Tag: Children and Families

Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby

All pregnant women in Scotland are to receive free vitamins. The move to provide universal access will improve parent and children’s health and has widespread support among healthcare professionals.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell confirmed the development at Edinburgh Royal Maternity Hospital last week, where she also launched the first Scotland-only Maternal and Infant Nutrition Survey.

Ms Campbell said: “We are committed to giving every child in Scotland the very best start in life and helping women to enjoy a healthy pregnancy is a key part of this.

“There is strong evidence that taking vitamins during pregnancy improves both the mother and baby’s health. By offering them to all pregnant women we can contribute towards giving every baby a fair and equal chance – a move that is widely supported by healthcare professionals.

“I’m also pleased that the Maternal and Infant Nutrition survey is now underway. Data will be gathered on nutrition, breastfeeding, formula feeding and weaning practices and help us strengthen the support we offer to new mothers. I would strongly encourage pregnant women and families with young infants who receive a survey pack to complete and return it.”

Youth & Children Work vacancy at West Pilton

♦ Are you a dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic person with a passion for delivering high quality services for children and young people?

♦ Do you have the skills to build children & young people’s self esteem and self confidence?

♦ Can you assist children and young people to develop their abilities to manage personal and social relationships?

♦ Can you create/develop positive learning environments for children and young people to develop new skills?

♦ Are you able to build the capacity of children and young people to consider risk, make reasoned decisions, take responsibility for their actions and engage in democratic decision making processes?

Then see below …

Youth Worker Job Advert – After School Club (1)

Children’s Festival programme launched

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival (formerly Imaginate Festival) which is running from 27 May to 4 June 2017, has launched its programme. The new name reflects Imaginate’s wider role in the sector: supporting artists to make new work year round and producing the flagship Edinburgh International Children’s Festival. Continue reading Children’s Festival programme launched

Get Fit and Fed at Free Multi-Sport Camp

With the news that exercise levels are declining ‘long before adolescence’, Edinburgh Leisure and Craigmillar Community Sports Hub is offering free sport and healthy eating sessions during the Easter holidays aimed at 6-12 year olds.

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says that sitting is replacing physical activity from the time children start school. Many of the 400 children enrolled in the study did less than this as they got older.

Phil Trodden, Community Sport Hub Coordinator at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Sitting is replacing physical activity from the time children start school. Children should get at least an hour of exercise a day. Activities outside school have an important role to play too.

“So our sessions will be on encouraging the children to have fun and move more, at the same time as instilling in them the importance of a healthy diet.”

The sessions will run from Monday, 3 April to Friday, 7 April 2017 from 10.30-12.30 at Jack Kane Sport Centre. Each day will have a different one hour sport of physical activity followed by a one hour healthy eating session and meal.

On Friday 7 April, a multi-sport event will kick off at 10.00 until 12.00 noon with a range of different sports to try out.

Places are limited to 30 per session and booking is essential and needs to be made by Monday, 27 March. To book a place on the camp, contact: communitysportshubs@edinburghleisure.co.uk

Coming out to play?

Applications are invited for an Edinburgh Playing Out pilot project which would see residents in eligible streets organise temporary road closures for children’s play events. 

The Council’s Playing Out scheme, which runs from 1 April to 31 August 2017, enables suitable residential streets to be closed [free of charge] for up to five sessions of outdoor play.

An update on the scheme will be considered by members of the Transport and Environment Committee on Tuesday (21 March).

North Edinburgh has held succesful Playing Out days in recent years when Total Craigroyston organised a programme of activities (above).

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “This Playing Out project is an excellent opportunity for local residents to close their streets for free so that kids can enjoy playing safely in the open air with their friends.

“Play events are also a great way for neighbours to mix and socialise, helping build stronger communities as well as boosting children’s health and wellbeing.

“I hope we’ll see lots of applications coming in so that playing out events can be run as often as possible during the warmer months.”

Lucy Richardson, of local group Edinburgh Playing Out, said: “This is a great initiative from the Council, giving residents up to five free street closures for street play from now until the end of August

“Children love unstructured play close to home and once children are playing on the street, people of all ages come out and chat to their neighbours and join in the freedom of a traffic-free street. It’s healthy and it’s fun.  Let the children play – apply now!”

 Conditions: 

You can close your street

  • only if it is a residential street
  • for up to five sessions

You cannot close your street if it is a

  • bus route
  • main road with a lot of traffic

Applicants should contact their local neighbourhood office to request a playing out session for their streets (if eligible). 

More information can be found on the Council’s website.

 

Youth Work: make your choice

Continue reading Youth Work: make your choice

Keep the kids entertained this Easter

Keep the kids entertained this Easter at the biggest club in town

Looking for reliable and fun holiday childcare this Easter? Keep the family active and entertained with a range of adrenaline pumping and entertaining activities at Edinburgh Leisure’s holiday clubs. Book for a day or a week and there’s even the opportunity for an early drop off and late pick up at no extra cost.

Continue reading Keep the kids entertained this Easter