Children and Families – Page 8 – The NEN

Forever Edinburgh offers mums the chance to win Mother’s Day treats

Forever Edinburgh is giving Edinburgh mums (and their children) the tools to create the perfect Mother’s Day through fantastic rewards and a competition with unforgettable Mother’s Day presents.

Thanks to Resident Rewards Edinburgh, one lucky mum will win an Escape At One package for two people at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s One Spa. This package includes access to the thermal suite, including the hydropool, crystal steam room, rock sauna and more.

Another nine mums will win indulgent treats from Summerhall Distillery, and a voucher for pastries from bakery chain Twelve Triangles, which will be perfect for breakfast in bed. The winner of the spa trip will also receive the same hamper.

This competition aims to showcase the very best of what Edinburgh has to offer and celebrate the city’s local businesses and community spirit, making Mother’s Day even more special for mums in the city.

Matt Gammell, founder of Summerhall Distillery, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this wonderful Mother’s Day celebration.

“Our products are crafted with care, and we’re delighted to contribute to making this special day even more memorable for the lucky winners. We like to think that gin is the perfect way to raise a glass to mums!”

Fiona Young, director of One Spa, said: “A spa day at the Sheraton Grand is all about indulgence, relaxation, and feeling truly appreciated.

“We’re giving one mum the opportunity to step away from the everyday and enjoy some well-deserved me-time in our award-winning spa.”

Residents can also use Resident Rewards to plan a special day out with their mums or mother figures and save, including discounts on dining at Surgeons Quarter, Brewhemia, The Alchemist, The Brasserie at The Scholar and the latest Resident Rate – 15% off dining at 3 Blind Mice just down from the Royal Mile.

Residents can also get discounts on a number of the city’s best distillery / gin craft experiences for their mums, including a tour and tasting at competition partners Summerhall Distillery or other fantastic attractions like Johnnie Walker Princes Street, newly opened Edinburgh Gin and Port of Leith Distillery.

Want a different take on Mother’s Day? Why not explore the city’s spooky side with 10% off Enthral Experiences’ Witches Old Town Walking Tour or a city ghost or night tour by Mercat Tours. Or get out and active with Ricky’s Bicycle Tours or Stride Out Running Tours.

All these rewards and more are available through Resident Rewards Edinburgh, the perfect way to plan an unforgettable Mother’s Day in Edinburgh.

The competition is open now, with one spa day up for grabs and nine more of the ultimate Mother’s Day hampers.

Entries will close at midnight on Monday 31 March 2025. To enter, visit:

edinburgh.org/residentreward/mothers-day-competition

FetLor Easter Programme

The Easter Holidays are almost here!

Please find see above our revised Easter Programme filled with lots of exciting trips and drop-ins.

(Please note that all trips are sign up only, sign up is available at our drop-ins.)

Charity urges parents to take note of water safety at home following Coronation Street hot tub drowning storyline

The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK) is urging parents to always supervise children in and around water and always keep young children within arm’s reach, ahead of Coronation Street’s latest storyline.

The advice comes as tonight’s episode of the ITV soap features six-year-old Bertie Osbourne involved in a shocking hot tub incident.

The storyline reflects the dangers that children face at home, in and around water, as the charity has previously highlighted that on average, one child a month drowns at home.

In the upcoming episode of the award-winning show, Jenny, who is babysitting Bertie, gets distracted by a phone call from her bank and loses sight of the young child.

After noticing his football floating in the uncovered hot tub, Bertie reaches towards it and falls in unexpectedly, leaving him at risk of drowning. Fortunately, Steve and Cassie find Bertie quickly, pull him out of the water and he is rushed to hospital.

A survey conducted by water safety charity, RLSS UK, found that 1 in 5 parents have a hot tub at home, yet over half of them (59%) do not always replace the cover immediately after use* allowing children open access, often without parents’ knowledge.

RLSS UK’s Child Drowning Update highlights evidence from the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) that the number of child drowning deaths in England has doubled over the last four years**.

RLSS UK’s Interim Charity Director, Matt Croxall said: “Whilst lots of fun can be had with water in the home and garden/outdoor space, easy access to water in familiar spaces can sometimes make it easy to forget the risks water can bring. Hot tubs are a great place for grown-ups to unwind and socialise, but they can be especially hazardous for children.

“Our recent Child Drowning Update highlighted the risks that hot tubs can pose – three children accidentally drowned in the 12 months to March 2023 in hot tubs after they were left uncovered.

“It is great that such a high-profile programme as Coronation Street is featuring such an important issue and highlighting how quickly such incidents can happen.”

The charity is reminding parents that drowning happens quickly and often silently in as little as 2” (5cm) of water. RLSS UK is urging parents to always supervise children in and around water and always keep young children within arm’s reach. Evidence shows that 86% of child drownings happened when the child was unsupervised**.

To help raise awareness of the risks water can pose around every home, RLSS UK launched a new campaign called Splash Safety at my Pad.

The campaign, which returns in May, seeks to provide young families with advice, hints and tips about how to enjoy water safely at home.

RLSS UK’s Top Tips for Staying Safe around Hot Tubs

Cover it Up

Ensure hot tubs are covered with a solid, lockable cover immediately after use to prevent curious children from climbing or falling in.

If your hot tub doesn’t have a cover or it is broken, replace this vital piece of safety equipment as soon as possible. Don’t fill or use your hot tub until you’ve replaced the cover.

Stay Together

Ensure children are always supervised by an adult when they are spending time in and around a hot tub – even when the cover is on. Accidents can happen quickly, and children are naturally drawn to water.

Top Tip: If you’re with a group of adults, take it in turns to oversee supervising children near water. Always ensure that everyone in the group knows who’s responsible for watching the children at all times.

3. Not for Little Ones!

Children under five should not use a hot tub in any circumstances.

4. Talk about the Risks

Talk to older children about how to stay safe around hot tubs. Be clear children should stay away from hot tubs when not in use. Ensure that they never open the cover without an adult present.

Sources:

* Royal Life Saving Society UK Consumer Survey, geographically represented sample of n=1,003 parents of children aged five years and under, (September 2024).

** England only, 2019 – 2023

Utilita launches Energy Efficiency Guide for New Parents

Reduce your energy bills: essential tips for new parents

The UK’s leading Smart PAYG energy supplier, Utilita, has launched an Energy Efficiency Guide to help new parents reduce their energy use and see where they could save money.

Officially launched at Pregnancy Counselling and Care (Scotland) this week, the new guide will be rolled out at Utilita’s 12 energy hubs located across the UK.

The cost of general living inevitably goes up when you’re welcoming a child into the family – thanks to the use of electric appliances such as bottle sanitisers, electric baby bouncers, baby monitors and an increased wash load.

Sasha Dixon, Utilita’s Partnerships Manager, explained: “Our Energy Experts are on hand to help you with any questions you have about your account or energy usage. Plus, they can help you top-up your meters and offer advice on schemes and benefits that may be available to you.

“As new parents, you want to save money anywhere you can, and one of the first thought for many is about how to reduce your energy bills. Whether you’re a Utilita customer or not, we’re keen to help new parents take advantage of the quick and easy ways to reduce energy bills without compromising your baby’s comfort.”

Lucy Aitchison, Operations Manager at Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland, added: “We’re delighted to be able to share such a helpful resource for new parents, as it will help them not only to keep their baby safe, but also possibly save money on their energy costs.

“All of the families that are referred to the Baby Bank are struggling with the high cost of living, and the helping hand we provide with our newborn packs, which would cost the equivalent of over £2,500 is a real lifeline.

“We’ve seen demand increase hugely this last year, as we have more than doubled the number of Baby Packs that have been sent out around the region. In 2023 we gave out over 22,000 items of baby toys, clothes and equipment, and this last year it is over 58,000 items!

“We need funding support each year to continue this valuable service, that not only helps families, but recycles so much and prevents it from being sent to landfill. Please get in touch with us if you can help support us www.counsellingandcare.co.uk.”

Utilita Energy Hubs are high street locations where customers can top up their accounts, check their balances, and get energy-saving advice – based in Edinburgh, Blackburn, Derby, Gosport, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Luton, Sheffield, Southampton, and West Bromwich.

See more on Utilita Energy Hubs at https://utilita.co.uk/energy-hub.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Taste of Latin America at Somewhere by Nico!

This Mother’s Day, treat Mum to an unforgettable dining experience with the bold and vibrant flavours of Latin America at Somewhere by Nico.

Available for a limited time only in both the Glasgow and Edinburgh venues, this exclusive offer lets you celebrate in style with three delicious dishes and a Latin American cocktail of your choice for just £35 per person.

What’s Included:

A selection of three Latin American-inspired dishes
A Latin American cocktail of your choice
Live music from Verde to set the perfect atmosphere

When & Where:

Edinburgh: Live music from Verde 2pm – 4pm
Glasgow: Live music from Verde 6pm – 8pm

How to Book:

This exclusive Mother’s Day offer is available to book in the Glasgow and Edinburgh venues through the below links:

Glasgow:https://sevn.ly/xYyuRpqA
Edinburgh:https://sevn.ly/xOaEbZwv

Somewhere by Nico’s Latin America menu is available to view here.

Coalition raises concerns as new figures highlight cuts in specialist support for vulnerable children to a record low

Decline in the number of specialist ASN teachers to a record low
More than doubling in the number of pupils with additional support needs since 2014

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns over cuts in specialist support being provided to those with additional support needs (ASN).

The call comes as new figures from the Scottish Government’s annual teacher census indicate that the number of specialist ASN teachers has fallen to a record low of 2,837 in 2024.¹

In contrast, the number of those pupils with ASN has soared to a record high, now amounting to 40.5 per cent of the pupil population. ²This includes those with mental health problems, learning disability, autism and dyslexia.

These numbers have been increasing for years. Indeed, more than doubling(102.4 per cent) over the last decade to 284,448 pupils, a rise from 140,501 in 2014, when those with ASN represented 20.8 per cent of all pupils.

Between 2014 and 2024 the number of ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,077 to 2,837, a record low and a decrease of 240 teachers.

In 2014, while each ASN teacher was supporting 40 pupils with ASN, by 2024 this figure had risen to each teacher now supporting 100 such pupils.

Against a background of spending cuts and reduction in specialist support, the SCSC has called for greater resourcing from both the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that those with ASN, who are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods, are getting the care and support that they need.

The coalition has also raised concerns about the effectiveness of a presumption of mainstreaming, meaning that all pupils are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, without the necessary support.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need. This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods.

“With cuts in support, including in the number of specialist teachers, it is going to be extremely challenging to reduce the current inequalities faced by those with ASN.

“While we also support the presumption of mainstreaming, which means that all children and young people are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, it is clearly difficult to see how this is functioning properly given the fall in specialist support and increase in the number of those with ASN.

“The Scottish Government and local authorities need to work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. “

¹ Scottish Government, Teacher census 2024 supplementary statistics, 25^th March 2025, table 6.7. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/ (accessed 25^th March 2025).

² Scottish Government, Pupil Census 2024 supplementary statistics, 25^th March 2025, table 1.5.

Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-census-supplementary-statistics/ (accessed 25^th March 2025).

Pilot walk-in mental health and wellbeing service to close its doors

‘NO FAMILY RECEIVING SUPPORT WILL BE LEFT ALONE’

“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed.” – Roslyn Neely – CEO, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity

A walk-in wellbeing and resilience pilot, developed to tackle Scotland’s mental health crisis will come to an end in the summer, after demonstrating unquestionably that early intervention can reduce mental health challenges among children and young people.

The Haven opened at The Fraser Centre, Tranent in September 2023 under Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s ‘No Time To Wait’ strategy. It later moved to bigger premises in Haddington due to demand, and since opening the service has attracted 3,461 visits. Of these, 2,041 were children and young people and 1,420 were their affected family members.

Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity said: “We are incredibly sad that our pilot wellbeing and resilience service is coming to an end, but that was always our intention, as a charity we couldn’t fund this forever.

“However we will close our doors with a huge sense of pride in what The Haven has achieved and a promise to all families receiving support that we will not turn our backs on them, we will continue to provide vital assistance, ensuring that the care and connection established through The Haven remain a core part of our work.”

Scotland’s national mental health charity, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), has recently announced The Nook, a network of mental health support hubs, which will build on the foundations laid by ECHC and the team at The Haven, marking a significant step forward for mental health support in Scotland, and beyond.

Roslyn Neely continued: “We are delighted that our work will now contribute to a long-term, sustainable national approach to Scotland’s mental health crisis.

“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed, and we celebrate the fact that a major organisation like SAMH is stepping in to continue this important work.

“Their ability to advocate for long-term government support means that children’s mental health remains firmly on the national agenda, and we wholeheartedly support this.”

The Haven is a groundbreaking two-year pilot which has successfully supported hundreds of families who have a child struggling with their mental health. Critically, it uses a walk-in format with no waiting lists.

The Haven takes a unique whole family approach, supporting not just the individual struggling with mental health challenges, but their parents, grandparents, siblings and carers.

Festival of Movement this Saturday

SATURDAY 29th MARCH in LINLITHGOW

Scotland’s first Festival of Movement will soon come to Linlithgow! We are delighted to now reveal the full programme for the day.

Join us across Linlithgow, from the West Lothian Cycle Route to The Cross, on Saturday 29 March for a free, fun-filled day of opportunities to get moving, from in-line skating to led cycles, as well as talks, discussions and creative workshops for all ages and abilities.

Discover the programme here: https://bit.ly/4iD9z3J

This one-day-only event is organised by Move For Good, Linlithgow Community Development Trust’s project for active and sustainable travel.

Follow @moveforgood_ on Instagram for all updates!

Festival-of-Movement-2025-Programme Download

£25 million for play park renewal

First Minister John Swinney is set to announce £25 million of funding to local authorities to invest in the renewal of play parks across Scotland.

All councils will receive a share of the funding to improve the standard of existing play parks – helping to ensure children have access to safe environments to play and socialise in.

The funding is supported by the Play Vision Statement and Action Plan for 2025 – 2030, which has been published today.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Woodhead Park in Kirkintilloch, as part of the East Dunbartonshire Travelling Cabinet event, the First Minister said: “Playing is key to a child’s healthy development, and by enabling councils to invest in outdoor play parks, we will ensure families can access a safe, high-quality place to play within their communities.

“This is all part of my driving mission to eradicate child poverty. Other steps we are taking include investing £3 million to develop mitigations for the UK Government’s two-child benefits cap, £37 million to deliver the expansion of the free school meals programme, and putting more money in families’ pockets through the Scottish Child Payment.”

COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People, Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “COSLA welcomes today’s launch of the Play Vision Statement and Action Plan, play is very important not just for the enjoyment it brings, but also for the part it plays in developing children and young people’s social skills, interests, and curiosity.

“It also assists in developing relationships between parents, carers and other children and young people. The Play Vision Statement and Action Plan provides a good roadmap for how play can be encouraged and supported.”

Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO Play Scotland and Chair of external Play Strategy refresh group said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this clear commitment from the Scottish Government to play opportunities and experiences for all our children and young people.

“It is fantastic that children’s rights and voices are at the heart of this new vision for play alongside an enthusiastic cross-sectoral collaboration.

“The clear message coming from the versions of the plan that children have co- produced is simple – more play and better play is good for everyone.”

The 54^th Travelling Cabinet will meet at Kirkintilloch Town Hall today – Monday 24 March – and hear from the local community at a public discussion at 2pm.