Tag: summer programme

Summer support for children from low-income families

Thousands of children from low-income families will benefit from free childcare, activities and healthy food as part of a £10 million summer programme.

Available to children and young people aged five to 14 years old who need it most, the funding has been allocated to local authorities to supplement existing holiday programmes or to develop new ones.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “School holidays can be expensive for families, especially when household bills are soaring. This funding means children and young people who really need it will be able to access coordinated childcare, activities and nutritious food over the summer.

“They will have opportunities to play, socialise and access a range of activities that broaden their experiences and supplement their learning.

“Support will be targeted at the six priority family types at greatest risk of poverty, including lone parent families and families with a disabled adult or child. We have a national mission to tackle child poverty and, along with £21.75 million in funding for alternative holiday food provision for families eligible for free school meals, this offer will provide much-needed support over the summer.”

COSLA Children and Young People’s Spokesperson Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “The rising cost of living is exacerbating the already stark and unacceptable reality of poverty in the lives of children, young people, families and communities.

“We are pleased that this additional funding will enable local authorities to build on their regular summer programmes to enhance opportunities and support for priority groups of children and young people.

“Councils and their local delivery partners will provide varied programmes, incorporating activities, childcare, and food provision, in line with local needs and guided by what children, young people, and families themselves say will make a difference.” 

Blackhall Library Summer Programme

The first 2 weeks of our Summer Holiday Activities are now available to be booked!

Mon 4th Lego Club [5-6pm] Age: 5+

Register on Eventbrite

Tue 5th Bookbug [10:30-11am] Age: 0-5y

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/370337087197

Wed 6th Clay Dragons Workshop [2-3pm] Age: 8+

Register on Eventbrite

Thu 7th Composers Quiz [3-4pm] Age: 6+

Register on Eventbrite

Fri 8th Craft: Musical Instrument [3-4pm] Age: 5+

Register on Eventbrite

Sat 9th CLOSED

The first 2 weeks of our Summer Holiday Activities are available to be booked from today!

Mon 11th Cinema Club! (please contact the library for more details) [6pm] Age: 4+

Register on Eventbrite

Tue 12th Bookbug [10:30-11am] Age: 0-5y

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/370386444827

Wed 13th Photography & Collage Library workshop[3-4:40pm] Age: 11-14y

Register on Eventbrite

Thur 14th Outdoor Mini Sports Games [3-4pm] Age: 5+

Register on Eventbrite

Fri 15th Craft: Balance Birds [3-4pm] Age 5+

Register on Eventbrite

Sat 16th Bookbug & Storytime [11-11:30am] Age: 0-5y

Register on Eventbrite

Running for Fet-Lor

Amy and Sara are running the Edinburgh Half Marathon next month and Ryan is doing the full 26.2 miles.

They are running this for FetLor.

Everything they raise will go towards our Summer Programme. Last year we put on a 5 week programme that included 24 trips to lots of different activities including Fox Lake, Bridge 8 and North Berwick.

All our trips are free and can only happen thanks to the support of people like Ryan, Sara and Amy. If you can, please sponsor them.

Heres a link to their Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amy-henderson14

Get into Summer programme: holiday fun across the Capital

Children and young people are getting geared up for a summer of fun as an exciting programme of activities is being delivered by over 100 Council services and partner organisations across the Capital.

The Get into Summer initiative is part of a nationwide scheme funded by the Scottish Government to create a variety of opportunities for children and their families to play, socialise and re-connect over the summer.

The activities will build on the regular summer programmes put on by the City of Edinburgh Council and partners and are taking place in communities across the city. They will help children and young people to get healthy, creative and most importantly, re-connect with each other after a disrupted school year caused by the pandemic.

A key focus of the programme will be activities targeted to those families from low income households who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays. The overall programme has a focus on opportunities for youth and children’s work, very young children and their families, with opportunities for sport, outdoor, art and cultural activities.

Some of the partner organisations putting on events and providing support include: 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, Disability Services, Intercultural Youth Scotland, Edinburgh Young Carers, Lochend Football Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, Play2Learn Sports Coaching and Shakti Women’s Aid.

Fet Lor Summer Programme

Councillor Ian Perry, Convener for Education, Children and Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We know how much our children and young people have had their year disrupted by the pandemic and our ‘Get into Summer’ programme aims to bring as many of them together as possible to play and socialise over the holidays.

“There really is something for everyone with activities ranging from sports coaching to museum trips and music workshops with many additional activities on top of what we usually offer during the summer. We want to do all we can to support our children, young people, their families and carers so they can enjoy the summer.

“This programme is a great way to do that. Thanks must go to the different Council teams and partner organisations across the city who have pulled together to put on such a great programme of activities.”

MYDG Summer Programme

Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice Convener for Education, Children and Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We have listened to our young people who have told us about the impact of lockdown on their mental health and wellbeing as a result of the pandemic so these activities are a first step to help them re-connect with their friends and interests over the summer.

“They and their families are showing great resilience but no one should underestimate the huge impact the pandemic is having with many of the activities and support usually open to them not yet available. This must change.

“Many families on low income struggle during the summer holidays so this targeted offer is a positive step forward and will boost opportunities for those who have faced the greatest challenges in the past 15 months. This programme has children’s rights and needs at its heart.”

Dot Horne, Director of 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, said: “Get into Summer is a much-needed support for children and young people. During this pandemic so many young people have been adversely affected, isolated and missed out on essential life skills they would have learnt as they progressed through “normal” experiences.

“We’ve seen an increasing number of young people coming forward who are lacking things like self-confidence, coping skills, feeling socially anxious , lonely or unhappy. At 6VT we are offering teenagers a dynamic and active programme of activities where they will be supported to  improve their wellbeing, experience new activities and learn how to build respectful relationships with others.

“We are striving for a lot of fun and laughter with the overall impact of improving happiness. We encourage parents to support their children and young people to engage into Get into Summer activities.”

Find out more about the full Get into Summer programme.