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Tag: Children and Families
Edinburgh mum launches specialised clothing brand for children with disabilities with support from Business Gateway
An Edinburgh mum has launched a children’s clothing brand designed specifically for children with disabilities after receiving specialised start-up support from Business Gateway.
Blue Bee Mike, founded by Kasia McGavigan, offers sensory-considerate clothing that supports the needs of children with additional support requirements. It is the only Scottish brand that creates this type of clothing.
The business is named in honour of her son Michael, who lives with autism, and inspired Kasia to create adaptive designs that combine comfort, dignity and practical use. She tests out any designs on Michael.
Through her experience as a mum to Michael, Kasia has seen first-hand how difficult it can be to find clothing for children with additional needs. She spotted this gap in the market and decided to start creating the clothes herself in 2024.
The idea began with the development of a specially designed onesie, created to ease everyday challenges for both children and carers. The onesie is zipped at the back to prevent the child from taking it off if they become distressed and also allows access for a feeding tube if needed.
Every product is designed with comfort, functionality and joy in mind, with the children’s needs at the heart. The clothes allow children to move freely and not be inhibited by their clothing. Kasia’s parents were tailors, so she grew up watching them create clothing and began helping as she got older.
Kasia hopes her brand not only supports children, but also raises awareness about the importance of inclusive clothing design.
As a full-time carer, Kasia had a vision for her business but needed help bringing it to life. She remembered a friend who had worked with Business Gateway in the past and decided to approach them.
Since June 2024, she has worked closely with Business Gateway to develop her idea into a viable business – receiving one-to-one support from Business Gateway adviser Lee Briggs to break down key tasks, prioritise actions and build confidence as she launched her brand.
Kasia has engaged with various Business Gateway workshops, including sessions on marketing, finance and starting a business. With expert guidance, she launched her website and recently accessed Expert Help support to refine her marketing strategy and explore opportunities in international markets.
Kasia McGavigan, founder of Blue Bee Mike said: “Starting Blue Bee Mike has been a deeply personal journey.
“As a full-time carer for my son Michael, I understand how challenging it can be to find clothing that’s both comfortable and practical for children with additional needs. I wanted to create something that genuinely helps families like ours -something designed with love and real-life experience at its heart.
“Business Gateway has given me the support, structure and encouragement I needed to turn my idea into a reality. From helping me work out what steps to take and when, to giving me the confidence to launch my website and start sharing my products, their advice has been invaluable.
“I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved so far and excited about growing the business to support even more families.”
Lee Briggs, Business Gateway adviser said: “Kasia is truly inspiring. She’s humble, focused and incredibly determined, balancing her caring responsibilities with launching a meaningful business from the ground up.
“Her ability to take on advice, stay organised and put everything into practice has been exceptional. Blue Bee Mike is already making a difference, and we’re proud to have supported her on this journey.”
To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit:
The Royal Scots Museum: Family history research at Central Library
Friday 15 August 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day, and commemorates the ending of the Second World War.
The Royal Scots Museum Outreach Team will hold a VJ Day 80 event in the George Washington Browne Room at Central Library.
The Family Research Area will be staffed by Museum research volunteers, National Records Scotland, Scottish Genealogical Society, and Commonwealth War Graves Commission who will have access to
• Regimental War Diaries
• Regimental Journal, “The Thistle”
• Royal Scots World War Two Attestation Books
• documents and photographs from the Royal Scots Museum Archive
• and much more…
There will also be a small display of Royal Scots-related items and memorabilia and display boards telling the stories of
• 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots who at the outbreak of World War Two were serving on Garrison Duty in Hong Kong
• the sinking of the Lisbon Maru
• 1st Battalion The Royal Scots, who after the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, were reconstituted at Bradford and were responsible for a stretch of the Yorkshire coastal defences. The Battalion was then sent to India in 1942.
• officers and soldiers from the Royal Scots who served with specialist units in the Far East.
You will also be able to view the Museum’s new 12 minute VJ 80th film, which includes interviews with those Royal Scots who served in the Far East and their families.
The Family Research Area will run from 12 to 15 August, from 10am to 4.30pm each day, and is free to attend.
Scottish children’s Wonders of the World revealed for the first time – from Sunflowers and Seashells to Caterpillars and Diggers
- Sunflowers, seashells and caterpillars are ranked the top ‘wonders of the world’ according to Scottish children.
- But around 1 in 5 children under the age of 10 in Scotland have sight conditions that can get in the way of all that wonder.
- Specsavers launch museum-style exhibit in Edinburgh showcasing these everyday wonders to highlight the importance of childhood eye checks.
FOR ADULTS, there are seven wonders of the world, but in children’s eyes, there are seven million. Sunflowers (60%), seashells (54%) and rocks (40%) top the list of Scottish children’s ‘wonders of the world’ according to a new study.
Other everyday wonders which stop Scots children in their tracks include caterpillars (37%), puddles (29%), and diggers (9%).
To highlight just how crucial good eyesight is for children to experience all this wonder, Specsavers has created a Wonders film and launched museum-style exhibits across the UK.
Each installation in Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff features a ‘wonder’ chosen by a local child.
These include a life-sized digger, a perfectly imperfect rock, a carefully collected seashell, a curly caterpillar and a colourful sunflower.
The first Children’s ‘Wonders of the World’ exhibitions celebrate children’s natural curiosity and remind parents how important good eyesight is for kids to keep exploring the everyday wonders around them.
“Children see the world in a way adults often forget – full of magic, mystery and wonder,” says Professor Sam Wass, a child psychologist and neuroscientist.
“Good vision is essential to this journey of discovery. It helps children explore, ask questions and learn through play, all of which are essential to children’s development.”
Research among over 380 six and seven-year-olds reveals the places where children are most likely to spot their top wonders – with the beach (71%), the garden (44%), the park (29%) and even the journey to school (41%) ranking highest.
More than a quarter(26%) of the 600 parents surveyed said this happens on average five times a day, totalling 1,825 moments of wonder per year. Nearly a quarter (24%) report often being late because their child is busy inspecting an object. That’s 156 million times annually that parents are delayed because of their children discovering wonders.
Nonetheless, over two thirds (70%) of parents said they would be concerned if their child stopped pointing out these everyday wonders.
As a result, a quarter (25%) said this would be among the reasons they would book an eye test for their child, as well as if they were struggling to read or write (43%) or rubbing their eyes frequently (38%).
Sarah Joyce, Director of Optometry at Specsavers, says: “Being able to see clearly is vital to children as they learn about the world – around 80% of learning in school is visual.
“But around one in five children under the age of 10 have sight conditions that can get in the way of all that wonder[1].
“Conditions such as long- or short-sightedness, astigmatism or a squint can often be treated more effectively if they are picked up early, so regular eye tests from the age of around four are essential or sooner if you think they are having any problems.
“The great news is, for children under 16, the NHS will cover the full cost of the eye test.”
To find out more or to book an eye check for your child visit:
Six-year-old reveals ultimate back to school shopping list
Back-to-school season is here, and Fort Kinnaird has teamed up with its very own Chief Fun Officer, six-year-old Ruari, to reveal what children really want in their school bags this August and help make back-to-school shopping trips that much easier.
Tasked with testing trends and giving his official stamp of approval, Ruari has rounded up the coolest must-haves for the new term.
From school shoes with football charms to fun pencil cases, his edit of back-to-school buys is packed with personality – and available now at Fort Kinnaird from stores including The Works, M&S, Clarks, Next and Primark.
Here are Ruari’s favourite picks:
- Pencil cases featuring Nintendo favourites and bold designs – fun, functional and guaranteed to stand out on the school table.
- Cool stationery sets – from gaming-themed rulers to funky pens.
- School shoes with a football theme – built for comfort and perfect for playtime goals.
- Fresh uniform staples and comfy shoes – perfect for all-day comfort and classroom confidence.
- Personalised keyrings and backpack tags – the little extras that make school bags harder to loose.
Ruari said: “I had so much fun getting ready for back to school at Fort Kinnaird. There were loads of new school shoes with footballs on them – they were my favourite!
“There was also lots of cool stationery to choose from, like colourful pens and fun pencil cases. I loved choosing it all, and we had such a great day – now I can’t wait for the new term to start so I can use it all!”
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know back-to-school shopping can feel like a big task, so we’ve made it easy, enjoyable and all in one place. With Ruari’s help, we’ve captured the trends kids are genuinely excited about – turning the trip into something families can enjoy together.”
Families can make a full day of back-to-school shopping this weekend, with a whole host of entertainment, dining and exclusive discounts on offer at Fort Kinnaird.
Kids eat for less at family-friendly favourites including Pizza Express and Frankie & Bennys. And when it’s time to wind down, head to Odeon for a bit of movie magic to finish the day in style.
To find out more about Ruari’s back-to-school essentials, visit here.
For more details and to plan your day at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
GHF-run food distributions in Gaza are sites of “orchestrated killing”
A REPORT BY MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES
- The GHF-run food distributions in Gaza, Palestine, have become sites of “orchestrated killing and dehumanisation”, not humanitarian aid.
- A new MSF report documents the horrors witnessed by MSF staff at two clinics that regularly received mass influxes of casualties following violence at sites run by the GHF.
- MSF calls for the immediate dismantling of the GHF scheme and the restoration of the UN-coordinated aid delivery mechanism.
An analysis of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical data, patients’ testimonies, and first-hand medical witnessing at two MSF clinics in Gaza, Palestine, point to both targeted and indiscriminate violence by Israeli forces and private American contractors against starved Palestinians at food distribution sites run by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
MSF calls for the immediate dismantling of the GHF scheme; the restoration of the UN-coordinated aid delivery mechanism; and calls on governments, especially the United States, as well as private donors to suspend all financial and political support for the GHF, whose sites are essentially death traps.
A new MSF report, This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing, documents the horrors witnessed by MSF staff at two clinics that regularly received mass influxes of casualties following violence at sites run by the GHF, an Israeli-US proxy that has militarised food distribution.
Between 7 June and 24 July 2025, 1,380 casualties, including 28 dead, were received at MSF’s Al-Mawasi and Al-Attar clinics in southern Gaza, located near the GHF-run distribution sites.
During those seven weeks, our teams treated 71 children for gunshot wounds, 25 of whom were under the age of 15. Faced with no alternatives to find food, starved families frequently send teenage boys into this lethal environment, as they are often the only males in the household physically able to make the journey.
In May 2025, the genocide in Gaza, Palestine, took a further disturbing turn as Israeli authorities sought to dismantle the UN-led humanitarian response and replace it with a militarised food distribution scheme run by a previously unknown entity — the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). All four distribution sites operated by the GHF are located in areas under full Israeli military control and “secured” by private American armed contractors.
MSF’s report ‘This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing’ draws on medical data, patient testimonies and first-hand medical witnessing to demonstrate that what has been branded as “aid distribution” is in fact a system of institutionalised starvation and dehumanisation.
MSF calls for an immediate cessation of the GHF distribution mechanism and urges states and private donors to refrain from funding what is essentially a death trap.
This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing.pdf — 2.63 MBDownload
MSF operates two primary healthcare centres in southern Gaza located in close proximity to the GHF distribution sites. Between 7 June and 24 July 2025, these health centres received 1,380 injured people, including 28 dead bodies from the GHF sites.
This represents only a fraction of the total number of people killed and injured at the distribution sites. MSF’s two health centres — due to their sheer proximity to the GHF sites — now place biweekly orders for body bags.
Over a seven-week period in June and July 2025, MSF staff treated 174 people for gunshot wounds originating from the GHF sites. The vast majority of those injured — 96 per cent — were young men. This reflects a grim survival strategy: families are sending the youngest and fittest to retrieve food.
The injured who arrive in our clinics are normally covered in sand and dust from time spent lying on the ground while taking cover from bullets.
A significant number of injured patients coming from the Khan Younis distribution centre (SDS3) had gunshot wounds to the lower limbs. The anatomical precision of these injuries strongly suggests intentional targeting of people within the distribution sites, rather than accidental or indiscriminate fire.
Of the 28 dead bodies received in our health centres, all but one were young men (aged 20–30 approximately) with gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: Back To School support
One bag, BIG impact!
A single donation can change a school year for a child whose family is struggling to make ends meet.
By donating £15 you’ll help us buy a new school bag and pencil case for a child who otherwise will start school without these basic items. Help us give children the tools and confidence they need to thrive this school year.
How You Can Help:
Donate uniform items via our online wish list, Give Today. https://givetoday.co.uk/edinburghschooluniformbank/
Donate funds and we will do the shopping for you. https://edinburghuniform.org/donate/
Spread the word – every share helps!
Thank you!
MMR vaccination clinic at Pennywell All Care Centre tomorrow
THURSDAY 7th AUGUST 10am – 3pm
Has your child missed an MMR vaccine? Our vaccination team will be at Pennywell All Care Centre on tomorrow (Thursday 7 August).
For more information check:
http://nhslothian.scot/vaccinations
or call the vaccination enquiries helpline on 0300 7906 296
Free children’s book launched for families living with multiple sclerosis
Edinburgh parents helped develop the book, which supports adults to discuss MS with their children
A free children’s book aimed at supporting families to discuss multiple sclerosis (MS) has been launched by the UK’s leading charity for people affected by the condition.
The MS Society’s ‘What is MS to me?’ book features Tingo, a nerve cell, who helps young children understand MS with kindness, curiosity, and play.
The national charity created the book alongside a group of people living with MS and healthcare professionals including Dr Alison Thomson from Queen Mary University of London. Playful illustrations are provided by Margie Sturton.
There are around 150,000 people living with MS in the UK, more than 17,000 of whom live in Scotland, and 135 people are diagnosed each week. Many of these will have children or go on to have children in the future.
The MS Society found that outside of medical outreach programmes like Digesting Science, there’s was little available for children in the UK to help them understand and accept an MS diagnosis in their family.
Tingo guides readers through what they know about MS and encourages them to ask questions and make notes and drawings. A limited-edition Tingo toy was given away with some of the first books sold after its launch on Monday 28 July. The Tingo soft toy is a safe haven for children to return to during conversations about MS. Readers can pick Tingo up and keep them close for comfort and reassurance.
Robert Oldham, 45, from Greenbank, Edinburgh, was diagnosed with MS in 2005. He was part of the group of people who helped create ‘What is MS to me?’
Robert says: “As the father of three kids I know how important it is to explain MS to children in a simple, non-scary way so that is why I wanted to help create something that fitted this.
“I’ve had MS for 20 years and our eldest is 15, so all the children have grown up knowing that daddy has MS, but that’s just a badge. They don’t necessarily understand what that means. They know that I get tired, and can’t walk that far so being kids, they just accept that.
“The book has been great for my youngest who’s nine. We read it together and then I ask her if she has any questions she wants to ask. She loves to read and found the book engaging and helpful.”
Sian McSorley, 57, from Corstorphine, Edinburgh, was also involved in the production of the new book. She was diagnosed with MS in 2017 and her symptoms include fatigue, pain and cognition issues.
She says: “From my own experience I wasn’t sure how to explain MS to my daughter without frightening the life out of her. I couldn’t find anything that could help me with that.
“Being part of the group was a great opportunity to get Cara-Maria involved too. She was able to help with the information and designs, and it really helped to normalise MS for her a little.
“We talk about MS quite top level, that it’s something that makes me tired and she accepts that. But this book will be great to explain what else can happen in MS. It’s great that we can also share this resource with other people.”
The MS Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by MS. For 70 years it has been at the forefront of support, research, and campaigning to improve the lives of people with MS.
Gavin Atkins, Executive Director of Services and Support at MS Society, says: “We worked with an amazing group of people living with MS to create this book. We found that there was a need for families experiencing MS to have something tactile to help explain and explore the condition.
“Most people are diagnosed with MS in their 30s or 40s and many of those will already have children or be thinking about starting a family.
“We’re proud to have created this free resource to help adults have what can be difficult conversations with the children in their life. We hope this book and Tingo will be something families can come back to time and again to learn more about MS and make it easier to talk about.”
You can order your free copy of ‘What is MS to me?’ at :
Sport Could Be Their New Big Thing
Edinburgh Leisure Launches Citywide Coaching Campaign to Kickstart the New School Term
With just 59% of school-aged children meeting the recommended daily levels of physical activity, the start of the new school term is the perfect time to get kids moving. Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging families to help their children discover their next big passion through sport by signing up for one of its fun and engaging coaching courses.
With a spotlight on three exciting sports – Diving, Climbing, and Tennis – the campaign encourages children aged P1 and up to try something new, build skills, and have fun in a supportive, expert-led environment.
Whether they’re scaling new heights, making a splash, or smashing their first serve, there’s something for everyone.
Angela McCowan, Sports Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We want to encourage parents to give their children a new exciting hobby to look forward to this term and sport could be their next big thing. As the leading provider of sports and leisure facilities, we have a wide range of coaching opportunities available across our venues for all abilities.
“Sports coaching offers so much more than just learning the game or skill – it helps children build confidence, develop strong listening and communication skills, and stay active in line with recommended exercise levels. It’s about nurturing life skills through movement, teamwork, and fun – giving every child the chance to grow both on and off the court, pitch, or pool.”
It is recommended that children and young people aged 5-18 years should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily, with some of this activity being bone and muscle strengthening.
Preschoolers, aged 3-5 years, should be active throughout the day, with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.
In Scotland, it is estimated that approximately 69-71% of children aged 5-15 meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, including school-based activities. When excluding school-based activities, this figure drops to about 59%. There’s a notable age-related decline, with younger children (5-7 years old) being more active (around 80%) than older teens (13-15 years old) (around 60%).
Why Join?
- Fun and friendly coaching for all abilities
- Expert instructors to guide every step
- A great way to stay active, make friends, and build confidence
- Flexible options across the city
Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit:
https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/coaching-activities/
to explore available sessions and sign up.
Let this term be the start of something big – because Diving, Climbing, or Tennis could be their next big thing!