the Read Write Count early years initiative, encouraging families across Scotland to share their children’s dreams for the future. To mark the launch, children and parents took part in a Future Me session and reading from award-winning children’s author, Simon Puttock at Riverside Museum in Glasgow. Continue reading Taking the time to dream: Future Me launched
A new campaign encouraging parents or guardians to talk to children about their dreams for the future will be launched this week by the Scottish Government. The Future Me campaign aims to raise the aspirations of children and improve vital literacy and numeracy skills which will last a lifetime. Continue reading Future Me campaign launches this week
Thursdays 3.30 – 5pm at Spartans Community Football Academy
Still haven’t sorted out your holiday childcare this half term? Edinburgh Leisure still has a few places available at all their holiday clubs, being run at four of their venues across the city. Contact the individual venues to book but don’t leave it too late as there are only a few places left at each.
Every day is packed full of games, sports, arts, crafts, drama, challenges and educational activities – for £145 per week. Daily bookings are also available for £35 per day.
Available days can be had at:
Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Drumbrae Leisure Centre – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Gracemount Leisure Centre – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (day and week bookings)
Royal Commonwealth Pool – Friday
The Holiday Club will run at these centres from the 13th to 17th February (9am to 5pm) – with early drop off from 8am and late pick up until 6pm – perfect for working parents.
And if you’re thinking ahead, Holiday Clubs for other holidays throughout the city are also now available to be booked. And for early birds, there’s a 10% discount.
Michelle’s Surgery Cancelled
Michelle Thomson has cancelled her surgery tomorrow (Friday 10 February).
Children’s Clubs
There will be no children’s clubs on at the centre next week due to the school holidays.
Inclusive Zumba Classes
Our Monday morning Zumba classes for disabled persons continue to be very successful but it is felt that more people could take advantage of this fun activity.
Classes are on Monday (10 – 11am) and Friday (10.15 – 11am)
The best way to start a week and getting fit!
Childrens Taekwon Do (Ages 3+)
As with many of our activities the childrens Taekwon-do has surprised us with its popularity amongst the young people, so come along and join Scotlands fastest Family Taekwondo Club led by Master Divine.
IMP Meeting Reminder
Improving Muirhouse and Pennywell meeting next Wednesday 15th February 3.00-5.00pm.. All Welcome.
James McGinty
The UK Government’s austerity agenda, continuing welfare cuts, and economic uncertainty caused by Brexit are the key challenges to eradicating child poverty, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has said. Ms Constance, who will introduce a child poverty bill to Holyrood this week, said the action being taken to tackle inequalities and end child poverty in Scotland has never been more important.
Findings in a report published by the Resolution Foundation last week show that over the remainder of the UK Parliamentary term typical households will see almost no income growth and poorer households will experience a fall in income.
Ms Constance said: “No child should grow up in poverty. All of our children deserve the best opportunities in life that we can offer them, which is why tackling the issue is a key priority for this government.
“Our Child Poverty Bill to be published this week will be a crucial step forward – it will set statutory targets to reduce child poverty and establish a framework for measuring, monitoring and reporting on child poverty. It will also require long-term delivery plans to tackle the deep-rooted causes, and for Ministers to report annually on progress. Scotland will also now be the only part of the UK with statutory income targets on child poverty.
“UK Government budget cuts, austerity measures, and welfare cuts, and scrapping of income-based child poverty targets are leading to huge social harm, and the poorest and most vulnerable in society shouldering the brunt.
“Withdrawal from the EU and the single market also poses a threat to living standards, job prospects, and income levels of people and communities across Scotland.
“It is completely unacceptable that families are facing such hardship and children are growing up in poverty. I am clear that preventing the next generation of young people being born into poverty is vital and we will work tirelessly across government and with the public, private and voluntary sectors to address this.
“That is why our Fairer Scotland Action Plan includes several cross-Government measures to tackle child poverty – and we will use all options the new social security powers give us to make a difference.
“We are spending £100 million a year mitigating the worst of UK Government cuts, funding we should be able to use to lift people out of poverty.
“So it is absolutely clear that we are taking a range of actions to ensure that children in Scotland have a bright future ahead of them; but we do that in the face of a callous and uncaring UK government which has never put the needs of the people of Scotland on their to do list.”
Edinburgh Womens Aid will be running a mellow parenting programme beginning 24th April. The programme will run for 8 weeks in Link Up at St Margaret’s House at Meadowbank.
Criteria: Woman that have experienced Domestic abuse with preschool age children and in need of additional support in parenting. A crèche will be available.
Referrals should be made to Isabella Balloch, please complete referral attached and return via email by Friday 17 February. Call 0131 315 8116 or email IsabellaBalloch@edinwomensaid.
Community project, Back on Track, by charity Youth Vision in Edinburgh, has received £1,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal, boosting support for the local project.
Youth Vision works with children and young people from South West Edinburgh, offering a range of nature based informal education services that aim to develop confidence and self-esteem to support a healthy transition to adulthood. Back on Track is a support and learning programme for young people aged 14-16 who are not attaining in school, attending education, or engaged in employment. The programme provides a range of nature based activities and life skills that aim to support the personal and social development of young people and improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The programme also includes an element of family support and community days meaning parents or carers are directly involved with the programme.
Claudia Goncalves, co-founder and chairperson of Youth Vision, said: “On behalf of the young people who benefit from our services I would like to thank the STV Children’s Appeal. The £1,000 we received will support young people aged 14 to 16 who really need our charity’s guidance and support to get back on track.”
Since launching in 2011, the STV Children’s Appeal has raised over £13.7 million, with 722 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 62,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.
Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “The STV Children’s Appeal was established to help improve the quality of life of vulnerable children and young people across Scotland. We are extremely grateful to everyone that has fundraised and donated to this year’s STV Children’s Appeal. All proceeds remain in Scotland which means we can support vital projects such as Back on Track in our efforts to improve the lives of children across the community. A special thanks to everyone for their ongoing support and acts of generosity for such an important cause.”
Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “It’s charities like Youth Vision that can make the world of a difference to those young people most in need. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone who raised money for the STV Children’s Appeal and can again confirm to every last one of you that every pound you gave is being invested in charities like Youth Vision to the benefit of Scotland’s young people. You raise a pound we give a pound, simple.”
Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “It remains deeply concerning that child poverty continues to impact so many lives across our country with over 200,000 children and young people in Scotland now affected. As a consequence the work carried out by the STV Children’s Appeal in providing support, help and opportunities for those who most need it has become even more significant. Such a divide between the have and have-nots on our own doorstep is totally unacceptable. However I am always heartened by the support and generosity of the people across Scotland who enable The STV Children’s Appeal to carry out such vital work. We all must play our part, no matter how large or small, in reducing these shocking statistics.”
Lorraine Kelly, presenter and STV Children’s Appeal trustee, has announced the STV Children’s Appeal 2016 has raised £2,568,369 for children and young people living in poverty in Scotland, with an exciting line-up of fundraising activities planned for 2017.
If you’re an individual or group that would like to help raise funds for children and young people living in poverty in Scotland with the STV Children’s Appeal, please get in touch with Natalie Wright at natalie.wright@stv.tv.
Children’s lives will be transformed by the Scottish Government’s new £120 million Pupil Equity Funding scheme, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has been told by head teachers. At an event in Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Swinney heard how schools are planning to spend their share of the funding which is aimed at closing the poverty-related attainment gap. Continue reading Putting money where it’s needed: Pupil Equity Fund aims to close attainment gap
Children from Granton Early Years Centre were the guests of honour at a special sod cutting event for their new nursery in north Edinburgh yesterday.
