Tag: games

Party Time at PY!

THE GREENHOUSE HOSTS A DAY TO REMEMBER

Over 300 children, parents, and fun-loving family members joined us for an unforgettable Open Day last week (Thursday 4 July). It was a day filled with laughter, joy, and a whole lot of fun!

In collaboration with our fantastic partners at Places for People Scotland, we transformed PY into a wonderland of activities:

From face painting that turned kids into their favourite superheroes, to glitter tattoos that sparkled brighter than the stars, we had it all!

And who could forget the bouncy castles and sumo wrestling? Not to mention the mouth-watering hot dogs, delicious cakes, and sweet treats that had everyone coming back for seconds (and thirds)!

But the fun didn’t stop there! We took creativity to a whole new level with our outdoor painting activity.

The children left their colourful handprints on our newly painted wall, turning it into a vibrant mural that will remind us of this special day for years to come.

A big shout-out to Police Scotland for joining in on the fun! And a massive thank you to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle.

Our event was made even more special with the presence of Fat Brestovci, the charismatic Capital Breakfast Show presenter who supports PYCP. He was there to hand out prizes and his energy was simply contagious!

We couldn’t have pulled off such a successful event without the unwavering support of our funders who have stood by us year after year.

A heartfelt thank you to all our dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a hit.

And of course, a huge round of applause for all the families who joined us. You are the reason we host events like this and your participation means the world to us.

From all the PY Team xx

LIFTFEST

17 JULY FROM 12 – 4pm at AT MUIRHOUSE MILLENNIUM CENTRE

Liftfest was the idea of our fab volunteers Tyler, Stacey and Wendy – they organised everything from asking for donations, organising the band, wee singer, DJ, and food donations.

Everything will be priced cheaply and affordable.

There will be table sales in the hall and lots going on outside

We would like to be able to supply the kids with either free cartons of juice or free diluting juice so if any nice person wants to donate cartons of juice or diluting juice and cups we would really appreciate it.

This has al been organised on a very low budget as everyone knows money is tight but the volunteers wanted to have something in Muirhouse for the families, the kids and their community.

Well done everyone involved in planning this day

I’m dreading to see what they have planned for me but whatever it is I’m sure they will all enjoy taking the mick out off the CEO!

Look forward to seeing you all on the 17th July.

Pauline N Bowie MBE

Marco’s hits the bullseye with new interactive darts

Plus, Marco’s announces new sponsorship deal with Disability Darts Scotland champion

It’s official – the game of darts is soaring in popularity! Dubbed the ‘Luke Littler effect’, a whole new generation has been inspired by the teenage champion to grab the arrows and aim for a bullseye. And now Edinburgh is getting in on the action thanks to a brand new interactive area unveiled this week at Marco’s Pool Hall and Pizza Bar. 

Forget images of pensioners and pork scratchings – the game of darts has been brought right up to date for Gen Z bar sports fans thanks to Marco’s new high-tech darts area which features state-of-the-art computer vision technology.

Their dartboard reacts to players’ performances with animations, plus players can check their stats and take group selfies – elevating the game to a whole new level of entertainment. From beginners to pro’s, Marco’s offers a unique social gaming experience for darts players of all skill levels. 

And to inspire even more people to try their hand at a game of arrows, Marco’s has just announced they will be sponsoring the Scottish darts protégé, Robert Sutherland Junior.

Hailing from West Lothian, Robert is the current Disability Darts Scotland (DDS) champion. He proudly captained the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) Scotland B Team in Gibraltar in 2023, where his team was placed third in the world.

He clinched the World Disability Darts Association (WDDA) runner-up place at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Matchplay Championships 2023 and also captained the DDS Scotland Team at the 2024 European Championships. 

Reacting to the news of his sponsorship deal, Robert said; “I’m thrilled to have the support of Marco’s. It comes at an exciting time in my career and I’m fully focused on taking darts as far as possible.

“I hope I can show other people that darts is a challenging, fun and inclusive sport that anyone can try their hand at.”

Speaking ahead of the unveiling of the new interactive darts area at Marco’s, owner Paul Demarco said; “It’s fantastic to see a younger generation discover darts for the first time and I’m confident that anyone who tries our interactive dartboard will be hooked!

“The beauty of the game is that anyone can have a go. No doubt Robert Sutherland Junior will inspire many more to take up the sport and we’re proud to support him on his journey to international success.”

The new interactive darts area at Marco’s is the latest addition to the popular Edinburgh entertainment venue which features 18 9ft professional American pool tables, a cocktail and pizza bar, and a private hire karaoke room.

A special introductory darts offer is available for a limited time only – £5 per person per hour, with a minimum of four people per booking.

To experience the thrill of interactive darts for yourself, book here.

Lothian Junior Chess competitions at Broughton High School: Can You Help?

Broughton High School Association are looking forward to the school hosting two more Chess Competitions for Lothian Junior Chess on Saturday 28 October and 11 November.

We will be running our café in the Hub area again to provide refreshments for the young people taking part in the competition and their parents/carers.

If any of our school families can help with the café and/or provide homebaking (just no nuts please) get in touch by emailing bhsassociation@gmail.com.

The money raised goes into a fund that the teachers can apply to pay for items that can’t otherwise be funded by the school or the Council.

BHSA provides things like funds for sports strips, subsidised travel for trips, specialist equipment etc. If you would like to help decide how the money is spent, you are welcome to join the BHS Association Committee.

Tomorrow: Granton Summer Festival

The weather forecast is looking good for the Summer Festival tomorrow at Granton Parish Church from 10am – 4pm.

Food all day from breakfast rolls in the morning, soup at lunchtime and finishing off with a burger BBQ at 3pm. Music from Granton Youth and Ukranian folk singers

Food available all day breakfast rolls in the morning, soup at lunchtime and finishing off with a burger BBQ at 3pm.

• LIVE MUSIC FROM GRANTON YOUTH MUSIC & UKRANIAN MUSIC GROUP

• Children’s crafts

• games and activities

• Craft stalls

• sewing workshop

• Quiet spaces to chill out

• FUN for the whole family

Club Together at Easter Road

We are delighted to be part of @SPFLTrust Winter Response Fund 2023

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Starting 25th January we have a free lunch offering for our community to attend

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In our community hub space we have hot meals and access to wi-fi / devices, book swap & clothing bank.

FREE Fun Family Drop In at McDonald Road Library this Saturday

Looking for something fun to do with the wee ones during the school summer holiday?

Why not pop along to a Fun Family Drop-in at the McDonald Library, Edinburgh, on Saturday, July 23, for some arts and crafts, balloon modelling, face painting and loads more.

The event has been organised as part of a campaign that was launched two years ago by the city’s Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland.

All of Us was set up to help people find out where to get support and advice with parenting or other worries about family life and where to turn if they have concerns about a child.

The partnership wants to help parents and carers, who may be struggling, and signpost them to where they can get advice and support before reaching crisis point.

Stalls at the event, which runs from 1pm to 3pm, will include NSPCC Scotland, Home Start, Children’s Health Scotland, Venture Scotland, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) and The Junction.

There will also be arts and crafts from Polymorphics, a Bookbug session, snacks and drinks, a face painter, balloon animals, and the Institute of Physics, a professional body which strives to make physics accessible to people from all backgrounds.

Gail Sayles, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “Looking after a child can be challenging for all parents and carers at times, and it is so important that people feel they can seek support and know where to turn for help.

“Everyone is welcome to come along to this event to find out what support and activities are available where you live.

“Don’t forget the NSPCC Helpline is also there for anyone who wants advice or knows a family that needs support.”

The campaign has also been raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling.

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “Many organisations will be on hand to offer advice and provide practical support to parents and carers at this fun free drop-in at McDonald Road Library.

“This campaign was first launched just weeks before the pandemic struck and highlights the very real issues around child neglect. The past couple of years have really driven home the importance of raising awareness among communities and professionals so they are alert to the signs of child neglect.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come along to find out more information about what is available.”

The Family Fun Drop-In is being held at the McDonald Library, McDonald Road, Edinburgh, from 1pm to 3pm.

The campaign has also been raising awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who are struggling with online workshops and seminars.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324, their health visitor, GP or child’s school.

To find out more about the campaign visit: Edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

It takes ‘ALL OF US’ to raise happy, healthy children.

Expert reveals how puzzles and games can increase our mental wellbeing

Whilst playing games, whether it’s a board game or a video game or team sport can be a great way to spend your time, there are numerous benefits that games can have on our mental health.

Neal from SudokuCraze outlines five of the biggest benefits that playing games can have on our mental health:

  1. Reduces stress

Games have been shown to slow our breathing, our heart rate and our blood pressure and can result in giving us a calming effect, therefore reducing stress. By engaging in a gaming activity, whether it be a physical sport, a board game or an online game on a regular basis, can leave us feeling more relaxed and better able to cope with stressors around us from work and home.

  1. Keeps your brain active and healthy

Games and activities that require problem solving and critical thinking are fantastic ways of stimulating our brain to keep it healthy. Grey matter in the brain decreases as we age – a part that is directly responsible for memory, emotions, and cognitive ability. Studies have shown that the more mentally active we are throughout life and into our later years, the more grey matter that we retain and therefore the more healthy and active our brains are as we age.   Board games, video games and puzzles are all excellent ways to stimulate our minds and stay sharp, whether we are young or old.

  1. Boosts your mood

Not only are playing games fun, they also work wonders in boosting our mood. When we engage in an enjoyable group activity, our body begins releasing feel-good hormones, such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, boost our mood, increasing feelings of happiness.

  1. Increases self-esteem

Often when faced with a new challenge or situation, we may question if we are capable of pushing through and succeeding but through regular games, teamwork activities or sports, we are better able to build our trust in ourselves. Although it may feel scary, or place us out of our comfort zone, consistently working with others on a team can help us to feel more confident both in and out of the team environment.

  1. Increases attention span

Having a longer attention span means that we are able to focus on a single task, for a longer period of time, without becoming distracted. Attention span and focus is a skill that can be improved upon and can benefit us in all areas of our life, from focusing on lectures and schoolwork to sitting through meetings and staying focused on a project at work.

Playing any type of game that requires concentration, whether it be a board game like monopoly or chess, or a video game, can help to increase our attention span and therefore improve both the length of time and the quality of our focus.