Children First - February 2015

Children firstWestminster Issue 23, February 2015

Win tickets to see The Railway Children

Run the Westminster Mile

Free vitamins for your family

Turn over to read Edit

Find outstanding childcare in one of our 30 London nurseries

LEYF’s Soho Family Centre Nursery

020 7592 3603 www.leyf.org.uk

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“The only place I feel 100% comfortable leaving my daughter” Parent at a LEYF nursery

UK Nursery Group of the Year 2014

Dear parent or carerThis edition of Children First has some great ideas for parents and families wanting to try something new in 2015.Looking to pick up some new skills? Volunteering is the perfect way to do so, while also helping others, building confidence and meeting new people. Or become more skilled on your bike with our free City Cycling courses for Westminster residents. There’s also lots of information about some of the free healthy lifestyle activities in Westminster that the whole family can take part in.

Kids can also try their hand at something different this year, with even more free activities at Westminster libraries than ever, including Cantonese classes and computer coding at Charing Cross Library. Or get the whole family signed up to run or walk the Westminster Mile on 24th May – the most famous mile in the world – which is open to all ages and abilities and is a great family day out. And don’t forget to turn Children First over for Edit, our magazine for young people packed with free and low-cost activities for the teenagers in your family.

Whatever it is you’re interested in trying – from parent and child dancercise classes to classical music for tots – it’s all happening in Westminster.

Soleen Rashed Youth MP Westminster

Contact Soleen at [email protected]

ContentsRun the most famous mile in the world

Keep the whole family healthy

Learn more about fostering

Gain new skills as a volunteer

Discover what’s on in Westminster

Enjoy great family discounts

5

6

8

9

10

11

NHSvitamins for

women

HEALTHYSTART

NHS

HEALTHYSTART

children'svitamindrops

Win tickets

to see The Railway

Children – Page 11

Pick up free vitamins for your family –

Page 7

Westminster Children First, Issue 23, February 2015 3

Changes to children’s and youth servicesWe need to make some changes in certain areas of children’s and youth services to focus our support on families who need our help the most, as the money we receive from the government is reducing significantly. We’ve been working with families who use our Children’s Centres, services for young people or after-school clubs to shape these services for the future. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/early-help

Follow @CityWestminster or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/WestminsterParents for the latest news, offers and events for families.

Cantonese and coding for kidsCharing Cross Library is running great courses for children in 2015 including PlayCantonese, a free under 5s baby and toddler group with nursery rhymes and stories in Cantonese. There’s also a free new code club for nine to 11-year-olds where children learn to build their own computer games, animations, websites and more.

Find out more and book online at westminster. gov.uk/charing- cross-library

Get cycling this springKids love cycling, but it can be hard to keep up if you feel a bit wobbly on two wheels. Feel more confident on your bike with free one-to-one City Cycling courses for Westminster residents aged 16 and over. Book before

31st March and you could win tea for four at The Ritz.

You can also keep the whole family safe on the road with a free bike MOT at a Dr Bike surgery. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/cycling

Get Children First straight to your inbox Would you prefer to receive Children First electronically, before copies hit doorsteps? Let us know at [email protected]

Healthy schoolsRobinsfield Infant School has become the first school in Westminster and only the third school in London to receive a Healthy Schools London Gold Award for its work promoting healthy lifestyles. Almost half of pupils take part in after-school sports clubs and pupils now take 43% fewer journeys to school by car.

The latest news from around Westminster NEWS

4 Westminster Children First, Issue 23, February 2015

The Bupa Westminster Mile is back on Sunday 24th May 2015 and is bigger and better than ever, with even more music and live entertainment on the day.

Runners of all ages will start at The Mall, take in St. James’s Park and cross the finish line outside Buckingham Palace where they’ll receive a medal and a goody bag.

Don’t worry if you’ve never run before; it’s about having a go and enjoying a great day out.

Last year, Mark Askew ran with his wife Jane and twins

Alfie and Mabel, both six. It was the second year the family took part.

Mark says:“We first heard about the Bupa Westminster Mile through a local newsletter and enjoyed it so much when we first ran that we wanted to do it again. We live in Maida Vale so it was really easy to get to.

“My children in particular wanted to do it again as they

love being near Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives.

“We love the idea of running with our family as it gives the kids a sense of achievement and it’s lovely to get a medal at the end. As parents it’s great to see the excitement in our children in the days leading up to the race and afterwards they talk about it for weeks. We’ll definitely be running again this year.”

ENTER THE BUPA WESTMINSTER MILE There are races for all ages and abilities: juniors, families, elite athletes and wheelchair users.

Choose the one that’s best for you and your family when you register at bupawestminstermile.co.uk

The Bupa Westminster Mile is organised by the London Marathon and Westminster City Council in partnership with Royal Parks.

Entry for Westminster residents is £7 for adults, £5 for nine to 17-year-olds and free for children under nine.

Run the most famous mile in the world

Sunday

201524th May

5

Can you make a sugar swap?It’s surprising how much sugar builds up in

your family’s diet. At breakfast time, in drinks,

in after-school snacks and, of course,

puddings. But making just one simple sugar

swap can make a real difference.

If your child is a gifted young athlete they may be eligible for financial support, training and mentoring through the Champions of the Future programme. Applications close on 20th February 2015. Visit westminster.gov.uk/champions-of-the-future

You’d be amazed at how

much sugar is in our food.

Did you know that 220ml of

cola contains the equivalent

of seven cubes of sugar?

Too much sugar means

extra calories, which cause

fat to build up and could

lead to heart disease, tooth

decay and type 2 diabetes.

Even food that doesn’t taste

sweet can contain a lot of

sugar, and there are lots of

different words used to

describe it. Look out for

sucrose, glucose, fructose,

maltose, hydrolysed starch,

invert sugar, corn syrup or

honey – they’re all different

kinds of sugar.

Visit change4life.co.uk for

your free guide to eating

less sugar, as well as

weekly emails and texts

packed with tips, advice and

fun ideas to help you swap.

They’ll also send you money

off vouchers to make buying

sugar swaps at your local

supermarket cheaper.

Try these simple swaps to reduce the amount of

sugar you and your kids eat throughout the day.

Swap sugary cereal for plain cereal

e.g. wholewheat biscuit cereal

Swap from sugary drinks to sugar-free

or no-added-sugar drinks

Swap from a muffin to a fruited teacake

Swap from ice cream to low-fat, lower-sugar yoghurt


There are lots of ways you can get the kids moving in Westminster, from walks in our 80 parks and open spaces to free swimming and activities at leisure centres.Nicola Walsh from Queen’s Park regularly uses the Beethoven Centre Health Hub in Queen’s Park with her daughter Madison, nine. The centre runs Zumba, creative dance, indoor football and more for children, from just £1.50 a class.

She says: “I’ve used the classes at the centre for 10 years. Madison loves the futsal class and gets really excited about going every week. The classes have really helped with her confidence. For me, it helps me lose weight and has improved my overall

health.” To find out more about the Beethoven Centre visit a2dominion.co.uk/beethoven

For more information on leisure centres in Westminster, as well as the many activities and classes on offer visit westminster.gov.uk/active

Get the kids moving

NHSvitamins forwomen

HEALTHYSTART

NHS

HEALTHYSTART

children'svitamindrops

Free vitamins for your familyHealthy Start vitamins are packed with vitamins A, C and D and are now free for all children under five, mothers with a baby under one, pregnant women and women thinking about getting pregnant. Pick up your free vitamins at a Children’s Centre or health clinic.

Visit westminster.gov.uk/childrens-centres to find your nearest centre.

“The classes have

really helped with

her confidence.”

Nicola Walsh


Most people are eligible to foster, so if you’ve been thinking about it, take the first step and find out more.

Call 0800 169 3497, email [email protected] or sign up for a fostering information event:

26th February, 10am – 12 midday Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX

26th March, 6 – 8pm Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QP

For more information visit westminster.gov.uk/fostering

We need more people to come forward to be foster carers to give children a loving and supportive home.

Cathy, a foster carer for the council, talks about the mix of emotions she feels when a foster child leaves her care.

“My social workers have been great. They are only a phone call or email away and they are very supportive. When a permanent family has been found for the child we have a party with all my family to say goodbye to the child and to celebrate their future with their forever family.

“Coping with the foster child leaving and moving to a forever family is the biggest challenge of being a foster carer. However it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and what more could you want – they have a great family to go to and I’m glad I got to be part of their life.”

The foster carer diaries

Thinking about adoption?If you’re considering adoption it can feel like there’s a lot to take in – from understanding how adoption works and the requirements of becoming an adopter, to being matched to a child. Get all your questions answered by the experts at one of our adoption events. Visit westminster.gov.uk/adoption


Gain new skills and help other parents as a volunteerYemah Barlay, 47, from Queen’s Park, volunteers with Home-Start and visits families in Westminster for a couple of hours each week to provide support and guidance for parents with young children.

“When I was a new mum I didn’t have anyone to guide or direct me, so it’s really important for me to offer that support to others. I’ve always been interested in working with children and families, and volunteering offered me the opportunity to up-skill after being out of the workforce for so long.

“I enjoy the practical side of volunteering and this is the most realistic way for me to learn about working with families. You encounter the things you read about in text books and I have already learnt a lot.

“I get great satisfaction out of being able to empower somebody else with my experience. Recently my client was looking at schools to send her children. Having been through that process myself I was able to advise her on some good schools in the area. Sometimes information isn’t always at your fingertips and my role is to make their life easier by helping to provide that information.

“Volunteering only takes up about two hours of my week which isn’t a lot of time to sacrifice for what my client gets out of it and the satisfaction that I get from it.”

Are you pregnant or a new mum? Get expert advice throughout your pregnancy and as your baby grows with free texts, emails and ‘how to’ videos from Start4Life. Visit nhs.uk/start4life

To find out how volunteering can help you develop new skills visit westminster.gov.uk/volunteer

To learn more about becoming a Home-Start Volunteer and supporting new parents visit homestartwestminster.org.uk

“I get great satisfaction out of being able to empower

somebody else with

my experience.”

Yemah Barlay, pictured above


There are lots of fun things to do

in Westminster this half-term

Monday 16th FebruaryMake your own silly mask Time: 10.30am – 12 midday and 2.30 – 4pmAge: AllVenue: Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QTCost: Free

020 7641 6200

Chinese New Year crafts and games Time: 3pmAge: 5+Venue: Pimlico Library, Lupus Street, SW1V 3ATCost: Free

020 7641 6200

Tuesday 17th FebruaryHalf-term activities campTime: 10am–3pmAge: 5 – 12Venue: The Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10 4JLCost: Free

020 8825 1067

Parent and child dancerciseTime: 10.45 – 11.30amAge: Under 5sVenue: Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street,W1W 6DNCost: Free

020 7641 4301

Tuesday 17th – Friday 20th FebruaryTennis and football clubTime: 10am – 3pmAge: 5 – 15Venue: Paddington Recreation Ground, Randolph Avenue, W9 1PDCost: £55.96 for non-residents; £29.28 for Westminster residents for four days

020 7641 3642

Wednesday 18th FebruaryCrazy collage makingTime: 10.30am – 12 midday and 2.30 – 4pmAge: AllVenue: Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QTCost: Free

020 7641 6200

Have your photo taken and decorate a picture frameTime: 10.30amAge: Under 5sVenue: Paddington Library, Porchester Road, W2 5DUCost: Free

020 7641 6200

For more events find us on Facebook

facebook.com/WestminsterParents or sign up for our monthly families enewsletter

westminster.gov.uk/ families-first


2 for 1 entry for adults, tots go free at Bach to Baby concerts

Offer: Enjoy exhilarating performances by outstanding musicians with your baby in tow. Let your little one dance and roam around at these critically acclaimed concerts especially for babies and tots.How to claim: Present your Westminster City Save card prior to payment. Tickets are cash payment only.Venue: Various across London

35% off Waterbabies classes

Offer: Spend some quality time with your baby and help them gain confidence in the water.How to claim: Present your Westminster City Save card when booking.Venue: 223 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EL

15% off at Fire and Stone

Offer: Located in the heart of Westminster, Fire and Stone is the perfect pit-stop on a day out with the kids. With over 20 different pizzas on the menu, you’re guaranteed to find something to suit all tastes and ages.How to claim: Present your Westminster City Save card before you ask for the bill.Venue: 31 – 32 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7JS

15% off tuition and revision classes

Give your child’s learning a boost with courses available at KS3, GCSE and A-Level.How to claim: Quote City Save when booking and bring your Westminster City Save card to your first appointment.Venue: Pimlico Academy, Lupus Street, SW1V 3AT

offers and discounts for westminster residents

How to enter:For a chance to win, email [email protected] and tell us why Westminster is a great place to bring up a family. Competition closes on 11th February 2015.

Win a family ticket to The Railway Children, set on board a real steam trainAll aboard! A stunning adaptation of E. Nesbit’s classic novel has pulled into King’s Cross Station in a show built around a real railway track and a 60-tonne locomotive that steams right into the theatre.

Terms and conditions: Prize is valid for a family of four for a minimum of one adult and one child. Valid on Tuesday – Friday performances until 27th February 2015. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. Subject to availability. Tickets also available to purchase online at westminstercc.entstix.com

Apply for your free Westminster City Save card at westminster.gov.uk/citysave or call 020 7641 6000 (Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm).

Terms and conditions apply. Visit westminster.

gov.uk/citysave for all offers and more details.

WIN


Adult learning in the heart of Westminster

Visit us for free taster courses at one of our open days – 19 March & 20 June For more information visit www.waes.ac.uk or call 020 7297 7297

You can find us at 219 Lisson Grove London NW8 8LW

We offer courses at over 80 locations across Westminster, and with hundreds of courses from accounting to fine art,

you are sure to find a course you’ll love.

Children First - February 2015

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