Teen Boutique on this Saturday 11 am to 1pm this Saturday at PYCP.
Affordable clothes for PY families and friends.
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Teen Boutique this Saturday
Tag: Children and Families
Over half of all Childline counselling sessions with children in Scotland were about mental health last year
- Childline delivered more than 8,000 counselling sessions with children in Scotland last year
- This included 4,485 counselling sessions with children about their mental and emotional health and wellbeing concerns
- This World Mental Health Day, the NSPCC is encouraging children to reach out to Childline for support on any issues
Over half (55%) of all counselling sessions delivered to young people in Scotland by the NSPCC’s Childline service last year were about mental health and wellbeing.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, Childline delivered 4,485 counselling sessions to young people in Scotland about mental and emotional health and wellbeing, equating to approximately 12 sessions a day.
When discussing their mental health, some of the top concerns that were raised were anxiety, stress, low mood, depression and loneliness.
To mark World Mental Health Day (Thursday, October 10th), the NSPCC is highlighting these figures to show the scale of children struggling with their mental health and to remind them that Childline is a safe place where they can seek help and support.
An 11-year-old girl from Scotland who contacted Childline, said: “I feel so lonely at school, I only really have one friend. What’s harder though is I feel I can’t talk about how much it upsets me.
“My parents seem annoyed or judgemental when I try to talk about my feelings. Speaking to Childline feels like a weight has been lifted.”
It is important for children and young people get help with their mental health at an early stage – through schools or in the local community – rather than waiting until they reach crisis point.
That is why the charity is calling on the Scottish Government to ensure communities have the resources they need to be able to support children’s mental health wherever and whenever they need it. This will require investment in specialist care, counselling in schools and support in community settings.
Any child or young person who is struggling can also contact Childline up to the age of 19 and have a confidential conversation with a counsellor over the phone or online, at any time of the day.
Adeniyi Alade, service head of Childline, who is based at Aberdeen Childline, said: “Growing up can be tough at times and our counsellors talk to children and young people every day to support them with their mental health and wellbeing.
“This Mental Health Day we’d like to remind young people that our friendly counsellors are here for them all day, every day, to talk about whatever is worrying them.
“They don’t need to struggle alone. We can help, whether they are feeling anxious, lonely, or depressed.
“At the NSPCC and Childline we also believe that mental health support should be available in all communities across Scotland and are calling on the Scottish government to implement this to reach every pupil who needs help.”
The Childline website also provides support to young people on the advice pages or resources, such as Art Box, which is a space for children to write or draw about their feelings. Children can also use the service’s Calm Zone, an area of the website with lots of tools and mechanisms to help young people cope.
Drawing or writing can be a helpful way for children to process their emotions, as it can enable them to express themselves and make sense of their situation.
One primary school aged girl from Scotland who contacted Childline, said: “I’m so self-conscious of how I look, my personality, what people think about me.
“It makes me feel anxious. I know everyone is different, but I feel different in a bad way. Reading and drawing are my ways to escape.”
With this in mind, Lidl GB in partnership with Crayola is supporting the NSPCC in their mission to be there for every child needing support with their mental health by launching the Crayola Cosmic Creations and Fantastic Fantasy Activity Tube.
The activity tubes – of which £1 per item sold will be donated to Childline – are designed to give children a creative outlet for their emotions using colouring pencils, colouring rolls, foil art posters and stickers, all with vibrant designs.
Charlie Day, CSR Team Manager at Lidl GB, said: “Supporting young people’s mental health matters hugely to our colleagues and customers.
“That’s why at Lidl GB we’re committed to building on the over £9 million we’ve donated to the NSPCC since 2017, however we can.
“We’re delighted to sell activity tubes in Lidl GB stores that provide children with a calming activity and help them to express their feelings.
“Co-created by Crayola and Hunter Price International, the product will raise vital funds for Childline, and with the contact details on-pack, will help ensure young people have somewhere to turn when they’re ready to open up.”
Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on:
Kids eat free is back at BURGER KING® UK
KEEP YOUR LITTLE ONES HAPPY THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM
Looking to keep your kids happy this half-term? Burger King® UK is here to help with a scarily good deal in the run up to Halloween, with the return of Kids Eat FREE!
From 11th-20th October, families across Scotland can enjoy a King Jr meal, featuring a Kids Hamburger or Chicken Nuggets, fries or apple slices and a drink of your choice, totally free when purchasing an adult meal*!
All you need to do is download the Burger King® UK app via Google Play here or the App Store here to claim the offer.
Family Activities for October Half-Term at Dynamic Earth
This October, Dynamic Earth invites families to swap fright for fascination and embark on a thrilling journey into the world of misunderstood creatures, eerie adventures, and science-led discovery.
With a spectacular programme of Halloween-themed activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy — from spine-tingling trails to spooky planetarium shows and hands-on exploration.
Running from Wednesday, 2nd October to Sunday, 3rd November, this unmissable line-up promises weeks of fun and learning for children and adults alike.
Highlights of the October Programme Include:
- Trick or Treat Trail (2nd Oct – 3rd Nov)
Admission ticket + £4
Get ready for an adventure with Blaize the Bat as you explore our exhibition and uncover hidden wonders of the natural world. From slithering serpents to creatures from the deep, you’ll be guided through Dynamic Earth by clues and puzzles, leading to a special prize — your very own Blaize the Bat beanie!
- Eerie Encounters (4th Oct – 3rd Nov)
FREE drop-in activities
Our Science Communication team invites you to dive into a world of “eerie encounters” with misunderstood creatures and fascinating plants. From crafting your very own Venus flytrap puppet to uncovering prehistoric creatures in our dino-dig, these family-friendly activities will have everyone getting hands-on with nature’s creepiest and most captivating lifeforms.
- New Planetarium Shows (2nd Oct – 31st Oct)
Daily screenings
Embark on an out-of-this-world journey with two captivating shows in our 6K resolution Planetarium:
- Fungi: Web of Life (narrated by Björk) unveils the mysterious and interconnected world of fungi. With expert insights from acclaimed British biologist Dr. Merlin Sheldrake, this film explores the hidden network that sustains all life on Earth. Dr. Sheldrake’s groundbreaking research in mycology adds a deeper layer of intrigue, making this a must-see for science enthusiasts.
- What’s Up: The Fright Sky takes you on an exclusive live journey presented by Dynamic Earth’s in-house astronomers. These shows, created by our expert team, reveal real imagery from space and stunning visuals captured by satellites. You’ll hear personalised content and seasonal insights directly from our science experts, offering an immersive and unique look into the darker tales and legends of the night sky.
- Planetarium Lates (18th, 19th, 21st, 25th Oct)
16 special evening shows (18+)
For adults, Dynamic Earth offers Planetarium Lates — an immersive experience with Halloween classics like The Shining and The Thing, plus Dark Side of the Moon shows. Sip on a themed cocktail such as Beetlejuice or Vampire Kiss, and settle in for a spooky, star-studded night out.
- October Outdoor Club (Mon – Tue, or Thur – Fri)
Ages 7-12
For younger adventurers, Dynamic Earth’s October Outdoor Club offers a two-day journey into Earth and environmental sciences. From exploring sustainability to learning about the fascinating creatures that inhabit our planet, this club promises endless excitement and discovery for curious young minds.
October Membership Offer:
This October, there’s more than just Halloween fun in store at Dynamic Earth! From Wednesday, 2nd October to Tuesday, 31st October, visitors can upgrade their Adult, Child, or Concession day ticket for just £5 and receive a 12-month membership at Dynamic Earth.
A Dynamic Earth Annual Membership Includes:
- Unlimited visits to Dynamic Earth’s exhibition, galleries, and 6K resolution Planetarium for 12 months.
- Exclusive previews to seasonal activities and events.
- Free admission for under-4s.
As a special bonus, those who take up this membership offer will be invited to an exclusive preview of our Winter What’s Up show and a screening of the festive favourite, The Muppet Christmas Carol.*
Visit Dynamic Earth and Transform Your Halloween!
With a blend of science, adventure, and spooky fun, Dynamic Earth’s October programme is the perfect way for families to celebrate Halloween. Whether you’re tracing the Trick or Treat Trail, marvelling at the mysteries of fungi, or spending an evening at Planetarium Lates, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
For tickets and more information, visit Dynamic Earth’s Halloween page.
Halloween Trail at the Botanics
Our spook-tacular Halloween Trail is in full swing!
Caley, the good garden witch, has turned her cat, Miàgh, into a toad!
Join the trail from 17th – 20th & 24 – 27th October to find the plant potion ingredients to turn her back into a cat!
Parent Club Scotland: Things to do during the October holidays
Don’t worry if you are struggling to come up with ideas on how to keep your kids entertained this October break.
We have lots of fun tips to help – for wee ones, older kids & even teenagers!
Check out our autumn activities hub:
http://parentclub.scot/articles/things-do-autumn…
Fantastic family films headline this October half term at Vue venues in Edinburgh
A mixture of old and new faces are heading to Vue venues in Edinburgh this October Scottish half term – offering plenty of opportunities for audiences of all ages to enjoy a trip to the big screen.
Families and film fans are invited to Cybertron in Transformers One, which rolls out at Vue sites just in time for the Scottish school holidays on 11 October. Learn the untold origin story of the iconic Autobot hero Optimus Prime and the villainous Megatron – and discover how these two sworn enemies were once close friends.
The first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie to appear on the big screen, Transformers One will be an action-packed adventure with everyone’s favourite Robots in Disguise.
Also for the Scottish half term, film fans eager to catch Dreamwork’s The Wild Robot will be able to enjoy Scotland only exclusive screenings at Vue on the 16th & 17th October, promising a beautiful, wild ride for all the family.
Following the charming tale of Roz, a futuristic robot who finds themselves on a deserted island filled with adorable animals, The Wild Robot is set to be a hugely emotional journey packed with discovery when it hits the big screen this month.
One of 2024’s most popular family favourite is also returning to the big screen this October, screening everyday of the school holidays as part of Vue’s Mighty Mornings with our favourite emotions in Pixar’s Inside Out 2 – available from just £2.49 when booked online.
Providing a short and sweet set of screenings for younger audience members, Vue’s Big Shorts will invite audiences to spend time with some of their favourite TV characters, with Bing & Friends: Birthday Celebration showing each day from 11 October.
From just £3.99 when booked online, these screenings offer a relaxed big screen environment with dimmed lights and reduced sound, tailor-made for younger film fans aged one to four.
Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “We’ve got a great selection of new films and family favourites heading to the big screen this October half term, offering an ideal way to enjoy quality family time together this school holiday.
“Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.”
Tickets are available at www.myvue.com
Family Fun this October Half Term at Vue line-up
Transformers One – from 11 October
Vue’s Big Shorts – Bing & Friends: Birthday Celebration – w/c 11 October
Mighty Mornings: Inside Out 2 – from 11 October & 18 October
The Wild Robot – from 16 October
Adults across Scotland learn how to spot and report child abuse through Listen Up, Speak Up programme
Staff from NSPCC Scotland’s local campaigns team will be out in force during the school holidays teaching people from various organisations how they can play their part in keeping children safe.
With autumn holidays approaching, the team felt it was a good time to make sure everyone knows what to do if they are concerned about a child so they can play their part in helping to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.
Listen Up, Speak Up (LUSU) offers free online or face-to-face training to help adults recognise when a child may be at risk, and what they can do to help.
NSPCC Helpline made 1,103 referrals to local authorities and agencies in Scotland over the last three years over concerns of the neglect of a child, highlighting the importance of LUSU.
The NSPCC Helpline takes calls from adults concerned about children, and practitioners will make referrals to agencies if they feel that further investigation of support is needed.
The NSPCC aims to inspire a million people across the UK to take actions that keep children safe through the Listen Up, Speak Up campaign to create a nation of safeguarders who can support families before they reach crisis point.
After a pilot last year, LUSU was rolled out across the UK in February this year. Sanctuary Housing, SSE, House of Bruar and Montrose Playhouse are among the organisations that have signed up so far in Scotland.
And the local campaigns team have organised a week of activity from October 4 to 11, conducting LUSU workshops across Scotland with organisations such as Glasgow Clyde College, Dads Rock in Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire Rangers.
Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “It’s been great getting out into communities across Scotland to deliver the important messages of LUSU.
“Everyone wants to play their part in keeping children safe, but it can be difficult to know when and how to act. You will come away from a LUSU session with the knowledge of what to do when you are worried about a child’s safety and wellbeing.
“A lot of people think ‘what if I am wrong?’ but it is more important to think ‘what if I am right?’. That could make a massive difference to child’s life.
“NSPCC Helpline has had to make more than 1,100 referrals for neglect to agencies in Scotland over three years – that’s almost one a day. That lays bare the scale of the problem. We need people across the country to play their part in helping keep children safe.
“If you are part of an organisation which could benefit from a LUSU session, please get in touch.”
To find out more about LUSU in Scotland, visit the NSPCC website or contact scotlandcampaigns@nspcc.org.uk.
Help Craigroyston kids play in Craig Tara football tournament
Craigroyston YFC 2013 year group are trying to raise funds to attend a big football tournament in Craig Tara.
It’s a big cost for parents who may struggle to go but don’t want to let their kid to miss out. We have 4 mile sponsored walk, race night, bake sale, raffles and loads of other things happening but one of the mum’s has also set up a crowdfunding page.
You’ can find out more and make a donation here:
CHAS children take flight with Frozen favourites thanks to Loganair
Children with life-shortening conditions in Scotland and their families were invited to Edinburgh Airport for a special sightseeing flight where they were accompanied by some of Disney’s most popular characters.
On Saturday, 15 children who receive care and support from the charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) were invited by Loganair to experience Scotland from the skies on a sightseeing flight from Edinburgh up the east coast of Scotland and back again.
In a bid to provide a truly magical experience, Loganair partnered with Wish Upon a Star Kingdom for the annual CHAS flight to bring Elsa and Anna on the journey with them for the ultimate Disney experience.
Additionally, Edinburgh Airport’s iconic mascot, EDI The Pilot was on hand to welcome the children to the airport, flanked by James Smith – a member of the security team – who volunteered his time to entertain the children and soar the skies with them as Batman.
Experiencing flying for the first time as a family were siblings Ruhee, Rayan and Khadijah Mahmood. Their dad Viqar said: “They’ve been looking forward to this for weeks and have been very excited today.
“The excitement reached new heights when Ruhee was able to soar the skies with Batman, and his sisters, who are big Frozen fans and regularly dress as Anna and Elsa at home, were able to join the princesses in the sky.”
In support of the day, British Airways provided access to its lounge in Edinburgh Airport, providing a VIP experience for the children and their families. There they experienced a meet and greet, storytelling and sing-a-longs with the Disney princesses and other characters before taking off to see Scotland from the skies – the first time some of them have experienced a flight.
Reflecting on the day, Viqar said: “The amount of organisation that went into today was worth it when you see their faces.
“They’ve had the best time, thank you.”
Loganair and CHAS have a long-standing relationship having embarked on a partnership three years ago. In June 2024, the regional airline announced it would be adding a voluntary £2 donation option to all its online ticket bookings in a bid to bolster its commitment to the charity even further.
In addition to supporting with monetary donations, Loganair provides flights to CHAS at Home nurses, who support families in remote island communities.
This flight marks the third occasion of the annual Loganair flights for CHAS children and their families across Scotland, with previous flights at Glasgow and Aberdeen Airports. Employees also volunteer at Robin House, one of the charity’s two ‘home from home’ hospices in Balloch, tending to the garden throughout the year and decorating the hospice at Christmas time.
Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer, Loganair said: “It is our upmost pleasure to provide a unique and captivating experience for the children and young people of CHAS – it means a huge amount to the families that take part in the trip.
“The CHAS partnership is something that we value hugely, and we are thrilled to play a part in the lives of these incredibly special young people.
“Every year we are committed to bringing joy and happiness to young people and while the sightseeing flight around Scotland is the icing on the cake, we were pleased to be able to partner with Wish Upon a Star Kingdom this year to make the experience as magical as possible.”
CHAS is a children’s palliative care charity which strives to reach and support children and their families across Scotland who are living with life-shortening conditions, offering much-needed respite and continual care. It is CHAS’ ambition to make sure that no one in Scotland has to face the death of their child alone.
Through its partnership with CHAS, established in 2021, the airline has provided staff nurses and the family support team with flights for CHAS at Home services, offering specialist medical care, vital respite and practical support to families across the country within their own homes.
Nikki Corrigan, Service Manager for Outreach at CHAS said: “Our partnership with Loganair has been invaluable to CHAS in helping us be there for families where they need us most, which for many families is in the comfort of their own home.
“As well as the essential support Loganair provides in helping us reach families in more remote areas of the country, days like this give children and their families the opportunity to have an unforgettable experience together, making joyful memories that will last a lifetime. We can’t thank them enough!”
Loganair would like to extend its thanks to all its partners who have helped to make the special day happen, including Edinburgh Airport, Menzies Aviation and OCS.