Children and Families – Page 5 – The NEN

Children First offers ‘lifeline’ support for parents and carers as children head back to school

As children across Edinburgh head back to school this week, Children First is reminding parents and carers that support is available now and all year round for families facing challenges.

The start of a new school year can be an exciting time, but it can also bring additional pressures for children and families. For some, returning to routines, managing anxiety, navigating friendships, dealing with financial worries or accessing the right support can feel overwhelming.

Children First’s support line offers free and confidential practical, emotional and financial support to families across Scotland. Parents and carers can contact the team at any time on 08000 28 22 33 or through webchat.

The charity’s support line has seen increasing demand, with close to 14,000 people* benefiting from support over the past year with concerns including mental health, money worries, family relationships and online harm.

Mum Laura and her son Sean** recently received support from Children First after facing challenges at home. Laura described the service as a “lifeline during a very difficult time”.

She said: “From the beginning, the support I received made a significant difference. My support line worker, Jenny, immediately understood our situation and provided advice that was practical, relevant and completely tailored to what was actually happening at home.

“For the first time in many years of seeking help, I felt truly listened to and supported with guidance I could realistically put into practice.

“I genuinely cannot say enough about how much this support has helped. The support has been consistent, thoughtful and effective and has made a lasting difference to both my life and my son’s.”

Children First’s chief executive, Mary Glasgow, added: “Children First’s support line regularly hears from parents and carers from across Edinburgh that are finding raising their babies, children and teenagers harder than ever.

“The return to school can bring a mix of emotions for children and families. While some children look forward to seeing friends and getting back into a routine, others may feel anxious, worried or unsure about the months ahead.

“Whatever challenges families are facing, Children First are here to help. Our support line team provides compassionate, expert support on a wide range of issues, including financial worries, mental health, family relationships and accessing practical support.

“You don’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming to reach out. If you’re unsure where to turn, we’re here for you.”

Children First helps children, their families and the people that care for them by offering emotional, practical, and financial support in their homes, communities and through its national support line.

Visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline to start a webchat with one of the team and find out more.

Tweedy the Clown returns to Edinburgh with his brand new solo show for all ages

Following the success of a 2025’s tour of Tweedy’s Massive Circus, Scottish clown Tweedy is back with a brand new solo show at the iconic purple cow. The show has just received a Gold Festivals Award EFFTA from the Fringe Theatre Awards.

This year, Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show finds Tweedy battling mischievous props in a series of increasingly absurd situations. The props have lives of their own, his limbs rebel against him and a sentient Siri starts playing up. No matter the mess he gets into, he can always find a creative way to get out.

Renowned for his warmth, ingenuity and impeccable comic timing, Tweedy the Clown is a household name in the southwest of England, where he regularly performs with Giffords Circus. Tweedy is also the recipient of a British Empire Medal and an Honorary Fellowship Award from the University of Gloucestershire.

Audiences from one to a hundred and one alike will delight in Tweedy’s repertoire of comedic talents, which have made him one of the most respected and popular clowns the country currently has to offer.

Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show

Dates: 6 – 30 Aug (except 17 and 24)

Times: 10:15 am

Venue: Underbelly’s George Square Gardens (Udderbelly)

Tickets: £12.00 – £22.00

Tomorrow: Carrot-themed lunch at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

Get ready for a vibrant and delicious day at our centre!

We have an abundance of fresh carrots, and we’re celebrating with a special carrot-themed menu for tomorrow.

We have a Carrot & Ginger Soup – a comforting blend of sweet and spicy, served with a side of creamy Potato Dauphinoise or a crumbly Cheese Scone – the perfect accompaniment to soak up all the goodness.

For dessert, indulge in our freshly baked Carrot Cake Loaf, with a tangy, zesty icing. Whether you’re in the mood to dine in or take away, we’ve got you covered. Join us from 11:30am – 12:30pm for a meal that’s sure to brighten up your day!

As always,start your day with our hot filled rolls and hot drinks, served from 9am – 10:30am!

Edinburgh schools urged to turn leftover holiday money into meals for hungry children

Edinburgh back-to-school appeal: Schools urged to turn leftover holiday money into meals for hungry children

As kids prepare to go back to class after the summer holidays, schools across Edinburgh are being encouraged to launch foreign currency collections and turn leftover coins and notes into meals for hungry children.

Through Mary’s Meals, even the smallest amount can have a life-changing impact on hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. It costs just 10p to provide a nutritious meal in a place of education, while only £19.15 provides meals for a child for a whole school year.

The school feeding charity is calling on schools to start foreign currency fundraisers and asking parents to check pockets, purses and wallets for forgotten holiday money that can be sent into school with their children for the start of the new term.

St Richard’s Catholic College in East Sussex has run foreign currency collections since 2024, generating £733 for Mary’s Meals, enough to feed 38 hungry children for a full school year.

Lidia Mead, Subject Leader for RE at St Richard’s, says: “I am always blown away by the amount we collect through foreign currency collections. We all have some leftover money from our holidays, and what better way to get rid of it than to help feed children – an amazing, simple idea.”

As well as raising vital funds for Mary’s Meals, Mrs Mead believes the collections have a lasting impact on her students.

She adds: “They do a huge amount of charity work through the likes of cake sales and raffles, but this way of fundraising is different. Pupils know the money is turned into meals for children, which helps them realise the great work they are doing. Being able to feed a child for under £20 a year really puts things into perspective for them too.”

Mary’s Meals, founded in a shed in the Scottish Highlands in 2002, provides school meals to more than three million children in 16 countries, including Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, every school day. The promise of a daily meal encourages children into the classroom, where they gain an education and hope for a better tomorrow.

Funds generated through a foreign currency fundraiser can help the charity reach children like seven-year-old Sitraka, a pupil at Sahafy Primary School in Madagascar. Like many in his community, Sitraka’s household faces hunger.

The introduction of daily school meals has transformed Sitraka’s life, as the meal he receives at school is sometimes the only meal he has all day. “The food at school is delicious,” he says, “but at home, we never have anything that tastes this good.”

This reliable access to food has significantly improved both Sitraka’s attendance and academic performance. Education is vital for Sitraka’s future; it paves the way for a stable job when he grows up, provides a ladder out of poverty for him and his family, and the prospect of a brighter future.

Schools can start making a difference today simply by requesting a free foreign currency pack on the Mary’s Meals website and galvanising parents and pupils to get involved.

Regional Development Officer at Mary’s Meals, Gerrard McMahon, says: “We’d love for your school to set up its own foreign currency collection! We’ll provide everything you need, including envelopes, a collection box and clear instructions. We accept coins and notes from any country, as well as old UK currency no longer in circulation.

“If you have old coins and notes sitting in drawers and wallets, don’t let them go to waste. Too often, hunger holds a child back from the future they deserve, keeping them out of school and communities stuck in a cycle of poverty… year after year. With the promise of a daily school meal, we can overcome this barrier and allow a child to unleash their full potential.”

For more information, visit www.marysmeals.org.uk/foreign-currency

It costs just £19.15 to feed a child for a year with Mary’s Meals. But a donation of any value can set a child up for life, with their success being the true legacy of your gift. It’s one school meal today – a teacher, community leader, or business owner tomorrow.

Hundreds of families attend free outdoor Playday events across Scotland

Play Scotland calls on communities to champion more spaces for play

Hundreds of children, young people, and families across the UK came together to celebrate Playday on Wednesday 5th August, after Play Scotland called for more inclusive and welcoming spaces for play.

As this year’s theme calls for the creation of play opportunities here, there, and everywhere, celebrations outdoors and in streets ramped up as children engaged in imaginative, risky, creative, exploratory play, among others.

From loose parts, to mud pies, to den-building, it serves as a reminder that quality play doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Children must be given the time, freedom and space to play, and that’s what Play Scotland is working to deliver as they develop their five-year strategy, launching in late October.

Play Scotland partnered with Aberlour Children’s Charity to host a free play event in Aberdeen, and took part in delivering a day of play at Brodie Castle and Estate in Moray.

Lorna Leil, events coordinator at Brodie Castle says: “I know how important play is for children’s learning and development. With the space that we have Brodie Castle just lends itself to this.

“We have a focus on play anyway with our Playful Garden and the castle playground. Playday is a chance to expand on this, to work with local people – businesses, families and communities – and provide even more opportunities for playful learning.

“Since developing our connection with Play Scotland and Playday we have a wider platform to promote and highlight the importance of play for all and access to play spaces and play opportunities for all children and families.”

As a fantastic example of engaging children in more simple outdoor play, Leeds City Council helped deliver street play to local children on Playday, temporarily closing roads so that children could have a chance to feel safe playing outside their houses.

Speaking on BBC Scotland about street play, Mary Ramsay, Play Scotland CEO said: “There is a big commitment from Scottish Government to support children playing outdoors, but what we’re seeing up here (Scotland) is, parents are understandably wary with reports that we’re seeing on social media about things happening, there’s been a big increase in cars and vehicles, and we’ve seen a reluctance sometimes from children engaging on screens.

“We don’t want to demonise screens, they obviously have a place, but we have seen sometimes that children are more indoors, there’s also weather challenges, so although there has been a lot of work within Scotland, and we have the legislative framework and a lot of guidance that supports that, we’re still getting reports that children aren’t getting enough time outdoors, and that parents are understandably wary of engaging in it.”

A variety of quality play opportunities is essential for the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

It builds confidence, creativity, social skills and resilience. It has a significant role in developing language, emotional regulation, and even in developing the 5 senses. Playday is an opportunity to celebrate this, and Play Scotland is working to raise awareness, and encourage communities to create more opportunities for children to play freely. 

Among the smiles, laughter, and screams, another important activity in developing quality play opportunities was the discussion of the Play Park Survey, an online form to generate feedback from locals across Scotland on the developments they’ve noticed in their local play parks since the rollout of the Play Park Renewal fund between 2021-2026.

Play Scotland is calling for as much feedback as possible to inform future opportunities. The link can be found on Play Scotland’s website.

Scotland’s Play Park Survey – Play Scotland

Make the most of Playday with Tax-Free Childcare

Working families urged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare on Playday to help pay for holiday clubs, after-school clubs, nurseries and childminders
Latest statistics show families save almost £100 a month with Tax-Free Childcare
Number of families using Tax-Free Childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by 20%

Working families are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.

Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.

People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.

Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.

It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child.

“If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”

Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:   

have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11^th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16^th birthday
the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average 
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility.

Young carers gather for a break from caring and a chance to be heard at Scottish Young Carers Festival

Hundreds of young carers from across Scotland will come together this week for the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival, a unique event providing young people with caring responsibilities the opportunity to take a break, connect with others and enjoy new experiences.

Young carers are children and young people who help care for a family member, friend or loved one who has an illness, disability, mental health condition, addiction or additional support needs.

Organised by Carers Trust Scotland and receives funding by the Scottish Government, the three-day festival brings together young carers from across the country for a programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to spend time with others who understand the realities of being a young carer.

The festival offers young carers a chance to step away from their day-to-day caring responsibilities and focus on friendship, fun and wellbeing. It also provides an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives.

The event will also welcome a number of decision-makers and stakeholders, giving young carers the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly with people involved in shaping policy and support services across Scotland.

Through activities, discussions and informal conversations, young carers will have the chance to highlight the issues that matter most to them, including breaks from caring, education, wellbeing and recognition.

Why a Break Matters

There are at least 30,000 young carers under the age of 18 in Scotland, many of whom provide vital unpaid care for family members. Carers Trust Scotland’s work highlights that time away from caring duties is not just a treat – it’s essential for young carers’ wellbeing, development and happiness.

Becky Duff, Director of Carers Trust Scotland, said: “The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives young carers the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with friends and enjoy opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.

“We know from listening to young carers how important breaks, friendships and support are to their wellbeing. The festival brings young carers together from across Scotland, creating a space where they can connect with others who understand their experiences and simply enjoy being young people.

“It is also an opportunity to highlight the important contribution young carers make every day and ensure their voices continue to be heard by decision makers.”

Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, said: “Young carers make an invaluable contribution to their families, communities and to society as a whole The care and support they provide every day is remarkable, but I also recognise that caring responsibilities can bring challenges and make it harder to access the same opportunities as their peers.

“We remain committed to supporting young carers through initiatives such as the Young Carer Grant, the Young Scot Young Carer Package and our work to deliver a Right to Breaks for carers.

“I am delighted to attend this year’s Scottish Young Carers Festival and hear directly from young carers about the issues that matter most to them. I hope everyone attending the festival has a fantastic time and creates memories and friendships that will last long after the event has ended.”

The festival is supported by local carer organisations from across Scotland, who work throughout the year to provide advice, information and opportunities for young carers in their communities.

Throughout the event, young people will take part in a wide range of activities while building confidence, making new friends and creating lasting memories.

Decades-old worm treatment could help tackle rare childhood cancer

Glasgow woman who had cancer four times welcomes development

A drug commonly used to treat parasitic worm infections could offer a new way to tackle one of the most difficult childhood blood cancers to treat, research funded by Leukaemia UK has identified.

Dr Noelia Che and her colleagues at UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, investigated whether the drug mebendazole, could be repurposed and used in combination therapies to treat childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

While survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved dramatically in recent decades, AML remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease.

Established treatments such as chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants, while effective, are intensive and can often lead to relapse and serious long-term side effects for patients.

This was the case for Nichola Smith, whose diagnosis of AML at aged 12 led to decades of difficult treatment, relapse and serious life-long consequences. “I was constantly tired and run down,” recalled Nichola, now 44, from Glasgow.

“Then one day after playfighting with my cousins I noticed an enormous hand-shaped bruise where one of them had grabbed me. Then the next day I collapsed and my mum took me to Yorkhill Children’s Hospital where, to my shock, I was diagnosed with leukaemia”.

Nichola underwent intensive chemotherapy. After relapsing a year later months later, she also required a stem cell transplant and more chemotherapy.

While her treatment was successful, the impact on Nichola has been life-long. In 2006, a routine mammogram revealed pre-cancerous cells in both her breasts, a recognised long-term effect of the leukaemia treatment she had received as a child. She underwent a double mastectomy and several major operations.

Then, in 2022, Nichola was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer that can develop into AML.

“I was devastated,” she said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘Here we go again’ and ‘Why me?’ I couldn’t believe I was going to have to fight another blood cancer after everything I’d already been through.”

Her condition later progressed and she once again required chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

Experiences like Nichola’s are driving researchers to find more targeted and less toxic ways of treating AML. Reducing the devastating long-term effects.

Dr Che, a recipient of the Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellowship, is focusing her research on a protein called MYB, which AML cells rely on to survive and grow.

She and her colleagues found that mebendazole can reduce levels of MYB within leukaemia cells, depriving them of a key survival mechanism and causing them to die.

She hopes the approach could form part of a new generation of targeted therapies. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapies attack cancer cells more precisely while reducing damage to healthy tissue.

Dr Che and her colleagues are now exploring further how mebendazole can be used with newer targeted therapies rather than chemotherapy, identifying a promising treatment strategy for children with AML. Potentially avoiding the increased toxicity associated with more intensive chemotherapy.

Dr Noelia Che said: “Our research is exploring whether mebendazole, a safe and well-established drug, could be used in a completely different way to target vulnerabilities within AML cells.

“We hope this work will contribute to gentler, more effective treatments, so that children survive without life altering complications.”

Simon Ridley, Director of Research and Advocacy, Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re proud to support innovative researchers such as Dr Che who are exploring bold new approaches to treatment.

“It is important to note that this research is still in early stages, but it shows one of the many routes that researchers are working to fight leukaemia through new strategies, repurposed medications and innovative combinations.

“Which, in the future, could reduce the long-term impact of treatment on patients and their families.”

New multi million pound Hollywood Bowl venue to open in shopping centre

WORK GETS UNDERWAY ON A NEW MULTI-MILLION POUND HOLLYWOOD BOWL VENUE AT THE CENTRE, LIVINGSTON CREATING 40 LOCAL JOBS

Pic Greg Macvean 29/07/2026 The Centre, Livingston – Hollywood Bowl with Patrick, Simon and Laura (HB manager)

Work is officially underway on a new 26,500 sq. ft, multi-million-pound Hollywood Bowl venue at The Centre, Livingston, one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres, scheduled to open this autumn and create 40 local jobs.

The state-of-the-art venue, which will feature 22 lanes of ten-pin bowling, a large arcade with the latest Namco games as well as pool tables and a bar and diner, is a major milestone for The Centre, Livingston as it not only marks their expansion into the leisure sector but also ties in with their 50th anniversary this year.

Since the owners, LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading, privately owned commercial property development and management companies, acquired the shopping centre over two years ago, their mission has been to create a vibrant destination where visitors can ‘shop, eat and play’.

The arrival is set to further enhance the offering at The Centre, Livingston which has a diverse mix of over 150 stores and restaurants, spanning one million sq. ft. including M&S, Flannels, H&M, Nando’s, wagamama and the country’s largest JD Sports store, welcoming over 15.8 million visitors a year.

Recent global brands to open include Starbucks, Wingstop, MINISO, Søstrene Grene, Flying Tiger and the first ArrowHeadz store in Scotland.

Stephen Burns, CEO of Hollywood Bowl Group, said: “We are pleased to announce that work has begun at our new multi-entertainment centre at the popular retail destination, The Centre, Livingston. This marks another important step in our strategic growth as we continue to expand across the UK.

“We’re delighted to be opening another site in Scotland, creating new local jobs while bringing high-quality, affordable entertainment to the community. This investment reflects our continued commitment to growing our estate and delivering great leisure experiences for our customers.”

Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager to The Centre, Livingston, said: “Starting construction on this state-of-the-art Hollywood Bowl venue is an incredibly proud moment for us.

“It represents a major evolution for The Centre, Livingston as we dynamically expand into the leisure market, in the year we celebrate our 50th anniversary, reinforcing our absolute commitment to creating a thriving destination for all our visitors, both locally and from further afield, to shop, dine out, connect and have fun.

“The countdown is officially on, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to experience this game-changing entertainment centre this autumn.”

The transaction was completed by Robin Kennedy, Associate Legal Director (UK) at LCP UK part of M Core.