Supporting your wellbeing

We are getting bombarded with advice.

Don’t forget the happy to chat fb page run by Yate Town Council and of course the local COVID support group fb page.

But here are some other resources:

South Glos have lots of advice and tips on how to maintain your mental wellbeing here. https://oneyou.southglos.gov.uk/stress-less/

They also have a dedicated website for supporting children and young people who may also be struggling with the uncertainty and impact of Covid-19. http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/mind-you/coronavirus-covid-19-useful-information/

If you would prefer to speak to someone to find out what support is available, call 0333 577 4666 or email communitysupport@southernbrooks.org.uk - between 11am to 7pm Monday to Friday, or between 12pm to 6pm Saturday and Sunday. Alternatively, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership has a 24-hour helpline: 0300 3031320.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from this information please pass it on.

“Our  Frontline” is a new service formed by Samaritans, Mind, Shout and Hospice UK, supported by The Royal Foundation, providing round the clock support to all of those going to work as part of the national response to the Coronavirus. From supermarket staff to delivery drivers, social workers to police officers, Our Frontline provides mental health and bereavement support and tailored online resources. https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ourfrontline/

Yate Heritage Centre summer events

Yate Heritage Centre is running a wide range of events aimed at young people during the school holidays:

• 7th August -Traditional Wash Day 10.30am—4pm
  Free drop in sessions. Children to be accompanied.
  Free Children’s Holiday Workshops 10.30am or 1.30pm
  Booking essential. Children to be accompanied.
   
• 8th August - Civil War Doctor & Craft
   
• 14th August - Heraldry Workshop
   
• 15th August - Roman Clay Workshops

Play Scheme at Abbotswood School during August

Four Towns Play Association will be running a free play scheme at Abbotswood School on Tuesdays and Thursdays during August - please see details below.

New mental health website for children and young people

This week is Children's Mental Health Awareness Week and a new Mind You website for children and young people (www.mindyou.org.uk) has been launched to promote mental health and emotional wellbeing in South Gloucestershire.

It has separate sections for children, young people, parents and carers and professionals and was designed with input from local children and young people. It suggests practical ways to improve their wellbeing and guidance on where to go if they need more support.

Pirate fun at Yate Library this Tuesday

A fun pirate-themed craft session is are being held in Yate Library this half-term.

All activities are free drop-in events for primary school aged children.

The pirate pandemonium sessions are taking place as follows:
Yate Library - Tuesday, October 24, 10.30am to 12pm.
Rhyme-times and story times are also taking place throughout the holiday at selected libraries.

Visit this South Glos web page for details.

Summer reading challenge

Once again libraries in South Gloucestershire are inviting all 4 to 11-years-old to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is Animal Agents, based on a detective agency staffed by a variety of clever animals – furry, scaly and slippery – who are out to crack a case at the library with a little help from their friends. The challenge, which involves reading six books, runs until 16th September.

You can find out more about the challenge and a range of free activities running through the holidays at www.southglos.gov.uk/childrenslibrary

Find out more about fostering

South Glos are currently looking for foster carers for every background to care for children and young people who have had a difficult start in life. You can find out more at a Fostering Information Evening in Yate on Thursday 3 August. It runs from 7pm to 9pm at the Badminton Road Council Offices.

For more information, call the fostering team on 01454 866423, email fostering@southglos.gov.uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/fostering

Fair Funding for Schools campaign

Claire Young recently joined thousands of people marching for fairer funding for our schools - parents, children, teachers and fellow Lib Dems - at the Fairer Funding for Schools rally.

The Liberal Democrats would invest £6.9bn more in our schools and colleges over the next parliament, to ensure no school and no child loses out. That would mean £26m more in schools and colleges in South Gloucestershire, including £1.3m to protect the Pupil Premium, introduced by the Liberal Democrats to help the most disadvantaged children.

In contrast, the Conservative government is proposing deep cuts in many school budgets - schools with the most disadvantaged children are likely to face the biggest funding cuts. According to figures from teachers' unions NUT and ATL, local secondary schools face cuts equivalent to up to a dozen teachers. Primary schools face cuts of 1, 2 or 3 teachers.

You can look up the impact on your local school here: http://www.schoolcuts.org.uk - it's noticeable that although Claire has pledged to support the campaign against the school cuts, at the time of writing neither the Conservative nor the Labour candidates for this constituency have even responded.

Claire has been continually pressing for clarity about the situation at Winterbourne and Yate International Academies and supporting parents campaigning for better funding for schools. Please support our campaign by signing our petition at www.claireyoung.org.uk/schoolcuts

The photo shows Claire with fellow Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates Stephen Williams and Karen Wilkinson at the Fair Funding for Schools rally.

Half term holiday activities in South Gloucestershire libraries

South Gloucestershire’s libraries have a range of fun activities planned to help keep children entertained over the half term holidays including story times, rhymetimes and crafts. All activities are free drop-ins for primary school aged children unless otherwise stated.

Find your nearest library at www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries

Tuesday 30 May

Feathered friends
Emersons Green Library, 2pm to 4pm
Crafts and activities.

All around the world in 60 minutes
Filton Library, 2pm to 3pm
Crafts and stories.

Fantastical fairy tale crafts
Patchway Library, 10am to 11.30am

A jungle jaunt
Staple Hill Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Craft fun.

Spring into summer
Thornbury Library, 11am to 12pm
Crafts and stories.

Mini beasts
Yate Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Crafts and activities.


Wednesday 31 May

Maytime mayhem and madness
Kingswood Library, 2.15pm to 3.15pm
Spring themed crafts.

Go wild
Winterbourne Library, 10am to 11.30am
Jungle themed craft drop-in.


Thursday 1 June

Under the sea
Bradley Stoke Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Craft fun.

Fantastical fairy tales and nursery rhymes
Cadbury Heath, all day 9am to 5pm
Drop in throughout the day for fun crafts and activities.

Carnival capers
Downend Library, 10am to 11.30am
Crafts and activities.

Spring surprise
Hanham Library, 2pm to 3pm
Crafts and activities.


Friday 2 June

Fantastical fairy tales and nursery rhymes
Cadbury Heath, all day 9am to 5pm
Drop in throughout the day for fun crafts and activities.


Saturday 3 June

Fantastical fairy tales and nursery rhymes
Cadbury Heath, all day 9am to 5pm
Drop in throughout the day for fun crafts and activities.


Some libraries will also be holding free story time and rhymetime sessions for babies and toddlers and their parents or carers to enjoy stories, action songs and rhymes together.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/childrenslibrary, follow them on Facebook.com/sgloslibraries or Twitter @southgloslibs, or telephone the libraries on 01454 868006.

Dodington Free Holiday Playscheme starts this week

Dodington Parish Council's annual Summer Playscheme for Ages 5 to 11 starts this week:

Dodington Parish Hall, Finch Road
Monday 1 August to Friday 5 August

Abbotswood Primary School, Kelston Close
Monday 8 August to Friday 12 August and
Monday 15 August to Friday 19 August



Session time 9.30 am to 1.15 pm
Maximum of 56 children per session
First come, first served!

"Olympic" Themed Sports Days for Years 3 to 6

Dodington Parish Council and Sports 1st Ltd are running Olympic Sports Days at the Playing Field in Kelston Close, next to Abbotswood School, FREE OF CHARGE for pupils in years 3, 4, 5 and 6 - running, long jump, javelin, shot put and many other events. 

The events are on Tuesday 26th July, Thursday 28th July, Tuesday 23rd August and Thursday 25th August. All children will need to be dropped off at 9:45am for registration and parents/carers will need to register them on the day. All children will need trainers, suitable clothing for all weathers and a packed lunch. Please note that parents must return to pick their children up at 4:00pm sharp.

There will be no charge for the children to take part as Dodington Parish Council have very kindly funded the tournament, which includes use of a kit for the teams and medals for the winning teams. The coaches at the tournament have been provided by Sports 1st Ltd, a sports coaching company working in over 80 schools in South Gloucestershire. All coaches are DBS checked, fully qualified and insured.

Full details and registration form are on the Dodington Parish Council website at http://www.dodingtonpc.org.uk/public/Olympic.pdf. Many children have already been pre-registered through the schools, but any remaining spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on the day.

Reporting child abuse

A national awareness campaign has been launched highlighting the crucial role people can play in reporting child abuse and neglect.

Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can just as often be about a lack of love, care and attention.

Neglect covers the ongoing persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It may include failing to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, or medical treatment. It can also include failure to protect a child from harm or danger and failing to ensure proper care or supervision.

Emotional abuse can include bullying, making a child feel worthless or unloved, inadequate, deliberately silencing them or frequently causing a child to feel frightened or in danger.

You can report child abuse or neglect in the following ways:

• Call South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 866000 Monday to Friday during usual office hours, 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.30pm Fridays. Outside of office hours and at weekends contact 01454 615165.
• Report it online at www.gov.uk/reportchildabuse where more details on the campaign will also be available.

Primary school admission applications close next week

The closing date for submitting applications for infant and primary school admissions in South Glos is Friday 15 January 2016.

To find out more about primary, infant and junior school admissions visit the South Glos school admissions web page.

Something new for Mums and Babies - Mother and Baby Sensory Dance

Starting 7 July 2015 for 4 weeks, these 45 minute sessions at Yate Children’s Centre, Cranleigh Court Road, Yate are designed to encourage gentle interaction and physical movement between mums and   babies (under one year old) set to music.

Using colourful everyday items  such as feathers, scarves and puppets, the sessions include:-

• Gentle massage and mobilisation warm-up
• ‘Feathers’ - Using colourful feathers to stimulate skin and calm
• Bouncing babies to stimulate oxygen flow and warm up arms and hands for mothers
• ‘Peepo’ – using puppets to stimulate eyes and create a playful atmosphere
• ‘Runaway Train Dance’ – to move around and encourage interaction between mothers
• ‘Pilates’ – working on core and back muscles whilst bouncing babies on knees
• Lastly a well-deserved gentle massage and cool down!

Please call 01454 864154 to book your place.

Family health activities coming soon

Would you be interested in activities like these for 4-15 year olds and their families? If so, please email healthylifestyle.southglos.gov.uk or 01454 863947 to ask about the Reach programme (Rethinking Eating and Activity for Childhood Health)

In the meantime, how about a simple healthy "Sugar Swap"? Just google "Change4Life" for lots of ideas and free gifts to help you.

This video could save a child's life - #TheChokeables

Please watch and share this video. Find out how to save a choking baby with #TheChokeables – the new advert from St John Ambulance:

Free childcare for 2 year olds - find out more!

Yate Children’s Centre, Cranleigh Court Road, is holding weekly surgeries for parents who would like to find out more about this Government funded scheme.

A maximum of 15 hours per week per child can be claimed for 38 weeks per year if your child is entitled to a free place.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The family meet the eligibility criteria also used for Free School Meals
• The family receive Working Tax Credits and have an annual gross earnings of no more than £16,190
• The family receive Universal Credit and have an annual gross earnings of no more than £16,190
• The child has a current statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or an Education, Health & Care Plan
• The child attracts Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• The child is looked after by the Local Authority
• The child has left care through a special guardianship or adoption or residence order. 

Your child must be resident in South Gloucestershire.

Please call on 01454 864154 to book an appointment.

Surgery dates: 11th November; 18th November; 25th November; 2nd December; 9th December; 16th December, between 1.00 and 2.00pm. Friendly advisor Claire will be able to explain the process, check eligibility and inform you about how to apply for funding.

Children's book giveaway this Saturday

This Saturday, 13th September, Yate Library will be giving away 50 copies of bestselling book Diary of a Wimpy Kid to local children. The giveaway is in support of Good Morning Britain’s ‘Just Read’ campaign, to encourage parents and carers to spend ten minutes reading with their children every day.

Yate Library is one of 200 libraries across the UK taking part in the ‘Just Read’ giveaway which is supported by national charity The Reading Agency and children’s publisher Puffin. The campaign comes as leading charities, teachers, parents and businesses have come together to form  ‘Read On. Get On.’ It aims to support parents and teachers to get all 11 year olds reading well by 2025.

As well as the giveaway, children who visit the library on 13th September will be able to enjoy quizzes, puzzles, games and competitions. Children can come to the library dressed as Greg Heffley (the Wimpey Kid) or in something orange.

This event marks the end of the summer activities at Yate library. Thousands of children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge.

Are you eligible for free childcare?

If you have a two year old and your household income is less than £16,190 then you may be entitled to up to 15 hours of free childcare a week, which will be available from September 1.

The Lib Dems in Government introduced the scheme to improve the outcomes of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The free childcare can be in a nursery or pre-school setting or with a childminder.

For more information see www.southglos.gov.uk/childcare or call 01454 868008. You will need your National Insurance number to hand.

Free child car seat safety checks today at Yate Fire Station (Mon 29 April)

South Gloucestershire Council's Road Safety Team and Avon & Somerset Police are carrying out free child car seat safety checks today (Monday 29 April) between 8.30am and 4pm at the Fire Station on Station Road, Yate.

So far 44 seats have been checked and 8 out of 10 were found to require adjustment. Similar events will be held in South Gloucestershire between June and August.