Business leader, educator and entrepreneur Judy Wagner has been appointed Vice Chair of neurodiversity champions Salvesen Mindroom Centre.
Ms Wagner, a strong advocate for diversity in the workplace for three decades, has been a trustee of the Edinburgh-based charity for the past three years during which time her influential business network has helped to expand the charity’s reach and impact.
She has also enabled the charity to broaden its scope of service delivery and attracted new clients and opportunities to extend its services.
An Edinburgh University graduate and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, she has been heavily involved in championing diversity issues since co-founding international executive search business FWB Park Brown in 1993 and has also worked with Scottish Enterprise to establish the Balancing the Boardroom project, the first of its kind in Scotland for women on boards.
Last year she was part of an independent review on Women in Entrepreneurship commissioned by the Scottish Government. She focused on the education sector, liaising with key leaders across the whole sector, examining how enterprise and diversity, including neurodiversity, could be embedded in our education system.
“There is no doubt that the best teams embrace diversity of all forms,” she says. “And the benefits of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace are well proven in ensuring success, attracting and retaining key talent and creating a welcoming environment.”
Ms Wagner, who is also passionate about Salvesen Mindroom’s role as a key partner in the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, part of the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at The University of Edinburgh, is committed to helping establish the charity as a centre of excellence for Neurodiversity, supporting children, young people and those in the workplace with leading research, advice and practical resources.
Salvesen Mindroom Centre’s Chair Sandy Manson, who has long argued for diversity to become a key business priority, says: “Judy’s ethos and enthusiasm are a perfect fit for us.
“She embraces everything we are trying to achieve and has already proved an impressive force for good on various fronts, including using her networks to publicise and attract delegates for the global It Takes All Kinds Of Minds conference we held in the city in March. We look forward to enhancing our offering further with her guidance as Vice Chair.”
Salvesen Mindroom Centre is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds. Their mission is to be a leading centre for change, in how we live, work and learn. They will achieve this through support, education, advocacy, and research. Visit their website for more information on the charity’s work.
· New poll finds that more than one in four parents (28%) who attend their child’s sports club or activity said they have seen or experienced inappropriate behaviour
· The week-long campaign kicks off today (Monday, October 2) to help parents recognise how negative behaviour at sporting events and activities can impact children
· The campaign, backed in Scotland by JudoScotland, Glasgow Warriors, Children 1st and other organisations plus former professional footballer Paul Stewart, encourages parents and carers to understand their role in safeguarding children and to show them positive support
Scottish sports clubs and footballing star Paul Stewartare backing the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week campaign which this year calls on parents to show positive support for their children in their activities.
JudoScotland, rugby team Glasgow Warriors, Scottish charity Children 1st and former professional footballer Paul Stewart, who was abused while he was a youth player, are all supporting this year’s campaign.
Paul, a former Premiership and International footballer who played for Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, was sexually abused by a football coach as a child and now works to promote safety in sport, including advising the Scottish FA on safeguarding children in football.
Paul Stewart said: “The NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week is an incredibly important campaign. Making sure that children are safe when they take part in sport is crucial.
“I’m proud to be helping raise awareness of the issue and empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to spot the signs of abuse.
“Strong safeguarding policies in sport clubs and good parental awareness of them make it much harder for abusers to target children in these environments. That is why it is so important that parents and carers know how to access safeguarding information for their child’s club, and they can identify signs of abuse and have the confidence to speak out about any issues.
“We can all work together to help make sport a safer place for children and young people.”
More than one in four parents (28%) who attend their child’s sports club or activity said they have seen or experienced inappropriate behaviour, a new NSPCC survey has revealed.
This includes shouting insults, intimidating or threatening behaviour or fights between parents, guardians, carers or children.
The YouGov poll, commissioned by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to mark the launch of the charity’s Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week, also found that 68% of these parents said they or their children or both had felt uncomfortable because of inappropriate behaviour, and almost one in five parents said no action had been taken to stop it.
The NSPCC has launched a new video (WATCH HERE) which explores how behaviour from the sidelines can affect young sportspeople.
Entitled My No.1 Fan, the short film features interviews with families talking about positive parental behaviour and support and how negative behaviour can impact children’s enjoyment of sport.
Luke Struthers, Lead Wellbeing Protection Officer from JudoScotland, said: “We are proud to be supporting NSPCC Scotland on this important campaign to help keep children safe in sport.
“Safeguarding in sport is crucial and this is a great opportunity to help raise awareness of the important role parents play in keeping their child safe and happy in sport.
“We hope Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week will help to empower parents and carers with the knowledge they need to get involved with safeguarding within sports clubs and raise any concerns they might have.”
Cameron MacAllister, Lead Communications and External Affairs Manager at Glasgow Warriors, said: “We are backing the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child safe in Sport Week because as a parent I know how important it is to make sure your children’s experiences of sport is safe so they have a happy and memorable time.
“As a club we are looking forward to our players visiting NSPCC’s Childline base in Glasgow in November with our Clan groups to hear more about the vital work they are doing for young people across the UK.”
Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week is being supported by sports clubs and sportspeople across the country at all levels, including Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Leeds United, Sunderland AFC, Birmingham City, Tranmere Rovers, Volleyball England, as well as football icon Alan Shearer and the youngest ever British Olympian, skateboarder Sky Brown.
Sky said: “Having my family with me is really important to me on my journey. My dad and my brother are always by my side and my mom always makes me feel at home when we are on the road and cooks the best food!
“I am thankful that they often travel with me for competition and training.”
The NSPCC recognises that children enjoy sport and activities the most when parents are engaged in what they do, whether it is postgame support and cheerleading or showing an interest in the rules of the game.
As well as this new film, the NSPCC’s CPSU hosts a wealth of resources and information for parents on the Parents’ Hub, including a free e-learning course for parents on keeping children safer in sport, videos, podcasts and factsheets.
Michelle North, head of CPSU, said: “We’re delighted to have so much support for this year’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week.
“We know that inappropriate behaviour has a negative impact on young people and affects their enjoyment of the sport or activity, which in positive and safe environments can bring a lot of fulfilment to their lives.
“It is important that sports organisations and activity providers not only work with their staff and volunteers but with parents too to ensure that children have the safest and most enjoyable experience in sport.”
The NSPCC and its CPSU want to bring together parents and sports clubs and bodies to help give them the confidence and knowledge about the role they can play in keeping their children safe in sports and activity settings.
Last weekend, the NSPCC supported the Football Association’s Play Safe campaign – a countrywide campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in our national game.
Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, added:“Being your child’s biggest supporter can help instil in them a lifelong love of sport, and help them build friendships and confidence. It can also help you learn about what makes their sports club safe and how to spot the signs that something might be wrong.
“Our Keeping Children Safe in Sport Week campaign highlights how important parents and carers are in a child’s sporting life. You can make a difference by being involved and supporting your child in their club or activity in a positive way and helping to spread the word about keeping children safe in sport.”
The NSPCC is encouraging parents to get involved and learn more about their local sports clubs and safeguarding and to be part of the team, on the CPSU parent hub via the official website.
This year’s campaign is calling on parents to:
· recognise that negative behaviour, including at sporting events, can have an impact on their child and their enjoyment of their chosen sport or club.
· understand their crucial safeguarding role in their child’s sport and help keep them safe from possible abuse.
· get involved in their child’s sporting club or activity and show positive support. Sport is safest when everyone plays their role in keeping children safe, including parents.
To find out more about being your child’s biggest supporter and how to get involved with the campaign, visit thecpsu.org.uk/parents
Inspire kids to get the active habit. With Edinburgh Leisure’s Young Explorer soft-play membership, children get to sample the world of sport and fitness from an early age.
For new customers signing up to become a member in October, December is completely free. And for existing members referring a friend, if their friends join, the existing member will also receive a free month in December.
From only £17.99* per month, the Young Explorer Soft Play Membership offers incredible value, fantastic flexibility and of course, will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the amazing soft plays.
Little adventurers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello, and Scrambles at EICA: Ratho.
Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old and there are frames for babies, toddlers, and juniors up to 10 years. Each venue has a café where healthy snacks and tasty treats can be enjoyed.
With great member benefits including special offers, members’ events and other exclusive perks, the Edinburgh Leisure soft play is only available to buy online.
Family-friendly farm village, Craigies Farm in South Queensferry, is welcoming the arrival of October by inviting some spooky visitors to its pumpkin fields!
The popular day-out destination will once again open its popular pick-your-own pumpkin patch on October 1st, and new for this year will also host two Halloween-themed events out in the fields too!
The ‘Spooky Days’ daytime event is perfect for families with younger children, while the nighttime ‘Haunted Tunnels‘ have slightly more scares suitable for older children and families.
Both events will feature a spooky cast of roaming characters, spine-tingling props, interactive games, storytellers and at night time, there will be fantastic illuminated light shows too!
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Beyond the Little Black Dress Until 29 Oct 2023 Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.
The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania Until 14 Apr 2024 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free
Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic.
Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.
Uniquely Scottish Silver Until 26 May 2024 Grand Gallery Free
Uniquely Scottish Silver brings together five distinct Scottish silver object designs: mazers, quaichs, thistle cups, ovoid urns and heart brooches. Discover some of the earliest and rarest survivals within the Scottish silver smiths’ craft.
Theravada Buddhism Until 09 Jun 2024 Grand Gallery Free
This thought-provoking display charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today. The display includes a Buddha on loan from The Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh. The Buddha was designed and made in Thailand in 2013, then later gifted to Temple where it is now used in their garden meditation room. The image takes inspiration from the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (Great Victorious Buddha), one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Fashionably Late 06 Oct 19:30 – 22:30 £16 – £22 including exhibition entry Strictly 18+
Our legendary Museum Lates return in October restyled for one night only as Fashionably Late. Join us for an evening of fun, frolics and fashion in the beautiful setting of the National Museum of Scotland at night.
Museum Socials 20 Oct – 15 Dec Third Friday of the month 10:30 – 12:00 Free
Our Museum Socials events are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. Museum Socials create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued.
Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide 01 – 09 Nov 09:15 – 10:00 (doors open at 09:00)
Join curator Dr Ali Clark for an exclusive morning tour of our Rising Tide: Art and Environment in OCeania exhibition. Add a voucher to upgrade your experience with refreshments in one of our museum cafés.
Curiosity Club 25 Nov – 24 Feb 2024 10:30 – 12:00 £10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Unleash your creativity and curiosity topic each month, we’ve captured some of the museum’s most exciting and child friendly collections and themes, for kids to explore through games, activities, and visits to some of our most interactive galleries.
Magic Carpet Minis Until 20 Dec 10:30 & 14:00 (Wednesdays) £15 per child for block of 3
Magic Carpet Minis introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and gentle way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the Natural World, Space, World Cultures and Scottish History through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and sensory play.
Collection Centre Tours Until 20 Mar 2024 National Museums Collection Centre
Go behind the scenes on a tour of our state-of-the-art collections and research centre in Granton, Edinburgh. Discover the secrets of how we store our Natural Sciences, Science & Technology and Scottish History & Archaeology collections, and find out how these objects and specimens are used in international research.
Friday Friends Until 28 Jun 2024 Selected Friday afternoons 14:00 – 16:00 Free, pre-booking required
Our Friday Friends programme offers a welcoming space for visually impaired and D/deaf children and their families. The groups meet monthly and explore the themes of the museum through objects, music, art and activities.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Half Term Bricks Sat 14, Sun 15, Sat 21 and Sun 22 October 11:00–13:00 & 14:00–16:00 Concorde Hangar Free with museum admission
Inspired by our current Brick History display, each day we will have a different build theme. Choose to make something inspired by the theme or build your own creation. For something a bit more energetic, take part in our speed build challenge and see if you can make it to the top of the champions’ board.
Behind the Scenes Tours Until 26 Oct 12:00 – 13:00 Free with museum admission
National Museums Scotland has one of the most comprehensive collections of aircraft engines anywhere in the world, some of which are in the Object Store at the National Museum of Flight, not normally open to the public. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store.
Conservation Hangar Tours Until 31 Mar 2024 Free with museum admission Booking required
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.
Autumn Explorers 17 – 20 Oct 10:30 – 15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Become an Autumn Explorer this October half term at the National Museum of Rural Life. Enjoy family storytelling, an outdoor trail and creative crafts as you learn all about Scotland’s bugs, beasties and creatures.
Adult Workshops: Willow Crafting 28 Oct Age 16+ Tickets £30 – £35 Advance booking required
Join Max Johnson from Seileach Basketry for a fun, relaxed introduction to willow weaving at the National Museum of Rural Life. Choose from two half-day workshops where you will create your own willow bird feeder or willow platter.
A campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse is being launched in Edinburgh with an online event for professionals who work with children and families in the city.
The year-long campaign 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.
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 online launch, which will run from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, October 5, will explore how we can better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, using PANTS, and the next steps of the campaign. The online event is open to all professionals who work with children and families in Edinburgh, and it will take place on Microsoft Teams.
NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head will introduce the event, and this will be followed with the personal story from a mum whose daughter was sexually abused.
There will also be speeches from Stuart Allardyce, Director of Lucy Faithfull Foundation / Stop It Now! Scotland, Laura Brown, Edinburgh Child Protection Lead Officer and NSPCC Scotland’s Local Campaigns Manager Carla Malseed.
Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.
“The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe.
“We don’t talk about sex or use scary words but focus on 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.”
NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head, said:“We are delighted to be launching this campaign in Edinburgh to help prevent sexual abuse and keep children across the city safer.
“The Talk PANTS message and Pantosaurus animation makes it much easier for parents, carers and professionals to tackle this topic in a straightforward, fun and light-hearted way that children can understand and easily put into practice.”
Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe.
“I urge as many professionals, parents and carers as possible to come along to our events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”
The first event for parents, carers and children aged 3-11, will be held at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday, October 17 from 3 to 4.30pm.
Also, a PANTS coffee morning will be held at the new NSPCC Community Hub in Leith on Wednesday, November 1, from 10.30am until 11.30am.
Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talking 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.
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.
– Customers can save up to 57% off select toys with savings of up to £60 –
– Barbie, Disney, Pokemon, Hot Wheels & Lego all included in giant toy sale –
– Toy sale available while stocks last –
Morrisons has today launched a huge toy sale across over 50 products with savings of up to £60, to help customers spread the cost over the Christmas period.
Customers can bag a bargain on Squishmallows Stackers which are reduced to £12 from £20 – alongside up to 50% of must-have toys this year from Barbie, Pokemon, Hot Wheels & Lego .
Following the release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie earlier this year, it’s predicted that Barbie will be the top toy seller this festive period.
Morrisons shoppers can bag some Barbie bargains with 57% off the Dream Camper Playset, £60, down from £140 , 50% off the Barbie Best Friend Fairy £15, down from £30, and 30% off the Barbie Pet Supply Playset £25, down from £37.50
For mini musicians, customers can snap up the Academy of Music 54 key keyboard for just £20 reduced from £40, making a saving of 50% as well as nearly 30% off the Mi-Mic Mini Karaoke Speaker With Microphone, £17, down from £23
50% savings are available on other big brands including the Cocomelon Pram for £30 (normally £60), Hotwheels Rhinomite/Bone Shaker for £35 (normally £70) and Peppa Pig Wooden Playhouse for £52.50 (normally £105).
David Catton, Toy Buyer at Morrisons says:“We’re excited to offer our customers 50% off a range of must-have toys.
“With the festive season fast approaching, we hope this huge sale will help customers spread the cost of purchasing Christmas gifts this year.”
Morrisons toy sale is available now in 423 stores while stocks last.
The team at Amazon in Dunfermline recently hosted a movie morning for employees’ children on site to support parents with childcare during the summer break.
The children were invited to visit their parents’ workplace at Amazon in Dunfermline to meet other children and watch a movie together.
The day started with breakfast and games, then the children were taken on a site tour of the fulfilment centre to see exactly what mum and dad do at work. After the tour, the children settled down to watch The Super Mario Bros Movie.
Speaking on the event, Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We all know it can be hard to entertain children during the summer holidays, so we wanted to ease the burden for our team members in any way we could.
“By hosting a movie morning, we wanted parents at Amazon in Dunfermline to feel at ease knowing their children were having fun whilst off school.”
Craig Urquhart, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline who brought her son and daughter to the movie morning, said: “My two kids, Ben and Bella, had such a fantastic time watching The Super Mario Bros Movie with my colleagues’ children.
“It was a lovely experience to show Ben and Bella where I work and give them both the chance to make new friends. The summer break can be very long when the kids aren’t active and busy so I’m grateful that Amazon helped us parents bring joy to our children over the summer.”
Ben, Craig Urquhart’s son, added: “I had the best time at my dad’s work.
“I played loads of games with my new friends and then we got to watch a movie which was really fun too! I definitely want to come back again soon.”
Conifox Adventure Park in Edinburgh has announced its series of Halloween events, with spooky days out and dazzling fireworks evenings making fun for all the family this October.
From Saturday 14 October, families can ‘creep’ it real at the Conifox Pumpkin Patch where they’ll get to pick their own pumpkin to take home and carve. Adults and children alike will love the themed photo backdrops available around the park, where they can take cute photos to keep as momentos for years to come.
And there are even prizes up for grabs – kids can delight in finding all the enchanted creatures around the Adventure Park, collecting the special letters and spelling out a secret password to win a yummy surprise.
The Halloween Fireworks kick off from Friday 20 October where the spectacular show-stopping display will leave attendees seeing stars in the beautiful autumn night skies. Those who like their Halloween events on the spooky side will love The Witches Labyrinth and the Dark Forest Maze, and the whole family will be entertained by the amazing flame-throwing talents of Labyrinth Circus or the Rave’N Dance Disco.
Professors Snotbutt and Crinklebottom will be giving lessons in the Broomstick Flying School and the Pumpkin Patch will also be open in the evenings, with pumpkins included in the ticket price.
Kids and adults alike can take a whirl on Taylor’s of Edinburgh Funfair, try their hand at axe-throwing, marshmallow toasting or get their faces painted as a range of spooky characters for an extra cost.
Halloween Fireworks are on Fridays and Saturdays from 20 – 28 October, with a special Halloween night on Tuesday 31 October.
Tickets are available at www.conifox.co.uk from £15 for adults and £22.50 for children. Babies under one year old go free. Halloween Days at Conifox Adventure Park are on Saturdays and Sundays from 14 – 29 October.
Tickets are available at www.conifox.co.uk from £5 for adults and £10 for children. Babies under one year old go free.
