RESTARTS THURSDAY 21st AUGUST 10.30am – 12 noon
Back This Week: Thursday Tots at Royston Wardieburn
Tag: Children and Families
MYDG: All clubs back this week
All of our clubs are BACK and ready to welcome our awesome young people!!
Please note: There are a few changes to where some groups are running from – Don Bosco will be at the PENNYWELL HUB building THIS WEEK (Wednesday 20th August)!
If there are any questions regarding days/times/venues please contact the team on the MYDG Mobile Number – 07960955667
Today: BLAST Boxing at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
TUESDAY SESSIONS
9.30 -11.30 BOX N’ BLETHER
5 – 5:45 youth boxing and fitness session
6 – 7pm BLAST BOXfit!
All sessions are aimed at mental aswell as physical well-being.
Delivered in a friendly fun but challenging manner focused on having a laugh and building positive relationships within the groups.
BLAST, it’s more than just boxing! 
LIFT: Kids Club for P1-3s at Muirhouse Millennium Centre tomorrow
Kids club primary 1-3 will start TOMORROW – Monday 18th August.
All kids attending must be signed up on arrival by a parent 
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre gets set to celebrate 30th Birthday
ALL WELCOME AT DRYLAW’s BIG BIRTHDAY BASH!
We are gearing up for our big party day in only 4 weeks!
We have so much planned for the day and can’t wait to have you all there 
Lunch provided by Scran Academy, Bookbug session, Moving Music drumming circle, National Galleries of Scotland art session, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) Dr Bike and bike activities (make your own bike-powered smoothie!), Tinderbox Collective are here with their Escape Drylaw game for you to try, Tummies Not Trash will be here with a food stall.
Not to mention fun activities in the garden, face painting and henna tattoos, a bake sale, puppet shows, apple pressing, our famous tombola, and amazing raffle with locally donated prizes… And yes, there is a bouncy castle!!!
Don’t miss out on all the fun on Saturday 13th September! 
Oasis fans ‘Roll With It’ at Fort Kinnaird with free Oasis tribute
Oasis fans flocked to Fort Kinnaird last weekend to enjoy a free live performance by popular tribute band ‘Oasus’.
The event allowed fans who missed out on tickets to the Murrayfield shows to still join in the fun and the gig saw the group perform classics such as Wonderwall, Live Forever, and Don’t Look Back in Anger
Oasis fans of all ages turned up for the tribute, including families and little ones proudly sporting iconic bucket hats
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “There’s so much excitement around the Oasis reunion gigs at Murrayfield, so it was only right that we brought a bit of that buzz to Fort Kinnaird too.
“Oasus are a brilliant tribute act, and their free show was the perfect chance for Oasis fans of all ages to get involved in the action. It was a great way to spend a Sunday – with attendees grabbing a bite, enjoying the music, and making a proper day of it with friends and family.”
The event was just one of the free events that took place at Fort Kinnaird this summer, designed to offer visitors of all ages memorable, free experiences. The centre also hosted character visits inspired by popular blockbuster films including Wicked and Lilo & Stich.
MSP highlights support for local families as schools return
GORDON MACDONALD HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
As children across Edinburgh head back to school, local SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has highlighted the wide range of support available to help families with the cost of learning, including almost 7720 Best Start Grant – School Age Payments worth a total of ££2,132,033 paid out to local families in the last year.
The Best Start Grant – School Age Payment is a one-off payment of £314.45 to eligible families when their child starts primary school, helping with essentials such as school uniforms, shoes, and bags. This is in addition to the Best Start Foods payment card, which supports families with the cost of healthy food throughout the year.
The SNP Government has also expanded free school meals to all pupils in primary 1-5, with plans to extend this to all primary pupils in the lifetime of this parliament. Free school meals save families hundreds of pounds each year while ensuring every child has access to a healthy, nutritious lunch.
To help with the cost of uniforms, the SNP has increased the national minimum School Clothing Grant to at least £120 for primary pupils and £150 for secondary pupils, available through local councils to eligible families.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “The start of the school year is an exciting time for children, but it can also be a financially challenging time for families. That’s why I’m proud that in the last year alone, 7720 payments worth ££2,132,033 have gone to families in Edinburgh through the Best Start Grant – School Age Payment.
“From the Best Start Grant and School Clothing Grants, to free school meals and the Scottish Child Payment, the SNP is taking real, practical action to support families and tackle child poverty.
“While Labour austerity continues to squeeze household incomes, the SNP is using the powers we have to put money in the pockets of families across the city ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.”
| Local authority area | [NUMBER]Number of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments | [VALUE]Value of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments |
| Total | 123,760 | £34,282,276 |
| Aberdeen City | 3,835 | £1,069,876 |
| Aberdeenshire | 3,680 | £1,023,971 |
| Angus | 2,520 | £701,794 |
| Argyll and Bute | 1,595 | £442,300 |
| Clackmannanshire | 1,390 | £384,647 |
| City of Edinburgh | 7,720 | £2,132,033 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3,390 | £938,326 |
| Dundee City | 4,220 | £1,163,392 |
| East Ayrshire | 3,550 | £984,048 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,380 | £381,962 |
| East Lothian | 2,290 | £635,244 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,360 | £375,589 |
| Falkirk | 3,685 | £1,021,533 |
| Fife | 9,345 | £2,589,965 |
| Glasgow City | 19,650 | £5,435,352 |
| Highland | 4,450 | £1,235,628 |
| Inverclyde | 1,965 | £545,416 |
| Midlothian | 2,425 | £671,369 |
| Moray | 1,820 | £504,864 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 370 | £101,721 |
| North Ayrshire | 3,920 | £1,086,398 |
| North Lanarkshire | 9,810 | £2,722,056 |
| Orkney Islands | 295 | £81,663 |
| Perth and Kinross | 2,730 | £760,952 |
| Renfrewshire | 4,045 | £1,118,702 |
| Scottish Borders | 2,285 | £632,014 |
| Shetland Islands | 315 | £86,440 |
| South Ayrshire | 2,475 | £681,893 |
| South Lanarkshire | 7,420 | £2,057,810 |
| Stirling | 1,475 | £408,767 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 2,825 | £777,359 |
| West Lothian | 4,685 | £1,298,664 |
| Unknown – Scottish postcode | 75 | £21,509 |
| Unknown – Non-Scottish postcode | 650 | £176,888 |
| Unknown – No postcode | 115 | £32,131 |
New pavilion for Craigroyston CYFC
COUNCIL LEADER OPENS LOCAL CLUB’s NEW FACILITY
Craigyroyston Community Youth Football Club has been gifted a brand-new pavilion by the City of Edinburgh Council.
At an official ceremony to handover the modern new facility yesterday (Friday, 15 August) Council Leader Jane Meagher presented youth team members and club representatives with the keys to the Pavilion.
Relocating the club to their new modern premises at Marine Drive is part of the Council’s wider £1.3bn generation of Granton Waterfront.
The former club base was previously on adjacent land where the Council is building 143 new environmentally friendly affordable homes known as the Silverlea development.
The half a million-pound project, funded by the Council, has delivered modern changing rooms with showers and a café for club members, their families and other visitors to enjoy.
Designed by architects Smith Scott Mullan, Cruden delivered the project on behalf of the Council and has also gifted the signage and branding in the new facility.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “As we continue to deliver our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront, this is a perfect example of our commitment to creating healthy and vibrant communities in the area.
“Investing in our young people is an important part of this work. The former club base was on land that we needed to build affordable homes.
“Providing these modern facilities right next to our Silverlea site works well for the young footballers and the wider community, allowing the club to thrive and attract new members in the future. “
Colin Dudgeon Club Secretary said: “This is a historic day for us. For the first couple of years setting up Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club we didn’t have a home until we moved into Craigroyston Park in 2009.
“The club base we’ve been using wasn’t in good condition and so we’d like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for our magnificent new club base for our players and parents to call our home. Thanks as well to Cruden for their part in this project and the signage and branding they kindly gifted for the building.
“We can offer safe, hygienic, and modern facilities to our players with changing rooms and showers suitable for all ages and parents can relax in our new Craigie Café, which will be opening on match days soon.”
Michael Palethrope, Community Benefit Manager for Cruden, said: “Community-run clubs like Craigroyston CYFC are at the heart of great neighbourhoods, and we’re proud to support them.
“Alongside building quality, energy-efficient homes and green spaces, we always look for ways to give back to the communities we work in.
“This club is a fantastic example of that, and we can’t wait to see them thrive in their new home.”
PICTURES: CYFC
350,000 Baby Boxes delivered
EIGHT YEARS OFUNIVERSAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Over 350,000 Baby Boxes packed with essential items for newborns have been delivered across Scotland, saving expectant parents around £400 and giving children the best start in life.
The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme, the only one of its kind in the UK, is offered to all parents of newborn babies. Backed by almost £8 million funding in 2025-26, the Baby Box helps to ensure that every family has access to items needed in the first six months of a child’s life, as well as a safe space to sleep.
Marking the eight-year anniversary of the programme, First Minister John Swinney will meet expectant mother Mairi Morrison and her partner George Waddington at Western Isles Hospital in Lewis to deliver their Baby Box.
The First Minister said: “Scotland’s Baby Box strongly signals our determination that every child, regardless of their circumstances, should get the best start in life. The programme is supporting families right across the length and bread of Scotland, including here in the Western Isles where 1,281 boxes have been delivered to date.
“It is clear that this universal offer, a UK first, has been hugely successful with 89% of all parents with newborn babies registering for a box – benefiting around 41,000 families annually.
“My number one priority as First Minister is to end child poverty in Scotland – and I am very proud of the impact that the baby box is making to support families across the country.”
The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme opened for registration on 15 June 2017 with Boxes being delivered in August 2017.
The Baby Box includes items which support breastfeeding, such as breast pads and a leaflet with top tips on breastfeeding and how to access support. Among other items the Baby Box contains 2 baby books, a carrier sling, underarm thermometer, bath & room thermometer, play mat, around 15 items of clothes for age 0 – 6 months, a changing mat, a redeemable voucher for a reusable nappy and liners and many other useful items for mother and baby.
The 2025-26 Programme for Government includes a commitment to enhance the contents of the Baby Box by March 2026, building on feedback from parents and frontline practitioners working with families, which will strengthen support for early child development and to mitigate the impact of poverty on babies.
Teen Triple P
POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAMME
Teen Triple P is a positive parenting programme suitable for parents and carers of pre-teen and teenagers 11-16 years.
Teen Triple P can help parents and carers to:
· cope positively with some of the common issues associated with raising a teenager
· build stronger relationships with their teenager
· resolve conflict in the family
· manage problem behaviour
· keep their teen stay safe
We welcome applications directly from parents and carers or someone can apply on their behalf.
Applications can be made by completing our online application form found here https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/teentriplepform
NE
Venue: Northfield and Willowbrae Community Centre, 10 Northfield Road, EH8 7PP
Day: Tuesday
Dates: 2/09, 9/09, 16/09, 23/09, 30/09, 7/10 (telephone session no group) 21/10 (telephone session no group) and 28/10
Time: 10.00-12.00 midday
SW
Venue: St Augustines High School, 208 Broomhouse Road, EH12 9AD
Day: Thursday
Dates: 2/10, 9/10, 23/10, 30/10, 6/11, 13/11 (telephone contact no group) , 20/11 (telephone contact no group) and 27/11
Time: 6.00-8.00pm
NW
Venue: Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North
Day: Thursday
Dates: 2/10, 9/10, 23/10, 30/10, 6/11, 13/11 (telephone contact no group) , 20/11 (telephone contact no group) and 27/11
Time: 12.30-2.30pm
Virtual Group
This group will be delivered on TEAMS, participants will require access to a laptop, tablet or pc to complete the course.
Day: Wednesday
Dates: 8/10, 22/10, 29/10, 5/11, 12/11, 19/11(telephone contact no group), 26/11(telephone contact no group) and 3/12
Time: 6.00-8.00pm
If you require more information or you wish to discuss particular support needs please contact jill.coleman@edinburgh.gov.uk