summer holidays – Page 2 – The NEN

Spread your wings this summer with the National Trust for Scotland

Conservation charity reveals the epic three-month journey of Mar’verick, the rare white-tailed eagle which hatched at Aberdeenshire’s Mar Lodge Estate before journeying across Scotland

Adventure, fun and exploring new places is the order of the summer at the National Trust for Scotland, with Mar’verick, the rare white-tailed eagle, taking members, visitors and other supporters in Edinburgh under his wing.

Mar’verick, born at Aberdeenshire’s Mar Lodge Estate and named after Maverick, the iconic fighter pilot in the film Top Gun, has been closely monitored since birth as part of the RSPB Scotland’s East Scotland Sea Eagle introduction project, allowing the National Trust for Scotland and the RSPB to form a map documenting his travels around the country.

Until 2020 white-tailed eagles had not been bred successfully in Deeside, making it even more special to have this rare raptor species nesting at Mar Lodge Estate.

Marverick-Map Download

The National Trust for Scotland hopes that not only will this unique tracking data help experts to monitor the growth of Scotland’s white-tailed eagle population – which is an endangered species – but also inspire people to follow the adventures of Mar’verick around Scotland this summer.

Data provided by RSPB Scotland shows the eagle has travelled from Mar Lodge Estate in Aberdeenshire up across the north of Scotland and all the way down to the isle of Arran, between January and April 2023. In just a three-month period, Mar’verick visited over 20 Trust places.

Mar’verick’s adventures and visits have inspired the conservation charity to call on the people of Edinburgh and the surrounds to follow his example and support its work to protect, share and enjoy nature, beauty and heritage this summer, by visiting some of the most unique and special places in Scotland.

In Edinburgh this summer, visitors can experience a range of activities for all ages across Newhailes, Georgian House, Gladstone’s Land, Inveresk Lodge Garden and Malleny Garden. Moving further afield, the House of the Binns near Linlithgow is hosting a Young Historians at the Binns tour, specifically created for children aged four to 11 years old, on Saturday 8 July.

The popular Doghailes and Carhailes events are back at Newhailes on 30 July and 27 August respectively, offering a fun-filled day out for canine and car lovers. The Georgian House, in the heart of the city centre, recently opened a new exhibition on Raeburn’s Edinburgh, giving new perspectives on the life and work of one of Scotland’s most prolific artists and the city and times he lived in, running throughout the summer months.

Meanwhile, visitors to Gladstone’s Land, the Royal Mile, can take part in a range of tours – from Tables Through Time, which is focused around food, through to an Intimate Lives tour, telling tales of the history of desire in Edinburgh’s old town. Throughout the summer period, visitors can cool off by enjoying an ice cream or a cold drink in the café that was inspired by the building’s rich trading history.

Stuart Maxwell, Regional Director for Edinburgh and the East at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “The summer months are upon us and it is fantastic to see so many supporters, visitors and members enjoying our places.

“It is our charity’s privilege to share Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage with everyone, and we are very grateful to all of our supporters who make this possible. By being part of the National Trust for Scotland, and visiting our places, you are helping protect, share and enjoy the outdoor spaces and incredible historic buildings where memories are made.

“Over the coming months, we have some exciting projects coming to fruition which will give our supporters even more experiences to share this summer. Mar’verick has proven himself to be the Trust’s number one adventurer, visiting over 20 places since the beginning of this year.

“With a place for every interest, age and passion, we can’t wait to see people rise to Mar’verick’s challenge and see how many Trust places they can visit over the coming months. Through the careful conservation work the Trust is doing across Scotland to restore natural habitats and create the right environments for wildlife to flourish, the charity’s places are home to a wide range of thriving wildlife and continue to welcome new species, such as hen harriers and white-tailed eagles.”

Following the launch of its 10-year strategy, Nature, Beauty and Heritage for Everyone, in March last year, the National Trust for Scotland has focused on caring for Scotland’s special places, providing access and enjoyment and being a sustainable charity, including the restoration and reopening of House of the Binns, creating visitor facilities at Corrieshalloch National Nature Reserve, and unveiling an innovative new garden at Pitmedden which is adapted for a changing climate.

This work is possible thanks to the support of members and donors. To support the conservation charity’s work to care for Scotland’s special places, become a member at www.nts.org.uk. Prices start from £3.20 for those aged 16 to 24, £5.50 for adults and £4.85 per month for those aged 60 and over.

For more information on the National Trust for Scotland, or the events taking place in your area, visit: www.nts.org.uk.

Letters: Home Alone

Dear Editor,

Now that the long school holiday is on the horizon, many parents in Scotland will be sorting out extra childcare over the break.

At the NSPCC Helpline, we often receive calls asking about the appropriate age to allow children to stay home alone. Between work appointments and other family commitments it’s inevitable that some parents will have to deal with this situation.

It can be difficult to know what’s best to do and it’s natural for parents to worry. With this in mind I thought it would be a good opportunity to give some insight into when it is safe for your child to be home alone.

There is no legal age that a child can be left home alone but it’s against the law to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk. Every child matures differently so it would be almost impossible to have a ‘one size fits all’ law. A child who doesn’t feel comfortable should never be left home alone and, obviously, infants aged 0 to 3 should never be left, even for a few minutes. Also, we wouldn’t recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time.

However, as children get older they may want more freedom and independence. This can present another tough decision for parents and carers, and one that will differ from child to child. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a plan in place, to help to build up their independence at a pace that is right for them.

It’s absolutely vital to talk to your child about how they feel about this situation and to ask if they are worried about anything when home alone. Regularly checking how they feel can pinpoint any concerns and will give you an idea of how to help or why they might not be ready. If they are happy to be home alone for a while, it’s always good to check in with them during that time to make sure they feel safe.

There is guidance and information at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/ but the most important thing to remember is that a child who doesn’t feel comfortable should not be left alone.

Parents can contact our helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk for more advice.

Our Childline service is available too, and children can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 1111 or via a one-to-one chat on www.childline.org.uk

Wishing you a safe and happy summer!

Yours sincerely,

Carla Malseed

Campaigns Manager, NSPCC Scotland

A quarter of adults would panic if they saw someone struggling in the water

Research from a national charity, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), shows that one in four adults in the UK would panic if they saw a stranger had fallen into open water, was having difficulty and might drown.

The charity is asking the public if they would know what to do if they saw someone in difficulty in the water. With a number of high-profile drowning cases hitting the media in the last year, the charity is looking to educate more people on the Water Safety Code to ensure everyone can stay safe around the water.

With the summer holidays just around the corner, the charity’s annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign (17-24 June) will be sharing vital messages with the public to ensure that people understand how to stay safe, and if they do see someone in difficulty, that they know what to do.

The research from the Royal Life Saving Society UK also showed that one in four UK adults would enter the water to try and help a stranger who has fallen into open water and was having difficulty. The charity also noted that a further 25% would not be sure whether to enter the water or not.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months.

“We might see people heading to the various waterways in the UK and Ireland on warm summer days and entering the water to cool off. We want people to enjoy the waters that the UK and Ireland has to offer but to do so with the right knowledge and to do so safely.

“We often see that people see someone else in difficulty in the water and they try to help by entering the water themselves, this often results in them getting into difficulty too. The best thing to do when you see someone in difficulty in the water is not to panic, call 999 and try to throw them something that floats that they can hold on to. We would then advise to keep talking to the person in the water, keep watching them, and wait for the emergency services to arrive.”

In 2022, 105 people drowned during June, July and August and the charity’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign aims to reduce this figure significantly.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on its website for children, young people and parents and are holding their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign between 17-24 June to equip everyone across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety.

Lee Heard continued: “This year for Drowning Prevention Week we are aiming to educate more people than ever about water safety and give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.

“We have a range of free educational resources available on the RLSS UK website, including lesson plans for schools and resources for parents, as well as a brand-new animation to allow families to start the conversation about water safety by learning the Water Safety Code.”

Drowning Prevention Week takes place 17-24 June and free resources can be downloaded from www.rlss.org.uk/dpw.

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Habits for Summer Holidays

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Habits for Summer Holidays

The summer holidays can be a stressful time for many families. Whilst they are a lovely opportunity to enjoy the summer together as a family, parents and carers can find it hard to juggle having the children at home with work, household and general life commitments. Naturally, during busy periods one of the first things to be pushed aside is healthy eating and taking time for ourselves to recoup and recharge.

We’ve put together some tips to help you get through the summer holidays and keep providing nourishing meals for the family – without going crazy:

Consider an early start

If you have older children who sleep well, you could try getting up an hour before they rise. This gives you an hour of calm before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, you can use this time to get on top of the household chores, get ahead of the day’s work commitments, do some meditation to set you up for the day or just have your breakfast in peace! Of course, this means going to bed an hour earlier to make sure you are getting enough sleep (seven to nine hours per night is ideal).

Meal plan

If you don’t already meal plan, now is the time to start. Having a comprehensive meal plan over the summer holidays will really take the stress out of eating well. We recommend planning for every single meal, including snacks, and have the plan pinned on the fridge for all to see. To make it easier still, use the same meal plan for every week of the holidays, as long as you have varied meals throughout the week, there’s no reason why you can’t eat the same and it makes shopping easier, as it’s the same list each week.

Write a diary/plan

Writing a diary or a day planner the night before each day can really help lessen those feelings of overwhelm we can experience when life is busy. It can also help calm and quieten your mind before going to sleep. You could group things into ‘urgent’ – those things that are priority and can’t wait and ‘can wait’ – those things you want to get done at some point, but if they don’t happen tomorrow that’s ok.

Above all, remember to not take on too much, and try to let the small things go as children can be demanding and take up lots of our energy.

There is plenty of information available online about free and local things to do during the holidays, so be sure to have a look and get out and about in nature everyday where possible.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Free summer holiday activities for children and families

Cash strapped families are being offered tips on free summer holiday activities to keep the kids entertained.

The team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have identified ten enjoyable, engaging and completely free activities for children of all ages.

From spending quality time outdoors, or staying inside on rainy days, all ten activities engage the whole family and combine imagination and entertainment for those ‘no spend’ days.

During school holidays and at weekends, finding things to do with the kids can soon become expensive and tiresome.

These activities are perfect for keeping the whole family entertained at no cost.

John Stirzaker from NetVoucherCodes.co.uks aid: “It can become costly to keep the kids entertained especially through the summer holidays.

“A lot of people aren’t aware of some great activities you can put together for your kids at no cost – it just takes a little imagination.

“As well as coming up with some creative tasks at home, there are also some days out that allow kids to go free.

“If you do some research on your local area, you’ll probably find that there are free events worth taking advantage of like crafting, and sports days.”

10 free activities to do with kids:

Go Geocaching

This is a brilliant way to explore new parts of your local area with the kids. Geocaching is essentially a modern-day treasure hunt: simply download the free app and follow the directions to the nearby location, to then find and log the hidden geocache.

Become ‘Mad Scientists’ in the kitchen

It is really easy to make fun science experiments with ingredients found in the kitchen. Mix cornflour and water to make slime, or drop food colouring onto baking soda, and use a straw to drip white vinegar to create a bubbly volcanic eruption.

Visit free local museums

It takes just a quick look online to find many nearby museums with free entry which cater to families. Explore history, science, and culture during the bad weather, and take part in the free interactive events which many museums put on for kids.

Potato stamp art

A great way to use up any old potatoes, stamp art is a fun entertainment for the kids at home, completely for free. Just cut the potato in half (or anything else in the cupboard needing to be used up), cover with paint, and let the kids create their artwork. For older ones, let them carve out a shape in the potato for a patterned veggie stamp.

Free local events

Check the local council website for kid-friendly entertainment, such as crafting, library and sports days. Especially during the summer holidays, engaging with the local community in these events is a great way to do something different for free.

Obstacle course

Be inventive with things around the house! Use buckets, mops, tin cans and chairs to set out an obstacle course for the kids to let off some energy. A low prep, but highly entertaining activity inside or out with endless opportunities.

Home cinema

Amplify those cosy film nights on the TV with fort making: use pillows and blankets to create a free evening-in with the kids. Grab popcorn and sweets from the cupboard for a no cost cinema experience at home.

Treasure hunt

An alternative to Geocaching, use pens and paper to create a free treasure hunt for the kids. A good way to get outside, hide a small reward and draw out a simple map of the surrounding area with a ‘X’ to mark the treasure. To involve the kids even more, get them to colour in the trees, rivers, and other landmarks, on the map, and wipe the map over with a used tea bag for an old-fashioned pirate treasure map feel.

Tie-dye old clothes

A great way to revamp unworn clothes, tie-dying is a free activity to entertain older kids. Tie elastic bands in small sections to the clothes, and submerge into a bucket with half water, half bleach. Let the clothes sit in the mixture for 10 minutes, remove the elastic bands and rinse thoroughly. Wash the clothes, and then the kids can show off their new colourful items, without having spent a penny.

Colours scavenger hunt

Simply shade colours onto some paper and get kids to find flowers, stones, and other outside materials, which match the colours. A fun and easy way for younger ones to learn their colours whilst spending time outside at absolutely no cost.

Coram: Counting the cost of childcare

Holiday childcare prices jump by 5%, amid cost of living crisis, as parents working full time struggle to find the childcare they need

Families across Britain are bracing themselves for a difficult summer as a sharp rise in holiday childcare prices and patchy availability of places hits working parents, Coram Family and Childcare’s 17th annual Holiday Childcare Survey has revealed.

Coram’s report finds that, amid the soaring costs of living, holiday childcare costs have jumped by 5% since 2021. The average place at a holiday club now costs £148 a week – more than double what parents pay for an after-school club during term time.

Families will now find themselves almost £900 out of pocket for six weeks of holiday childcare for each school age child, nearly £500 more than they would pay for six weeks of term time childcare before and after school. Some 42% of local authorities across Britain have reported that the pandemic had caused an increase in prices.

The survey also found considerable regional variation in prices across Britain, with parents in inner London paying an average of £161 per week compared to £135 in the West Midlands, an 18% price difference. There are also huge price differences within the same area, with some holiday childcare places in inner London costing 92% more than the average, while others cost 44% less.

Alongside the financial strain, parents are struggling to find the childcare they need, with only 27% of English local authorities having enough holiday childcare available for parents in their area who work full time, down 6% on last year. Parents of disabled children face the most acute challenge with only 7% of local authorities having enough holiday childcare for these families, plunging from 16% in 2021.

Other notable gaps in England include holiday childcare for children whose parents work atypical hours and children living in rural areas, with only 10% and 15% of local authorities respectively reporting they have enough childcare availability for these groups.

Ellen Broomé, managing director of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “Families across Britain are reeling from record inflation and this steep rise in holiday childcare will push many further into financial distress.

“Many parents, particularly mothers, will have no choice but be locked out of work altogether or struggle to pay for basic necessities such as food or rent.

“Holiday childcare is key economic infrastructure. The lack of childcare places for working parents is a serious problem – not just for families but for the country’s economic output. Children have experienced such disruption throughout the pandemic, and holiday childcare offers them a safe and fun space to stay active and connect with their friends while also helping to tackle the summer learning loss.”

Coram Family and Childcare is calling on the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments to:

Reform Universal Credit so it does not lock parents out of work – by increasing the maximum amount of childcare costs paid under Universal Credit and guaranteeing support for upfront childcare costs.
Increase support for Family Information Services to provide good quality holiday childcare information and broker access to local provision that meets families’ needs.
Expand provision of the Holiday Activities and Food programme to improve access to affordable, high quality childcare for all children who need it.
Support local authorities to ensure they have a comprehensive overview of the cost and availability of holiday childcare in their area to identify and plug gaps in provision.

Coram-Holiday-Childcare-Survey-2022 Download

Picnics, parks and killer deals: Instagram Mum reveals how to save money during the summer holidays

The annual summer holidays can be a tiring and expensive time for parents. With the kids at home looking for constant entertainment and no school to keep them busy or provide meals, often parents end up splurging on activities, food and outings – making the ‘six weeks’ the most expensive times of the year.

To help parents save money this summer and still maximise their quality time with their children, CashLady.com has partnered with ‘Instagram Mum’, Emma Stretton, who shares her expert advice on how to have fun with the kids this summer break, without breaking the bank.

“I’m super lucky in that the summer holidays are actually pretty easy for me. My husband is a teacher so I don’t have to worry about where the kids are going to go for six long weeks. It does mean though, that all three of them are at home and need entertaining every day. These are some of the tried and tested things we do to save money over the school summer holidays.”

–@emma.wears.it.all

Emma Stretton is a mum-of-two and savvy saver living in Manchester. She has a keen eye for fashion and interiors and knows how to keep her two children entertained during the summer holidays. Emma commented:

Picnics

“Picnics are literally my favourite thing in the world. Pitching up at a nice park or beauty spot and just enjoying a few sandwiches easily passes a couple of hours with the kids.”

“The boys will take their bikes, scooters or a football and entertain themselves for a bit.

Our picnic blanket is a piece of gingham fabric I bought from the bargain bin at a fabric store too, which is a cheap and easy option for those looking to save a few pennies.”

Snacks

“If the cost of feeding two kids wasn’t bad enough already, my food bill has shot up in the last few months. Without free school meals each day, it goes up even more in summer. I tend to buy snacks at budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl and have found a few cheap ways to make fun stuff. My kids’ all-time favourite snack is peanut butter and jam in a rolled-up wrap. They would live off them and it costs peanuts!”

“We also make homemade sausage rolls using veggie sausage meat and tortilla wraps. Flatten the ‘sausage’ meat all over the wrap, roll it, cut it into pieces and bake for about 20 minutes. It’s loads cheaper than Greggs. Pesto pasta is another super cheap meal, and pitta pizzas are also a big win in our house.”

Parks

“Obvious? Yes! But my kids love a park, especially a new one they haven’t been to before. The summer holidays are an excellent time to explore new parks or places they can run around in. Even a trip through the woods is an adventure for them.”

“Sometimes I’ll draw a nature or ’treasure’ map that they can follow on our walk as well. Just Google local parks and make use of them all summer long – they’re free!”

Free museums

“There are quite a few free museums near us (in Manchester); like the Portland Basin or the Imperial War Museum. We also get free entry to the Football Museum in Manchester if you can prove you live in the right postcode. Again, just get on Google and look for free things to do near you. Daysoutwiththekids.co.uk is a great website with loads of fun things to do across the UK.”

Shopping

“I know the food shop isn’t the height of excitement but it does kill time and is a good activity for when it rains. I normally do it online but in the summer holidays, my husband takes a list to the shops and gets the boys to read it and shout when they spot what we need.”

“Some shops have those hand-held scanners you carry around with you. The kids love scanning the items and fighting over who gets to hold the scanner next. Making an everyday expense into an activity for the kids kills two birds with one stone.”

Restaurant deals

“Lots of places will do ‘kids eat free’ offers over the holidays. Usually, it’s when you buy an adult meal. Have a look for places near you that are running similar offers.”

“We also use Manchester Confidential a lot where you can buy vouchers for local restaurants at half their value. So, we recently bought £50 worth of vouchers for £25 and had a nice meal together. Banyan is a big chain that often does it”

Loyalty Schemes

“My bank account is linked to my Sainsbury’s Nectar card so I earn points every time I spend. I can then use these to get discounts or vouchers for big days out like Alton Towers. I would also always look for 2 for 1 deals on things like cereal before I ever booked a big attraction.”

“We get £5 cinema tickets from our bank account which are great for rainy days and we’re signed up to Subway rewards and Mcdonald’s rewards so we get free food every now and then. Never spend before checking whether you can get a discount or better deal first.”

Buddy up

“If there are days when my husband can’t be with the kids, we try to ask friends or family rather than pay for holiday clubs. One of my friends does a summer swap every year where she has her friend’s kids one day and then her friend does it another day. So they can both go to work without forking out a fortune on childcare.”

“We also still pay £10 a month into childcare vouchers so that come the summer holidays, we’ve accrued enough to put the boys in for a couple of days. Most school holiday clubs will take them so it’s worth checking if you have any left that you didn’t use up when your kids were in pre-school.”

Commenting on the tips, CashLady.com’s Personal Finance Expert, Dan Whittaker, said: “The summer holidays are easily one of the best and brightest times of year to spend quality time with your children. However, it’s also one of the most expensive, with the costs of entertainment, meals and childcare increasing enormously.

“Emma’s tips demonstrate tried and tested ways to save money over the summer break, whilst still having fun and adventures with her kids. The advice goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have the most fun in the sun.”

UK Government launches Rediscover Summer campaign

The campaign highlights a range of activities and opportunities for families, children and young people such as exploring a local museum or discovering a National Cycling Network Trail
Families encouraged to get back out and Rediscover Summer after a year of missed opportunities

The government’s Rediscover Summer campaign has launched to help inspire families to get out and about safely and make the most out of summer.

Whether it’s visiting the places that inspired your favourite books, trying out a new sport or even learning how to code, the campaign will show families that there are plenty of new activities to try wherever they live. Throughout the duration of the campaign, each week of the summer holidays will promote a separate theme from sport and creativity to nature and heritage.

A Save The Children survey has shown how the pandemic has negatively impacted the social lives of our children and young people, with a third of children playing alone more, and a quarter having played less sport since the pandemic, raising concerns about the impact on their well-being.

To help combat this, the government is encouraging families to Rediscover Summer and enjoy the range of leisure activities on offer after a year of missed opportunities.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Our young people deserve a summer filled with exciting and enriching activities after everything they’ve missed out on as we’ve fought to control the virus.

“We want families to get out there and enjoy what’s on offer, and our Rediscover Summer campaign will help them do that. The summer has been given the best possible start with a terrific England run in the Euros.”

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford said: “Rediscover Summer will provide families with some fantastic opportunities to get back to the activities they may have missed out on over the last year.

“Our Summer Home Activities list will offer up more free ideas and options for children to stay active and have fun, and our expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme will also help families access opportunities both indoors and outdoors.

“Parents have worked so hard to keep their children entertained so I hope they can take advantage of these to use the holidays creatively, helping to boost children’s wellbeing after what has been a really difficult time.

Launching today, a gov.uk page features a taste of the activities available over the summer to inspire parents and families and help young people get involved in their local communities. The activities suggested range from the Summer Reading Challenge to Chance to Shine cricket sessions and from trips to the Imperial War Museum to Mercury Theatre’s Family sing-a-long.

No matter where you live, the campaign will show there is something for everyone.

Visit the Rediscover Summer guide

Working closely with our partners, including Arts Council England, Sport England and National Museums Greenwich to help promote the breadth of summer activities on offer, this campaign will help get young people out and about this summer and make a difference in their communities.

This campaign will also be supported by the Summer Home Activities List due to be published online in the coming weeks which will inspire activities for families to do in and around their home this summer.

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to reopen next week

Phased reopening for capital’s community centres

A number of community centres will be providing a variety of children, youth and adult work next week as part of a phased approach by the City of Edinburgh Council to opening up more public services.

The centres at Jack Kane, South Bridge, Royston Wardieburn, Ratho, Clovenstone, Pentland and Goodtrees will be open in a limited way from Monday 12 July.

More community centres will have limited opening over the coming weeks as management committees liaise with the Council over what services can be provided in line with the latest health advice.

Up to now community centres had only been accessed to support essential services such as food poverty programmes, support for vulnerable groups and regulated childcare. From Monday there will be access for key youth groups and other children and adult activities.

The activities being provided are in addition to the Get into Summer programme of events which aims to children and their families to play, socialise and re-connect over the summer holidays.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s absolutely vital for our citizens that our community centres are able to welcome them back as soon as possible so it’s welcome that we’ve been able to accelerate their opening.

“They’re a focal hub for our communities and you can’t underestimate the positive effect they have on people of all ages who benefit enormously from using them.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m sure people will be pleased to hear that essential services such as youth work along with other activities will soon be resuming in our community centres.

“These buildings are much-loved local spaces, like our libraries and sports venues, and the important role they will play in the city’s recovery from the pandemic is immeasurable.”

Tag: summer holidays