Tag: Children and Families

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store hosts two free foraging events

Garden gifting inspiration with Dobbies

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is spreading festive cheer in Edinburgh by hosting two free workshops in November encouraging families to get inspired this Christmas with Gifts from the Garden.

Focusing on foraging and cost-saving methods to fill your home, the Grow How session and Little Seedlings Club workshop in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will inspire gardeners of all ages and abilities.

Grow How, a 15-minute session that takes place on Saturday 4 November at 10:30am, will give gardeners a guide on seasonal activities. Horticultural experts will show how gardens can be foraged to create sustainable wreaths and natural decorations for the Christmas tree and home.

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club takes place in the morning on Sunday 5 November and is suitable for children aged 4-10 years old.

The gardening workshop is great for children who have an interest in learning about wildlife, plants and the environment, and takes place in a friendly group setting.

This educational and interactive children’s workshop will explore the changes that happen in the garden during winter, what natural items and foraged, alongside a look the history of popular decorative items like wreaths and Christmas trees.

In a bid to showcase sustainable ways families can get the home feeling festive this year, Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, explains why these events are perfect for gardeners of all abilities.

She said: “We are always looking for ways we can bring the outside in, there’s no better way to get in the festive spirit than with some craft activities. The workshops in Edinburgh are suited for every member of the family, welcoming everyone to come together and decorate the home this Christmas.

“When decorating for the seasons, we encourage sustainable practices where possible, and foraging is the best way to use what is already in your garden.

“If you are lucky enough to find them in your garden, Pinecones and Acorns make for wonderful Christmas tree decorations and Moss, Fir, Eucalyptus and Holly leaves make a great base for a wreath.”

For more information about November’s events and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events

Community football at Bangholm

HIBERNIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION at TRINITY HUB

This week we are launching our Trinity hub – we are running lots of activities that you can get involved in!

Check out the flyer (above) to see where you can attend

Follow this link to sign up or email samanthaw@hiberniancf.org …https://hibs-community-foundation.classforkids.io

Keeping The Promise

Supporting partnership projects

42 organisations across Scotland will benefit from £4 million funding to deliver projects that will help children, young people and families in the care system.

Administered by the Corra Foundation, the second round of The Promise Partnership Fund will be split across third sector and public organisations that prioritise work to:

  • build supportive workforces that can provide the unique support for young people and families in the care system to thrive
  • create school structures that provide support, opportunities and a sense of belonging
  • enhance youth justice and rights to reduce and prevent the criminalisation of children and young people with care experience

The announcement marks the beginning of Care Experienced Week, when people come together to advocate for change and encourage the transformation required to Keep The Promise.

Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don said: “The Promise Partnership Fund is crucial in supporting organisations to make the changes needed to enrich the lives of children and young people in or on the edges of care.

“Care Experienced Week starts today and is a key opportunity for Scotland to come together to celebrate and show our love for children and young people who have experienced care.

“I am determined we keep driving forward the transformational change that is required to Keep The Promise and make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, where all children are loved, safe, respected and realise their full potential.”

In 2022 the Scottish Government appointed Corra to administer £12 million through the Promise Partnership Fund from December 2022 until March 2025.

The 42 successful organisations are:

  • Aberdeenshire Council Virtual Headteacher
  • Adoption UK
  • Angus Carers Association
  • Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland
  • Bright Light Relationship Counselling
  • Children 1st
  • Children and Families Service, Dundee City Council
  • Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice
  • Children in Scotland Ltd
  • Circle
  • City of Edinburgh Council – Childrens Partnership
  • City of Edinburgh Council – Parent Panel
  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
  • Community Law Advice Network
  • Cyrenians
  • Families Outside Limited
  • Fife Council
  • Fostering People Scotland
  • Highland Child Protection Committee
  • Home-Start UK
  • includem
  • Kirkcaldy YMCA
  • Moray Council
  • Napier University Development Trust (Hub for Success)
  • North Lanarkshire Council
  • Project Esperanza
  • Renfrewshire Council
  • Salvesen Mindroom Centre
  • Scotland Yard Adventure Centre (known as The Yard)
  • Scottish Attachment in Action
  • South Ayrshire Council
  • South Lanarkshire Council
  • Staf
  • Stirling Community Enterprise
  • Stirling Council
  • The Fostering Network
  • The Princes Trust
  • The Why Not? Trust
  • West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership
  • Winning Scotland
  • YMCA Edinburgh SCIO
  • Young Scot

Celebrating Edinburgh’s care experienced community

A series of activities are taking place across Edinburgh next week to showcase and celebrate the care experienced community in Edinburgh.

Care Experienced Week takes place annually at the end of October with this year’s theme being Lifelong Rights.

The City of Edinburgh Council and partners have come together, in recognition of their role as corporate parents, to host a number of events which highlight the successes and the various avenues of support available for Edinburgh’s care experienced community.

There are challenges experienced too and this week allows us connect with the care experienced community and reflect on what works and what we could do better.

Activities being planned for the week, which runs from Monday 23 until Sunday 29 October, include: creative arts, a children and carers bookbug session, mental health support, a family cookbook event and the launch of a Corporate Parenting e-learning module for council staff. 

One of the main events during the week is a special remembrance service in West Princes Street Gardens on Tuesday (24 October, 5.30pm to 6pm) to mark the passing of members of the care experienced community and the official unveiling of a remembrance bench.

It’s an opportunity for people to pay their respects and spend time together remembering the importance of those that have passed away.

The week’s events build on the success of the Edinburgh Champions Board which provides a platform for the care experienced community to talk directly to their corporate parents, local Councillors and service providers. This means they can ensure that decisions which affect their lives are informed by their own experiences leading to improvements in services and support available to them.

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that all care experienced people receive the vital support they need to improve their life experiences and their educational outcomes.

“It’s really important that we listen to the children and young people in our care ,and people who are care experienced, treat them with respect and make positive changes when they speak up.

“Care Experienced Week is a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate their successes and inspire the care experienced community to achieve their full potential.”

Halloween at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity

Calling all Halloween lovers! If you’re looking for the perfect eerie addition for your house this spooky season, look no further than The Real Mary King’s Close, one of the UK’s top-rated experiences on TripAdvisor. This Halloween, the attraction is giving away a life-sized statue of the iconic Plague Doctor, in aid of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

Situated underneath the iconic Royal Mile, Mary King’s Close is shrouded in myths and mysteries, steeped in stories of Edinburgh’s dark past. This Halloween, the historic attraction is giving you the chance to take home the perfect Halloween prize – The Plague Doctor!

Characterised by his long black cloak and elongated beak-like mask, the Plague Doctor is sure to give even its bravest admirers a fright this Halloween. 

The Plague Doctor’s striking outfit was designed to protect him fromso-called miasmas, the name used to describe foul smells which, at the time, people believedcaused the plague.

In reality, his long cloak kept him safe from airborne diseases and biting fleas which carried bubonic plague.  His mask was also filled with spices and rose petals to prevent the “miasmas” from infecting him.

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “The Real Mary King’s Close is a place filled with excitement and mystery, but Edinburgh’s ominous past means we also have the perfect tales to tell this Halloween. 

“The Plague Doctor was one person you didn’t want to pay you a visit, despite being there to help. The limited and dangerous treatments available at the time meant the Plague killed around half of those who contracted it, although Plague Doctors did all they could to cure the sufferers.

“We’re pleased to be giving away one of our life-sized models for a great cause, and their terrifying outfits should mean it makes for a great Halloween decoration for years to come!”

HOW TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW

For the chance to win the model, all you have to do is donate to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity through a Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-real-mary-kings-close-fundraiser-for-echc AND enter the form on The Real Mary King’s Close website: https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/whats-on-special-tours/edinburgh-childrens-hospital-charity-fundraiser/ 

You must use the same name as used on the Just Giving page and provide an email address.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

All money raised will go to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity. Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity runs a six-day-per-week programme of arts and activities for young patients at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP).

By transforming the hospital wards into disco rooms, art galleries, fairylands, and past eras, they ensure that every child has the freedom to explore, have fun and find inspiration through creative play and learning.

For more information and Halloween bookings please visit: 

https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/

Almost 7,000 pumpkins picked at Craigies Farm as Halloween events launched

Craigies Farm in South Queensferry has seen nearly 7,000 pumpkins picked so far this October. This comes as they launch their family-friendly Halloween events last weekend.

The daytime Spooky Days and nighttime Haunted Tunnels events invite kids and grown-ups alike to explore the farm, play terrifyingly fun games, meet a colourful cast of characters, and enjoy illuminations at night.

Pumpkin picking is included with tickets to both events, with 6,662 pumpkins having been picked since October 1st.

The Halloween events are the perfect blend of scary and fun, offering families a unique day out this October.

Tickets can be purchased online here: https://craigies.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

Family fun and exclusive screenings provide Half-Term escapes at Vue

From musical magic to family friendly favourites, there’s something heading to the big screen at Vue for audiences of all ages this October half term.

One band of animated heroes returning to the big screen just in time for half term is the Paw Patrol, who face their most superpowered adventure yet in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. The paw-some heroes of Adventure City gain magical superpowers from a mysterious meteor, turning the Paw Patrol into the Mighty Pups. Facing against a mad scientist, this powerful pooches need to team up to once again save the day! 

From the 20 October, Hey Duggee’s Cinema Outing will screen exclusively at Vue.  The hugely popular CBeebies’ star and his pals invite fans to join them for energetic singalongs of hits such as the Feelings Song and the Being Kind song alongside new episodes, ideal for younger audiences.

The big screen is also set to welcome some family-friendly blockbusters later in the week, including the animated adventure Trolls Band Together, getting the mythical musicians back together once again to reunite a legendary boy band from the 90’s BroZone.

Packed with colourful characters, both old favourites and new heroes, Trolls once again brings its charming tales of friendship, fun and fabulous tunes back to Vue on 20 October.

For those looking for something with a musical twist, singalong to classic hits based on the hugely popular DreamWorks Animation classic, The Prince of Egypt: The Musical will also bring the on stage production of the iconic family favourite to the big screen just in time for the school holidays.

Vue will also be screening a range of popular releases as part of its Vue Mini Mornings series, which showcases the very best family films from £2.49 per ticket. This half term the screenings will take place daily at 10am, with the lineup including Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and The Canterville Ghost.

Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni said ‘We’ve got a great selection of new films and big screen entertainment on show this half term offering an ideal way to enjoy quality family time together this half term.

‘With super saver tickets from just £4.99 online at select venues, the big screen experience at Vue is the perfect treat during half term.

‘Our Vue Mini Mornings at 10am all through the week this half term, will continue to show kids’ favourite films at just £2.49 a ticket if purchased online and £3.49 in person.

‘We also have themed retail on offer with fun exclusive merchandise for Trolls and Paw Patrol, which is set to fly off the shelves across half term with our Kids Combos providing a fantastic viewer treat for youngsters.

‘Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.’

Tickets are available now at www.myvue.com.   

Half-Term Escape for Everyone Line-up at Vue

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie – from now
Prince Of Egypt: The Musical – 19 October & 22 October
Hey Duggee’s Cinema Outing (Exclusive to Vue) – w/c 20 October
Trolls: Band Together – w/c 20 October

Mini Mornings w/c 20 October

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-verse
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
The Canterbury Ghost

More than 100 families attend first event of new campaign in Edinburgh to help keep children safe from abuse

More than 100 families attended the public launch of the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS campaign in Edinburgh this week.

Children got to meet Pantosaurus, the campaign’s mascot, as well as play games and get their faces painted at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday (October 17th).

It was the first in-person event for the Talk PANTS campaign in Edinburgh, which will help protect young children from sexual abuse.

The year-long campaign was launched earlier this month (October 5) with an online event for professionals who work with children and families. It is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

At the family event there were refreshments, a Bookbug session, colouring in, games and Talk PANTS materials for parents and carers to take away.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “We were amazed at the turnout in McDonald Road Library. It was great to see how thrilled the children were to meet Pantosaurus.

“This campaign doesn’t use scary words or talk about sex, instead we focus on the PANTS rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried about something.

“We hope this campaign will provide parents with the knowledge and skills to be able to talk about this difficult topic with their child from a young age, to help prevent abuse.”

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

The campaign materials and resources for parents, include a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talk PANTS with Makaton guide, which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs, and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

Craigroyston 2016s looking for new players

Hello there! My name is Paul Smith – I am a coach at Craigroyston 2016s.

I am currently looking for new players to join our growing and expanding squad.

If you know anyone or yourself have kids looking to get into football or need a new team please get in touch anytime.

For information or questions please feel free to message myself or our Facebook page or text the phone number 

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