Tag: Children and Families

Hop Into an Egg-ceptional Easter at Gravity Active Edinburgh

This Easter, get ready to bounce into an unforgettable adventure at Gravity Active.  Whether you’re planning a family day out, a meet-up with friends, or an action-packed treat for the kids, Gravity Active is the place to be for an egg-stra special Easter!

From bouncing challenges to egg hunts and Easter bunny visits, Gravity Active is packed with egg-citement for all ages. It’s the perfect way to burn off the Easter chocolate while having a cracking time too!

Visitors can look forward to a magical Easter Bunny Meet & Greet, offering the perfect chance to snap festive photos and create lasting memories.  The fun continues with a twist on the classic favourite, the Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza, where participants search for hidden Easter egg pictures around the park, each one unlocking a fun-filled challenge.

Adding to the egg-citement is the brand-new Bunny Bounce Challenge. Visitors must complete five bouncing tasks, from star jumps to 180-degree spins, culminating in a final jump pose in the designated photo zone.

Beyond the bounce, tuck into egg-citing Easter-themed treats at the café and hop to the groove at the high-energy daytime discos.

Plus, this year Gravity Active is set to energise the Easter break with its brand-new “Bunny Bounce Challenge”, a fun, high-energy activity designed for all the family. Shoppers are invited to take part in this interactive trampoline adventure, hopping and bouncing through the park to discover five hidden Easter egg pictures.

Each egg location presents a unique jump challenge, from star jumps and frog leaps to bunny hops and mid-air spins. The final task encourages participants to strike their best jump pose in a designated photo zone.

As an added bonus, those who complete the challenge can scan an on-site QR code to enter a prize draw for the chance to win a family pass for four.

With something for every-bunny to enjoy, Gravity Active is the go-to destination for families looking to make this Easter extra special. To book your trip, and for more information, please visit www.gravity-global.com.

Celebrate the build-up to Easter with limited edition “Build-A-Burger” offer

Luxford Burgers encourages kids to get creative with new menu

Easter is a time to gather all the family round the table. But if the thought of traditional roast lamb doesn’t appeal to your little ones, why not shake things up a bit this holiday and opt for a fun, customisable culinary experience that encourages the kids to get creative? 

Luxford Burgers is celebrating the build-up to Easter with a special Build-A-Burger offer. For a limited time only, children can grab an exclusive menu and design their dream burger. With a choice of beef, chicken or veggie patties, plus a combination of up to 12 toppings, this unmissable dining deal puts the kids firmly in control. 

From scrumptious smoked streaky bacon and classic crispy onions to mouth-watering mango salsa and chunky cheddar cheese, kids can get creative with their toppings of choice. Plus, they can colour in their personalised burger design while they wait for the award-winning chefs to cook and plate it up for them.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Luxford Burgers’ Executive Director, Alexander Galpin, said; “Experimenting with different flavour combinations is a great way for kids to learn about food in a fun and creative way.

“And what better way for them to do that than by stacking up a range of delicious toppings to create their own unique signature burger? We’re excited to see what they come up with!”

Each made-to-order Build-A-Burger costs just £8 and can be enjoyed at Luxford Burgers’ two Edinburgh locations at St. Leonard’s Street and Brandon Terrace.

Available for a limited time only, this exclusive Easter offer runs Monday – Thursday, 12-4pm, until Monday 21st April. Advanced booking is advised because this palate-pleasing offer is sure to prove popular!

Mighty Oaks Holiday Club is back at the Botanics

🌞 The Mighty Oaks Holiday Club is back this summer!

Let your little adventurers discover the magic of nature through a week of trails, games, crafts, and scavenger hunts, all set in our beautiful Botanic Garden 🌿

We’re running four five-day programmes, starting from Monday 7 July.

Find the full itineraries and book now: https://rbge.cc/holiday-club

Parent Club: Exam support

Got a teen who is prepping for exams?

It can be a challenging time! Especially if they are sitting them for the first time.

For tips on helping them cope with the challenges of exam time, check out the Parent Club website, here – http://parentclub.scot/articles/how-cope-exam-stress

Children First puts £2.5 million back in struggling families’ pockets in 2024

Children First has published a new report showing the positive impact the charity has made on the lives of thousands of children and families across Scotland.

The report reveals that the Children First support line, which offers practical, emotional and financial help to any family in Scotland, put almost £2.5 million back into the pockets of struggling families in 2024 by securing benefits they were entitled to.

Scotland’s national children’s charity also helped families to deal with debts totalling more than half a million pounds and make them more manageable.

From advice on mental health, money worries and online harm, to struggles at school, Children First’s support line gave expert help and advice to more than 2,500 families and supported over 9,400 people in 2024.

More than 1,000 of those families received financial wellbeing support and advice that helped keep children warm, well and fed.

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First said: “Scotland is in the grip of a childhood emergency with around one in four children living in poverty.

“Poverty has a devastating impact on children’s development, physical and mental health, education and futures that can last into adulthood.

“We are calling on the government to act now to invest in targeted financial advice and support, early help for families and to increase the Scottish Child Payment which is the most effective way to alleviate poverty. Children can’t wait.”

The charity’s impact report also found that more than two thirds of families who reached out for help were worried about their child’s emotional wellbeing and half were concerned about family relationships.

Mary Glasgow added: “Every day our team hears from more and more families in distress and under huge pressure.

“For many, our support is a lifeline to them. But we can’t continue to be there for children and when they need us without your help.

“Please donate today at www.childrenfirst.org.uk.”

In 2024 across Scotland Children First supported more than 8,600 children and over 8,800 parents and carers to have a brighter future through its local services and national support line. In total 17,493 people were supported.

Mum Priya shared: “Thank you so much. I am in tears writing this. I will never be able to thank you enough. I’ve felt shame in asking for help and this year has been the hardest in forever, but Children First has restored the hope I have in this world.”

Mum Sarah, whose son Arthur has a disability was supported to apply for Child Disability Payment said: “Children First helped us apply for Scottish Child Payment which I didn’t know existed. This extra amount will definitely help us with food and electric bills each month.”

Dad James said: “Just knowing we have that extra money coming in is such a weight off our shoulders. We are now not reliant on food banks or family members.”

The Children First support line helps families across Scotland with whatever challenges they face. Families can call the team for free on 08000 28 22 33 or visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk to start a web chat from 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday or 9am – 12 noon Saturday and Sunday.

PYCP Easter Holiday Activities

🩷🧡💛 Our Easter Programme is here!! 💛🧡🩷

🐰From Next Week we will be running our Easter Programme, please read carefully as some groups and times are different from their usual!

🐥To attend, all children and young people must have a completed consent form – if you have done this from September 2024 you will be covered.

🌸Parents/Guardians will be contacted by staff to confirm spaces on trips, please do not send your child to a trip if you have not been spoken to as they will be unable to attend.

🍫PY Lunches will be on Mon-Fri during the two week holiday, NOT including Friday 18th and Monday 21st – These lunches are for children and young people only.

MYDG Easter Activities

🐣⭐️MYDG EASTER⭐️🐣

Please see our poster highlighting groups we have on over Easter!

We have different trips happening and these are allocated as best as possible to young people attending MYDG. If your child has been selected they will have a form handed out from a staff member at MYDG.

Any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Looking forward to 2 weeks of fun!

Police information: Filming and photography in public places

Police Scotland is aware of concerns being shared on social media about filming around playparks.

We have charged two men in connection with an alleged breach of the peace in Paisley.

In an unconnected incident, a man has been charged in connection with an alleged breach of the peace following concerns raised in Rutherglen.

Officers have also investigated a small number of unconnected reports of filming, these have been found to be parents filming their own children or other individuals who were not filming children and no criminality was established.

Police Scotland takes reports seriously and will investigate any matters reported to us.

Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “Given concerns about filming, I would ask people to remind anyone videoing or photographing in public to respect those around them.

“Police officers balance the rights of people to film with the potential to cause fear or alarm and make decisions based on individual circumstances.

“I would encourage responsible use of social media and ask people not to share speculation or inaccurate information. Please think twice about what you read, share and believe from online sources.

“It is not illegal to take photographs or video footage in public places unless it is for criminal purposes.”

Acas publishes new guidance on neonatal care leave

Acas publishes new guidance on neonatal care leave

Workplace experts Acas has published new guidance on neonatal care leave to coincide with a change in the law this weekend.

Working parents are now entitled to additional time off while their babies are sick in hospital.

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 comes into effect on 6 April 2025, providing a new leave and pay entitlement for parents with a baby in neonatal care.

Acas’s advice provides information on what neonatal care is, who is eligible and the rights of parents who take it.

Acas Interim Chief Executive Dan Ellis said: “Becoming new parents can be an incredibly stressful time, especially if their baby requires care in hospital for a while.

“Any employee that requires time off to help care for their child in these circumstances should be treated with compassion and understanding.

“Our advice provides employers and managers with guidance on how they can support staff members who need to take neonatal care leave.”

The new law aims to give parents the right to have up to 12 weeks leave and pay depending on how much time their baby is in neonatal care. This is in addition to other time off and pay.

The right to take neonatal care leave applies from the first day of work. Eligible parents can take neonatal care leave once their child has been in neonatal care for at least 7 consecutive days.

Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss, a charity that supports families with neonatal babies, said: “The most supportive employers have always sought to help parents in these circumstances, but without a clear statutory framework, they’ve had to rely on measures like sick leave and compassionate leave or other improvised solutions, creating challenges for HR teams to navigate.

“This new entitlement creates a clear and defined statutory provision, recognising that the most important place for both parents to be when their baby is in neonatal care is at their cotside.”

Time off for neonatal care is available to anyone birth parent, father or partner, spouse, civil partner or adoptive parent.

When it comes to informing their employers, parents need to self-declare and provide some extra information. Employees should contact their workplace HR representatives to go through specifics relating to their personal situation.

Parents who have a baby admitted to neonatal care up to the age of 28 days might be eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave and it must be taken within 68 weeks of the baby’s birth.

For the full advice, please see: www.acas.org.uk/neonatal-care-leave-and-pay