Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

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JULY - AUGUST 2016 ISSUE 34

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Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

…for families with children aged 0 - 12

Summer Holiday Fun Competitions and Freebies ...and much more!

Tuition Plus

Buy stick on labels for clothing!

‘Helping students achieve their true potential’

Professional Tutoring Literacy & Numeracy Free Initial Assessment

Quick & Easy

Harvest Fields Centre, B75 5TJ (Tues & Sat) Mere Green Centre, B75 5BT (Wed & Thurs)

01786 473 508

Tel: 07592 556 452

Email: info@tuition-plus.co.uk

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Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

@familiesbirm

www.familiesonline.co.uk

New Website for Families!

Look out for the launch of the fantastic new Families website in early July.

The areas covered by this magazine will now be served by 11 websites including all areas of Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, as well as parts of North and South Warwickshire, Sandwell, Walsall and South Staffordshire.

This new hyper-local approach will allow Families Online to bring you an easy to use, fully comprehensive coverage of a wide range of things to do in your neighbourhood – and across your region.

The site will also offer helpful parenting tips and advice to support you and your family.

Go to familiesonline.co.uk and find your local site!

ADVENTURE. ANIMALS. ACTION.

GREAT SUMMER ADVENTURES Throughout the Summer Holidays

NEW WATER WARS & WATER BATTLES NEW Over 8’s Entertainment Programme NEW updated Farm Zone Tractor Safari PLUS Ăůů LJŽƵƌ ,ĂƩŽŶ &ĂǀŽƵƌites

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Issue 34

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BOOK ONLINE FOR SAVINGS!

Contents

www.familiesbirmingham.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

In this Issue...

The Summer Holidays are coming, hurrah!

Time to explore the great outdoors and to get reading. I hope you enjoy creating magical memories with your families this summer.

See you in September for our Back-to-School issue.

Suzanne Brown, Editor

Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield

Next Issue: Advertisers: Book now for our September - October issue.

Call: 07807 352087 or email: editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk before Wednesday 3rd August 2016 Design: Matt Walton Design Print: Warners Midlands PLC, Manor Lane, Bourne. PE10 9PH Copyright Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, July 2016.

Picture from Shutterstock

ŠFamilies Birmingham is part of a registered trademark. FamiliesŽ Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Magazine Birmingham are protected by copyright. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publisher and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents, nor for any consequence.

4 News 6 Clubs & Classes 7 Well-being 8 The Great Outdoors 10 Summer Reading 12 Parenting 14 Summer Fun 16 Education 18 Manchester Quays 19 Holiday Camps 20 Theatre Listings 22 What’s On

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News News

www.familiesonline.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain reaches for the stars H

ave your children have been enthused by Tim Peake and his adventurous space travels this year?

Then this will be the perfect musical treat for them!

Try closing your eyes to picture the scene of our vast and great universe, not now, but two billion years ago. See the black holes colliding and gravitational waves rippling. Something great and amazing is being created… and you can witness its majesty… in musical form performed by the world class teenage orchestra, NYO. Let Gravitational Waves, by the German composer Iris ter Schiphorst paint a picture in your mind of this scientific wonder at Symphony Hall. You will hear an entire programme of music inspired by science, space and mystery, including The Planets by Gustav Holst and Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra heard in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey performed by the National Youth Orchestra.

Prior to their performance, NYO, an orchestra made up of 164 talented teenagers, will be in Birmingham for a two week period of intensive rehearsals and workshops.

During the residency, NYO teens will also spill out onto the streets to bring orchestral music straight to young people in the heart of Birmingham. They will lead fun musical activities such as Play the City and NYO Inspire Day. Dates to be confirmed in early July – visit nyo.org.uk for more details.

Friday, 5 August, 7.30pm, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 0121 780 3333, nyo.org.uk @NYO_GB

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To see what’s on when, visit www.thsh.co.uk/whats-on

WHAT’S ON

Photos: Jason Alden

BOOK NOW 0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk

Follow us Town Hall Symphony Hall

townhallsymphonyhall

@THSHBirmingham

thsh_birmingham

Entertainment

THE NEXT STEP – WILD RHYTHM TOUR (STEP 2)

STEVE BACKSHALL’S WILD WORLD

CAPTAIN FLINN & THE PIRATE DINOSAURS:

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER 12.30PM SYMPHONY HALL

SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 11AM TOWN HALL

SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 1.30PM & 3.30PM TOWN HALL

THE MAGIC CUTLASS’

Funded by

PLUS! THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT...

WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2016 – WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 2017 TOWN HALL

Town Hall renovation also funded by

News

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Celebrate summer…

Caribbean style!

Join thousands of people from all over the West Midlands to enjoy the delicious taste of the Caribbean in Birmingham City Centre.

Try traditional dishes, such as jerk chicken with rice and peas, ackee and saltfish, brown stew, curried goat and much more.

The Birmingham Caribbean Festival, one of Birmingham’s mainstream flag-ship events, is taking place in Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, on Friday 29 – Sunday 31 July 2016, from 11:00 to 21:00 each day. There is a full programme of entertainment for the whole family, including live music, local and international artists, traditional workshops, arts and crafts, poetry, dance and cooking demonstrations from top Caribbean Chefs, including Levi Roots of Reggae Reggae Sauce.

You’ll find a designated Children’s corner with face-painting, story-telling, crafts, costume and jewellery making workshops, to name just a few activities.

Entry is by a minimum donation of a ‘Festival £1.00’ for adults, free entry for children. Or you can buy a ticket for

Mama Mia! It’s Class Act Theatrix!

How would you like your child to have the opportunity of a lifetime to be in an all-singing, all-dancing, all-acting production? With experienced world-class performers of West End theatre?

Birmingham based drama school ‘Class Act Theatrix’, founded by West End actress Ashley J. Russell, is thrilled to be offering your child that opportunity in her West End Summer School!

After Ashley (pictured above with Whoopi Goldberg and Brian May) graduated with a BA in Acting, and a MA in Musical Theatre, she took part in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for Nancy in the BBC TV show ‘I’d do Anything’ where she came a very respectable 4th place out of thousands of contestants in 2008. She then went on to perform in an array of West End musicals such as ‘We Will Rock you’, ‘Shrek The Musical’, ‘Sister Act’ and the international ‘Mamma Mia!’ tour.

Many of the stars Ashley has worked with on these top shows will be teaching at the ‘Class Act Theatrix West End Summer School’ which will be held at Bishop Challoner College, Kings Heath Birmingham, 15th-19th of August 2016 From 9-4pm. To top it all, performers from the Mama Mia cast performing at the Birmingham Hippodrome this summer, will be making a guest appearance! So don’t hesitate, join now and ‘be part of the drama’. classacttheatrix.com, classacttheatrix@hotmail.com, 07540 591130

£5.00 from Eventbrite which includes festival entry for three days and entry into the ‘Festival Prize Draw’ to win one of our fabulous prizes including two tickets to The Bodyguard starring Beverley Knight and a chance to be photographed with Beverley after the show, a free website worth £500, or dinners for two at a number of fine dining local restaurants.

So come along – all are welcome to join in with a weekend of food, fun and frivolity - Caribbean style! birminghamcaribbeanfestival.org

Co�l and creative art workshops & family days!

SUMMER ART SCHOOL Arty Archaeology: 2-4 August Make a Shakespeare Book: 16-18 August £25 for 3 sessions BOOKING ESSENTIAL SUMMER TASTER SUNDAYS 7, 14, 21 & 28 August Try out our Creative Sunday workshops! £3 per session BOOKING ESSENTIAL For more information & booking details pick up our Families First leaflet or visit our website: www.barber.org.uk

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Clubs and Classes

BABY MASSAGE

BE GOOD AT BEING YOURSELF

ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

Baby Massage Classes - for special times with your baby. An IAIM UK course.

Classes in Alvechurch, Northfield, Kings Norton. www.calmreflex.co.uk 07539 062031

Unlock your child’s potential with Stagecoach Performing Arts Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year olds, where students learn to embrace life with creativity and courage

DANCE & DRAMA CENTRAL STAGE SCHOOL Tap Street Jazz Musical Theatre Solihull: Adult & Children’s Classes Free places for nursery children Tel: Claire 07939 529 227 info@centralstageschool.co.uk

DUBARRIE SCHOOL OF DANCE Ballet, Tap and Jazz age 2 ½ + Branches in Yardley and Solihull Telephone: 0121 744 1422 www.dubarrieschoolofdance.com

Find out more today: stagecoach.co.uk/edgbaston edgbaston@stagecoach.co.uk ™

01926 651159

MASQUERADE MUSICAL THEATRE Youth Theatre Group, Age 5+

Garretts Green Lane, Sheldon, B26 2SA

Creative Courage For Life

Find us at www.portraitsgetpersonal.com

ART Club

Irish dancing classes for boys and girls aged 4 to adult Classes held in Selly Oak, Kings Norton and Redditch Call Louise on 07790 876 345 for information

www.granarince.co.uk

for ages 5-12

“Putting art at the heart of learning and playâ€? • develop communication skills Arts activities • build confidence and self-identity help to... • encourage an open mind

Telephone: 0121 722 3761 www.masquerademusicaltheatre.com

Solihull Young Dancers

Ballet, Tap & Modern Dancing Classes from age 2 ½ + Tel: Kate on 07722 732678

www.solihullyoungdancers.co.uk

Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.

DIRECTORY

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals.

Clubs & Classes

www.familiesonline.co.uk

run by two highly experienced art teachers

private tuition and art classes for all ages

We passionately believe that art is essential for the development of the whole child and is a fun way of exploring the world.

Holiday Art Club runs during July and August in Solihull, book whole days or pick ‘n’ mix sessions between 9-4 pm.

Check website for programme and fees or Tel: 07772 319303

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For more Clubs and Classes visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Where everyone's a star!

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MUSIC BIR

1-to-1 drum tuition, City Centre location M I N G H A M Rock School grades 1-8.

Ages 4 upwards.

Tel: 0121 503 5849 www.birminghamdrumschool.co.uk

West End Summer School

SWIMMING TUITION Swimming lessons from 3.5 years to adults.

Lessons held in Solihull, Olton, Shirley & Acocks Green.

Learn the 4 strokes for all swimmers using fun themes!

Tel: 0121 405 0550 www.makeasplash.co.uk

Promote your little one’s natural reflexes and teach them to swim. Babies from 6 weeks & older can join the fun!

Tel: 0121 405 0440 www.waterhugs.co.uk

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15 - 19 August Boys & Girls Ages 5-15 With guest teachers from the MAMMA MIA! tour KINGS HEATH B14 7EG WWW.CLASSACTTHEATRIX.COM PHONE 07540 591130 #

Ages 4 - 16 years Tel: 07855 923371 Open: Saturdays 10am - 1pm Sutton Coldfield www.bigarenaperformingarts.co.uk

News Well-being

www.familiesonline.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

Healthy body, healthy mind – treatments for all ages

P

leasant Feet offer two main treatments – Reflexology and Hopi Ear Candling Therapy.

Reflexology treats the feet in order to balance the whole body.

It is a therapy suitable for children as well as adults. Its main principle is that by massaging and applying pressure to parts of the feet known as reflex areas, other corresponding and connected areas of the body will feel the benefits.

In reflexology, the feet are like mini maps of the body’s anatomy, so any body system can be accessed and stimulated by massaging the corresponding area of the foot. It is a fantastic way to relax and clear up all the blockages within the body.

Ear Candling is a therapy for external use only. It is a gentle and relaxing treatment which can be used to relieve many problems and conditions associated with areas of the ear, nose and throat such as earache, headache, hayfever and other common ailments. It works by a gentle suction/chimney effect.

Contact: Inderjit, VTCT Certified - 0121 742 0224, 07949 339 180, facebook.com/inderjitpleasantfeet

Alternative & Holistic Health Reflexology A therapy that treats the feet to balance the whole body.

Hopi Ear Candling Therapy

A gentle treatment used to relieve ENT conditions

Contact: Inderjit, 07949 339 180, facebook.com/inderjitpleasantfeet

1,500 Baby Massage Classes

E

njoy those precious early months with your baby helping to increase awareness and develop interaction by learning the ancient art of baby massage.

Baby massage can promote deep emotional bonds between parent and baby, nurture parent’s instinct, give special one to one time, and offer a positive interaction between mother and baby during postnatal depression.

The classes are led by Lisa A Burfitt (MBSR CthA CIMI), an IAIM instructor, and are run in 5 week blocks. They are held in: Cottonwood Children’s Centre, The Arc, School Lane, Alvechurch, B48 7SB on Tuesdays 11:30am, and 12 noon; St Laurence Pastoral Centre, 173 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2LX on Wednesdays, 1:30pm; and at the award winning Complementary Health Clinic, Birmingham Holistic, The Lakeside Centre, 180 Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, B30 3NU on Fridays at 11.30am.

Contact lisa@calmreflex.co.uk , mobile 07539 062 031, or visit www.calmreflex.co.uk

If a rewarding job with true security that provides you with the work/life balance, flexibility and control over your own destiny sounds appealing – contact Carolyn Rose today.

You can work part time, around your existing work or family commitments and there is no financial investment.

Find out how Carolyn’s children can always be her priority – working part-time hours to suit her family commitments – you too could change your life.

Contact Carolyn for a FREE information pack on

07789 916278 or email: carolynrose121@gmail.com Forever Living Products are a very proud & ethical company who pride ourselves on good practice.

It is illegal for a promoter or a participant in a trading scheme to persuade anyone to make a payment by promising benefits from getting others to join a scheme.Do not be misled by claims that high earnings are easily achieved.

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7

The Great Outdoors

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Enjoy Birmingham’s magical waterways this summer I

t is often said that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice. In total, the whole Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) system adds up to 100 miles of canals.

BCN’s hub is the bustling city centre junction at Gas Street Basin. This canal section is always busy with boaters, walkers and cyclists. However, elsewhere on the BCN, you can really get away from it all on winding suburban canals and some surprisingly rural branches. Rich with historical interest, the canals were the life-blood of Victorian Birmingham and the Black Country.

On the canal walkways you can get your little ones to tell the time with a dandelion clock, feed a dabble of ducks, or count the spots on a ladybird.

You can download Canal & River Trust’s free guide full of great activities for sunny or rainy days.

For canal maps, further information, and to receive your free guide visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/summer

Join us this summer for unforgettable evenings of outdoor theatre

Whateve r the weather , whateve r your mood - get your family inspired with over 20 fun activity ideas...

Five books to give away!

Play The Forest School Way is a woodland adventure book packed full of activities for parents and their children. Ideas include making nature jewellery. foraging for food and making a fire.

This book helps encourage children’s self-esteem and confidence through exploring nature. It is written for the parents/carers of children aged 2½ to 11 years.

Families Birmingham has free copies of Play the Forest School Way books to give away to five lucky readers. To be in with a chance of a free book email your contact number and address to editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk – only the first five will receive a copy, so hurry! Be sure to put ‘The Forest School Way book’ in the subject header of your email. Good luck!

See page 23 for competition Terms and Conditions

By Peter Houghton & Jane Worroll, Paperback £12.99 www.watkinspublishing.com

13th July: Sense and Sensibility 20th July: The Railway Children 27th July: Peter Pan

To book tickets please visit

birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/events

Find us on:

The Outdoor Professionals

ThrillSeeker Activity Taster Days 1 Day, 1 Price, 8 Activities A great day full of Adventure for all !

Zip Wire, Kayak, Ski, Canoe, FanDrop, Climb, Archery & Jungle Challenge BBQ & Free Tobogganing th 6 August & 1st October

School Holiday Programmes An array of Awesome Activities to try

Your support keeps the Gardens growing

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every school holiday for 8-16 year olds! £30 pp per day, 10am till 4pm Pre booking essential for all activities 0121 772 5111 bookings@ackers-adventure.co.uk

The Great Outdoors

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Monkeying Around at Go Ape I

t was during a moment of uncharacteristic bravado that I booked our family’s tickets for the Junior Tree Top Challenge at Go Ape. However, as the date approached I started having doubts. The evening before, my husband and I talked of cancelling. But, in the end we decided to... go ahead and Go Ape. Who knows, maybe we’ll enjoy it?

When we arrived at Birches Valley Forest Centre, Cannock Chase car park we found the Go Ape staff most welcoming, and obviously accustomed to dealing with nervous first timers. After we’d read the safety information we were shown to the safety training area. There was a quick check we were completely clear on all safety aspects, and then we were let loose to… Go Ape! Embarrassingly, our children were much more confident than their parents. They zipped round Course 1, with astonishing ease. My husband and I were not quite so zippy.

At all times, the staff were incredibly patient and

encouraging. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to do Course 1 again. After that we were ready for a bigger challenge.

Course 2 was much more demanding. There were less support cables, more balancing challenges, and more bravery involved.

Again, my 10 year old and 7 year old proved to have all the natural attributes required to complete the course easily. My husband and I cannot work out where they get it from!

Not us! All completed, we all felt a huge sense of accomplishment for finishing and that

Review by S. Brown

wonderful exhilaration you get from being outdoors.

Our guide, Vicky, was encouraging and approachable throughout the whole experience, as were all the staff.

Go Ape’s challenge to you is to ‘live life more adventurously’. Start by booking your next Go Ape outing. Local centres are Cannock Chase, and Wyre Forest, Kidderminster.

goape.co.uk; 0845 094 8763

THE UK’s NO.1 FOREST ADVENTURE at Cannock Forest & Wyre Forest

ke FAMCWY Bookoracatll g08o45a09p4e87.c63o.u quot †

*Offer valid until 30th November 2016, excludes Saturdays and Corporate Events. Discount code must be entered at time of booking. Only valid at Cannock Forest & Wyre Forest. Forest Segways only available at Cannock Forest. †Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Participation and supervision ratios apply - please see our website.

10

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*

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Summer Reading

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Big Friendly Read - Summer Reading Challenge T

his year’s Summer Reading Challenge will run across the school summer holidays and is linking up with the global year-long Roald Dahl 100th anniversary celebrations, honouring the world’s No.1 storyteller.

The Big Friendly Read will feature some of Roald Dahl’s best-loved characters and the amazing artwork of his principal illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake. It will encourage reading on a giant scale and will feature themes such as invention, mischief and friendship as explored in Roald Dahl’s books.

Children can sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at their local library as the school summer term ends and the holidays begin -- there’s no charge to participate so why not pop down to your local library to get started?

readingagency.org.uk summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Photo: Daniel Graves

Hooked on books

Already hooked on the idea of The Big Friendly Read? Then you are going to love this! This summer the West Midlands will be hosting a Big Read BookBench trail which will take place from 16 July - 13 September 2016.

Over 170 BookBench sculptures, shaped as open books, designed and decorated by our very own artistically talented West Midlands children and teens as part of The Big Read, will be on public display across our region for eight weeks. The free Big Read trail will officially open during a star-studded CBBC’s jam-packed Awesome Authors weekend at the Library of Birmingham and Centenary Square on Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July.

A number of BookBenches will take centre stage in children’s workshops and will be on display at the event, which will also feature some of the UK’s bestloved authors including Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

The BookBenches will be exhibited inside libraries, cultural venues and book shops.

There is also a host of literary-themed events taking place around the displays to ignite everybody’s interest in reading. The Big Read trail will conclude on Tuesday 13 September to coincide with Roald Dahl Day, the biggest ever-global celebration of Roald Dahl’s birthday.

Photo: Daniel Graves

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thebigread.org.uk

“If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.”

Roald Dahl

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Summer Reading

Best New Book Releases Because it’s time to put down their iPad and bury their nose in a proper book…

By Claire Muffett-Reece

Zero to Two years

The Dinosaur That Pooped Daddy!

by Tom Fletcher Penguin, £3.99 With musicians Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter successfully branching into children’s fiction with their The dinosaur that pooped series, it’s great to see them also angling their books with an educational purpose in mind. This latest installment is the perfect example; letting your little one count from 10 to one with Danny and Dino as they seek out Daddy’s hiding place.

Three to Five years

The Bumblebear by Nadia Shireen Random House, £5.99 If you haven’t read Nadia’s previous book to your little one, Good Little Wolf, then you’re very much missing out. Her second, The Bumblebear, is equally entertaining.

Meet Norman the bear as he hatches a cunning plan to dress up as a bee in order to attend Bee School, to get his hands on some tasty honey. ‘However, when entering the bees’ world his true identity is revealed. This riveting read will help your child understand identity, learning and friendship.

Claire Muffett-Reese is a freelance journalist who has written for a number of publications including The Evening Standard, Metro, Fabulous, Cosmopolitan, Tesco, Boots, Emma’s Diary and Wedding, among many others.

Six to Eight years

The World’s Worst Children,

by David Walliams Harper Collins, £12.99 David Walliams certainly has a lot of strings to his bow and is now a successful children’s author as well as an actor, presenter and comedian. His latest release, The World’s Worst Children, is a collection of mischievous tales about 10 delightfully dreadful children. There’s Sofia Sofa, a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa she’s turning in to one! Or how about Dribbling Drew, a boy whose drool gets him in trouble on a school trip.

Nine to Eleven years

Action Hero: The Fincredible Diary Of Fin Spencer, by Ciaran Murtagh Bonnier Zaffre, £5.99 The third installment of the Fincredible diary series is just as riveting as its predecessors! The stories revolve around a magic diary, given to Fin by a fortune-teller, which changes events of the past depending on what he writes inside. This time around, Fin’s in big trouble and isn’t allowed on the class trip. He promised he wouldn’t use the diary again but just has to, tweaking what happened so he can visit Stevie Knuckles Action Camp. But the diary has a habit of backfiring...

Twelve plus years

Finding Audrey, by Sophie Kinsella Corgi Childrens, £5.99 Most of us know Sophie Kinsella as the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series, so it’s great to see her branching into the teenage literacy world. Meet Audrey, a girl recovering from social anxiety disorder to the extent she won’t leave the house. Then along comes her friend’s brother Linus, who helps her overcome her fears and shows her that finding her way back to the real world is achievable.

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Work and Parenting

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Can you help a new mum?

B

eing a new mum can be a magical experience. But sometimes it can also be overwhelmingly challenging, especially when your children are very young. You might have been lucky enough to have great support networks, but some mums do not.

Home-Start in Bartley Green & Quinton is looking for volunteers who can help make a real difference to a family who are feeling under pressure. It could be because a mum is coping with a multiple birth, has post-natal depression, or just because they are feeling isolated at home with very young children.

Why not become a Home-Start volunteer? You can help support a local family by offering practical support or a listening ear.

If you have experience of being a parent (even if your children have now flown the nest) and you have a few hours to spare during the week, Home-Start would like to hear from you. Full training will be given to suitable volunteers. A training course starts in September and runs one day a week for 6 weeks from 9.30am – 2.30pm, fitting in with school hours.

0121 675 4441; admin@homestartbgq.org

Multicultural parenting website While going through her first pregnancy Midlands-based mumpreneur Sim Mistry, mum-of-two, realised there was a huge gap in the market for advice on multicultural baby names.

So she decided to take matters into her own hands and set up SimplyBabyNames.com.

Digital Work Opportunity with Families Online in the West Midlands

The website celebrates diversity within parenting, pregnancy, babies, children and families. It is essentially a site dedicated to tips and topical articles on multicultural parenting with advice from medical professionals and experts. The site also has a database of over 38,000 baby names.

Within 4 weeks of launch, simplybabynames.com generated 10,000 impressions!

Visit simplybabynames.com

HOME START VOLUNTEERS WANTED Home-Start is looking for parent volunteers to support families in Bartley Green and Quinton.

The charity supports families with young children where parents are struggling with loneliness, post natal illness, relationship problems, single parenthood or coping with multiple births or several young children.

If you have experience of bringing up children and can spare a few hours a week, we would love you to join our team.

Volunteers can be of any age and from all walks of life.

Full training given for suitable volunteers. A training course starts in Sept. 2016.

Call 0121 675 4441 or e-mail: admin@homestartbgq.orq Charity No: 1114963

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Thinking of a career move which fits well around family life?

Families Online has a number of highly flexible, home-based work opportunities available for Area Managers to run our local sites in the neighbourhoods of the West Midlands. As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money! There are no set up costs involved, you will be trained by industry experts and you will develop valuable new skills in the digital, print and social media marketing industry.

You should be: Interested in working flexibly from home at times that suit you Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what’s on for families in your neighbourhood A regular user of Facebook and Twitter A good networker with good communication skills To register your interest, please email recruitment@familesonline.co.uk

Careers Parenting

www.familiesonline.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

Great books to share with your child to prepare for a new sibling Prepare your little one for that impending arrival with the best new baby books.

15 Things Not To Do With A Baby by Margaret McAllister Frances Lincoln Children’s Books £6.99 From not giving the new baby to a kangaroo, to not putting him in the post, this humorous book is sure to result in a fit of giggles come story time.

Where Do Babies Come From? by Robbie H Harris Usborne £9.99 This lift-the-flap book has every question covered, explaining the facts of life to children in preparation for their new brother or sister entering the world.

Pirate Pete I’m A New Big Brother by Amanda Li Penguin £6.99 With a button they can press that makes the sound of a baby giggling, the simple text and colourful illustrations helps your child understand what happens once baby arrives.

Aren’t You Lucky! by Laurence Anholt Red Fox Picture Books £6.99 Feelings of insecurity are commonplace among children expecting a sibling, making this book the perfect choice to help overcome their fears.

By Claire Muffett-Reece

Claire Muffett-Reese is a freelance journalist who has written for a number of publications including The Evening Standard, Metro, Fabulous, Cosmopolitan, Tesco, Boots, Emma’s Diary and Wedding, among many others.

Teach your kids to ride a bike in 7 easy steps Teaching your child to ride a bike has never been easier with these seven simple steps.

1. Begin with a balance bike Balance bikes are great because they have no pedals or stabilisers and are much lighter.

2. Start on flat ground Always begin to teach your child on flat ground – so at a local park or area with no traffic.

3. Teach them to use the brake At the age of two and a half to three, children are able to operate a hand brake, as long as it’s gentle enough for 2008|2009 their fingers.

4. Always wear a helmet Wearing a helmet is a must. The sooner your little one gets used to it, the better.

5. Look for safety add-ons A steering limiter is highly recommended as this will enable your child to keep in the right direction and prevent falls.

6. Get an adjustable seat Try to choose a bike that has an adjustable seat as this means the bike can be adjusted to suit their height.

7. Upgrade to a bigger bike When your child has developed enough skill and confidence you can transfer them to a pedal bike without stabilisers.

29008|2009 002|8002

RUSSELL NURSERY SCHOOL

Children aged from 3 months to 5 years.

Ofsted Outstanding

• Qualified friendly staff.

• Daily home cooking.

• Interactive Whiteboard/Table.

• CCTV cameras in every room.

• Free Grant places available for age 2, 3 & 4 years

Tel: 0121 777 4902

130 Russell Rd, Hall Green, B’ham B28 8SQ

Other sites

621 Fox Hollies Road, Hall Green, Birmingham.

B28 9DW Tel: 0121 777 3778

Small World Nursery, 975 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 8BG Tel: 0121 693 3071

Issue 34

13

Summer Fun

www.familiesonline.co.uk

er m m u S s i h t

Birmingham Science Museum

- Science Garden - Planetarium - NEW Marine Worlds Gallery birminghammuseums.org.uk Funded by:

BMT_Thinktank Summer_180x130_Families Mag.indd 1

13/06/2016 11:38

GO®

possibilities of LE Discover the endless 17

ar y 20 22 July 2016 – 15 Janu Free

14

Issue 34

Warren Elsmore. tions are trademarks A touring exhibition from Brick and Knob configura the Minifigure, and the ers is not sponsored, LEGO, the LEGO logo, LEGO Group. Brick Wond The 6 ©201 s. panie Com of the LEGO Group of The LEGO Group. by orted supp wise endorsed or other

Summer Fun

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Let your kids discover their wild side this summer!

P

arents across the UK & Ireland will receive a free child’s Zoo Ticket to one of more than 100 zoos, farms and wildlife parks if they purchase a Hasbro Preschool or Junior game before Sunday 4th September.

Young animal-lovers will have until Monday 31st October to redeem their free ticket at local Midland zoos such as Hatton Adventure World, Hoar Park Childrens Farm, Dudley Zoological Gardens, Drayton Manor Theme Park Zoo, Broomey Croft Farm, Rays Farm Country Matters, Brandon Marsh, Nature Centre, Rodbaston Visitor Centre Animal Zone, and Twycross Zoo. To discover the full list of participating zoos and games involved in the promotion, which include kid favourites Hungry Hungry Hippos and Crocodile Dentist, visit www.FreeZooPass.co.uk.

To redeem their tickets parents should visit the website and enter their product barcode to claim their unique voucher. When they take the voucher and game receipt to the zoo they’ll receive free child entry with a full paying adult. www.hasbro.com

Discover your Sense of Adventure at Wonderful World of Trains & Planes From flight simulators to model train layouts to control, there is so much to see and do for all ages. Come and experience something new in family attractions.

New for Summer 2016: Train Simulators Peter’s Railway Zone Story Mornings

Fun for all the family Little Train Driver’s World Flight Simulators Scalextrics Super Prix

Air Traffic Control

Interiors

Antiques, Furnishings, Weddings, Wood-burners, Giftware, Curtains, Blinds

Interests

Tack & Animal Feed, Giftware, Toys, Candles, Needlework & Bunting, Florist, Wood-turning, Pottery Parties Shop

Food and Drink

Licensed Restaurant, Chocolate Shop, Tea Rooms.

TLC – Tea leaves & Coffee Beans, Coffee Machines

Craft Fair2s1 Aug

17 July & 10 - 4 pm

Fashion

Knitwear, Jewellery, Handbags, Wedding, Cocktail and Daywear, corsetry, Theatre Costume, Leather Bags, Wallets, Belts

Fun

The Children’s Farm & Parties, Pets Corner.

Open all year (inc Bank Holidays) Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm Tel: 024 7639 4433 www.hoar-park.co.uk B4114 Nr Ansley, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 0QU

Book online, Family Ticket only £18.50 www.wonderfulworldtrainsplanes.co.uk

3 Mary Ann Street, Birmingham B3 1BG T: 0121 227 4000

Issue 34

15

Education

www.familiesonline.co.uk

How to help your child transfer to secondary school

By Liat Hughes Joshi

D

uring the months before your child makes the big move to secondary school, it’s recommended that you begin the following…

Ramp up responsibilities. Whereas primary school teachers send letters to parents, at ‘big’ school, communication on day-to-day issues might well be to your child only.

Expect them to be tired and emotional…

Stick to early nights and restful weekends to fend off exhaustion – and the moodiness that goes with this.

Get super-organised with homework. Not only will there be more homework, but keeping on top of when it all needs handing in can get complicated.

Begin building independence out and about. Most secondary school pupils travel to school minus mum and dad, so get yours used to being out without you.

Listen out for concerns. Common concerns include getting lost around a much larger school, dealing with the journey, making new friends and managing a heavier homework load.

Get used to knowing much less about what goes on.

Don’t expect to be as familiar with your child’s friends, parents and teachers. With more independent travel comes a more hands-off approach.

Attend the new secondary’s settling-in days. This is an important opportunity to get to know the buildings, potential classmates and teachers and it should make the first day less intimidating.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind once your child has started secondary school…

See KSOL’s ‘Prep4yr7’ on page 3 for details on how to make this big step more simple.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson).

Be there for them. It’s tempting to think this independence means you’re being made redundant come September but they’ll still need you - albeit in different ways.

Award-winning tuition with a difference. For ages 5 -14.

Call 01483 447414 to book your free trial session @exploretutors 16

Issue 34

www.explorelearning.co.uk

/explorelearning

Education

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Get organised for September S

tick on Clothing Labels – The quick & easy way to label your children’s clothing.

Get ready early for back to school this year with name labels for clothing, ties and uniforms. Stick on labels is the easy way to label clothing - no ironing or sewing necessary! Just stick the adhesive name label onto the care label of what you want to label and you’re finished.

High-quality labels made to order in the UK. Developed especially for clothes and with strong adhesion to last many washes. Many other alternative name labels also available and personalised gifts including major brands like Disney, Mattel and Nickelodeon.

Labels4Kids is an award winning family business that has been selling name labels online since 2004. Since 2014, Labels4Kids also supplies John Lewis with school name labels.

Order early, beat the rush and get some peace of mind this summer.

Labels4Kids – because kids lose stuff. www.labels4kids.com/fam

VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS

11+ VERBAL REASONING VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS Expand your antonym and synonym knowledge and achieve a higher 11+ score

Learn New Skills this Summer

Recommended by tutors for the verbal reasoning element of the Durham CEM test

www.vocabularyflashcards.co.uk

At Explore Learning, our passion is to help students achieve their potential and be the best they can be.

We get to know each child as an individual and help them to fall in love with learning. Our goal - to build confident, fearless learners who are hungry for knowledge. We’ve delivered awardwinning maths and English tuition to over 175,000 children across the UK. Our award-winning approach has a proven record of supporting children both academically and attitudinally. Celebrating children’s achievements is an extremely important thing. This summer we’re encouraging children and parents to learn new skills together, and to get excited about showing off what they have learned in our centres and back at school in September.

Look out for their stories on Explore Learning’s social media channels and website! www.explorelearning.co.uk

Improve your child’s study skills Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to build your child’s confidence and inspire a passion for learning.

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Walmley Study Centre Deepa Budhiraja 0121 2432692

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

Issue 34

17

Manchester Quays

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Manchester Holds ‘The Quays’ to a Great Break

A

fter a 2-hour drive from Birmingham, a warm welcome awaited my family at The Copthorne Hotel, Clippers Quay, Salford.

We were looking forward to exploring Salford Quays, Greater Manchester’s waterfront destination. One square mile of leisure, culture and entertainment awaited us this weekend.

Day 1

After we settled into our hotel room, we took a leisurely 15 minute evening stroll along the quays to The Lowry Art and Entertainment centre (pictured above), a family-friendly venue which was abuzz in anticipation of the evening’s entertainment.

My family saw Fagin’s Twist, a fabulous ‘Avant Garde Dance’ production. Coming up at The Lowry later this year are: The Gruffalo’s Child ,Gangsta Granny, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Horrible Christmas, and Snow White. Changing facilities are provided for babies and toddlers, and yummy food is served at the café for tiny tums!

Day 2

Fortified by a substantial breakfast at The Copthorne, complete with full English and continental choices (well, it’s rude not to!), we headed off to explore more of Salford Quays’ main attractions.

Our first stop was the International War Musuem (free entry), with displays and exhibits inside which were truly impressive.

The IWM hosts daily family friendly talks and shows covering a range of war related themes and is full of interactive multisensory activities. My children especially enjoyed the code breaking and the ‘Guess the Smell in the Trench’ activities! Kids!

For lunch there were a wide range of eatery choices at The Lowry Outlet - the Salford Quays shopping centre. There’s something to suit all pockets whether you want to spoil yourselves with a leisurely lunch or grab a quick bite on the hoof.

Next, we could no longer resist the big glowing signs for Media City - a place where some of the biggest TV and radio programmes are made. We saw the Coronation Street studios, visited the Rovers Return and shook ‘hands’ with the daleks.

Luckily, Doctor Who’s TARDIS was locked so we didn’t zoom off to some unknown world! The icing on the cake for our family in Media City was seeing the filming of an episode of Blue Peter.

Lights, Camera, Action!

The latter part of our afternoon was spent at the Lowry Art Gallery’s modern art exhibition. Upon (free) entry our children were handed booklets to help them explore the exhibits. They were happy to wander about drawing whatever inspired them.

Alongside this main gallery there was an art gallery called The Lookout – where pre-schoolers can solve puzzles, uncover stories and unlock their inner Picasso with art activities.

Admission is free 7 days a week. Inside, tots and their parents can enjoy the panoramic views of The Quays watching the boats and the wind surfers.

Anyone wishing to go further afield than Salford can use the Manchester Metrolink, a comprehensive tram network taking travellers to all the major parts of the city. You could visit the National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Chili Factore (for snow boarding fun), to mention just a few places.

Imperial War Museum

So why not make a visit to Salford Quays? You’ll be sure of a warm, friendly welcome wherever you go and there’s plenty to see and do!

www.thequays.org Twitter: @VisitTheQuays www.thelowry.com 18

Issue 34

HalfCamps Term Holiday

www.familiesonline.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk Childcare Vouchers Accepted

The school summer holidays are a time for children to have fun whilst keeping active in body and mind. Super Camps give children the opportunity to do just that, with a range of camps and courses to suit everyone. Camps are full of great new activities for 2016, with a guarantee of water activities at all camps during the summer. You can also rest assured knowing that your children are at the best camp in town after receiving yet another Outstanding Ofsted rating in 2016.

Early Bird Discounts!

SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY £15.20 CAMPS Ages Yrs 4 - 12

FROM

ST PETERS SCHOOL SOLIHULL 25.7.16 - 31.8.16

Standard prices start from £42 per day and £190 per week, call 01235 467300 or visit www.supercamps.co.uk for details.

Sporting Heroes

Pirates (25th July - 29th July)

(1st Aug - 5th Aug)

A night at the movies

Safari (Aug 8th - Aug 12th)

(Aug 15th - Aug 19th)

Out of Space

Back to school

(Aug 22nd - Aug 26th) mail@justcamps.co.uk

Action-packed childcare this

Summer Holiday

(Aug 30th - Aug 31st)

0771 692 6147

www.justcamps.co.uk

Ofsted registered

25th July - 2nd September Choice of venues

Sutton Coldfield

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School

5FOR £80 5FOR £75 DAYS

Solihull

Tudor Grange Academy

Kingshurst

5FOR £80 DAYS

NEW

CTC Kingshurst Academy

Open from 8am - 6pm

We accept childcare vouchers

DAYS

Offer ends 5pm Friday 8th July Valid for full week 10am – 4pm bookings only. Xtra Time packages available if required.

*

For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979 Issue 34

19

What’s On Theatre

www.familiesonline.co.uk

family tickets #OnlyAtTheREP Win to Treasure Island at Epic Tales & Family Adventures The Core Theatre A 6 – 15 OCTOBER

Kneehigh, in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents

946:

THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS

Adapted by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Rice

25 NOVEMBER – 7 JANUARY

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company presents

TREASURE ISLAND

By Robert Louis Stevenson Adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery

22 DECEMBER – 8 JANUARY

hoy there, landlubbers! The Core Theatre (formerly Solihull Arts Complex) is giving away one set of family tickets (two adults, two children) to Families Birmingham readers to their production of Treasure Island, Thursday 4th August at 2.30pm.

Treasure Island is audience participation style – so the first 15 mins are a warm up with the audience learning key songs and pirateness! Aargh!

To be in with a chance of winning the set of 4 tickets answer the following question: What is the pirate word for treasure? Is it: (A) Freebooter (B) Reboot, or (C) Booty ?

To enter send your answer to editor@familiesbirmingham.co.uk, before Sunday 24th July ensuring the Treasure Island is in the subject line of your email. thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk, 0121 704 6962 Terms and Conditions on page 23.

Tall Stories in association with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment Ltd presents

ROOM ON THE BROOM Illustration: copyright © Axel Scheffler & Macmillan Children’s Books

By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

11 – 15 JANUARY The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Production of

THE ™ SNOWMAN The stage show based upon the book by

Outdoor live shows

26-27 July in Brueton Park.

Adv. Tickets £10/£9. Adaptation of David Walliams best-selling book live outdoors in the park.

Bring your own seat/blanket.

Spectacular Science Show

Raymond Briggs and the film directed by Dianne Jackson and produced by John Coates. Music and lyrics by Howard Blake

0121 236 4455 BIRMINGHAM-REP.CO.UK Box Office

birminghamrep @birminghamrep @therepbirmingham Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660

20

Issue 34

Family participation show

THU 4 AUG 2.30pm £8 each

FRI 5 AUG

1.30 & 3.30pm £10

THEATRE SUMMER SCHOOL

Fun four day theatre course for young people aged 8-16 using drama, dance and music.

1-4 Aug-Course Fee £100

Explosions, vortex, and much more! (age 6+)

THU 25 AUG 2.30pm £8 each

Holiday Workshops Art & Craft £5 every Weds Two per day with a book theme.

lunch supervision available between.

Dance Mon 8, 15 & 22 Aug £4.50 aimed at ages 4-10 yrs

www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk

Box Office: 0121 704 6962 (10.30am - 4pm)

What’s On Theatre

www.familiesonline.co.uk Big Wooden Horse: Monstersaurus

Date: 21 August Times: 11.30am & 2.30pm Tickets: £10.50 (£8.50) Age: 3+ A 50 minute show, full of energy, magic and mayhem. Guaranteed to keep your little ones thoroughly entertained! mac birmingham Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH, macbirmingham.co.uk, 0121 446 3232

Theatre and Shows this Summer New Alexandra Theatre

Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham, B5 4DS, atgtickets.com, 0844 871 3011

Grease

Dates: 17 – 19 Aug, 7.30pm; 20 Aug 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £15 - £22 Grease is the Word at New Alexandra Theatre this summer! Come along to Rock’n’Roll and hand jive with Danny, Sandy, Frenchy and Kenickie in this high energy production.

Botanical Gardens

Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR, 0121 454 1860, birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

The Railway Children

Date: 20 July Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (£10) A beautiful production of E. Nesbit’s classic story about the lives three children who deal with many changes – in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Centenary Square, Broad St, Birmingham, B1 2EP, birmingham-rep.co.uk, Box Office: 0121 236 4455, Enquiries: 0121 245 2000

On the Edge – A Feast of Bones

Dates and Times: 7 July, 7pm; 8 July, 1pm & 7pm; 9 July, 11am & 2.30pm Tickets: £9 At Le Monde Bouleversé one customer is about to be served a meal that he will never forget… A story inspired by Henny Penny.

Peter Pan

Dates and Times: 7 July, 7pm; 8 July, 10.30am Tickets: £9 Age Guidance: 9+ The true story of a Jewish family living in 20th Century London. A performance about everything from falling in love to quarrels about fish balls.

Date: 16 August Time: 6.30pm Tickets: £12 (£8) Follow the yellow brick road down to the Emerald City with Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Lion and Tin Man.

On The Edge - Wot? No Fish!!

Date: 27 July Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (£10) The timeless story of Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn’t grow up… far away on the magical island of Neverland.

The Wizard of Oz

The Core Theatre

Solihull Theatre Square, Touchwood, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk, 0121 704 6962

The Tempest - Live Outdoors,

Brueton Park (lakeside), Solihull Date: 19 July Times: 7pm Tickets: £10 (£9 con / £6 ch) in advance, £11 (£10 con / £7 ch) on the gate Age: 8+ Bring a picnic, and some friends, and come along to see this mystical production of Shakespeare’s final play.

Ratburger - Brueton Park, Solihull Dates: 26 – 27 July Times: 7pm Tickets: £10 (£9 con) in advance, £11 (£10 con) on the gate Age: 7+ Bring your children to see this hilarious modern thriller. Voted top children’s book of 2012.

mac birmingham

Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH, macbirmingham.co.uk, 0121 446 3232

Oddsocks: Much Ado About Nothing

Date: 16 July Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (£12) Age: 5+ Performed in the mac outdoor arena, this promises to be a highly hilarious musical version of one of Shakespeare’s play.

Oddsocks: Macbeth

Date: 17 July Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (£12) Age: 5+ Performed in the mac outdoor arena, this dramatic story is told through lively and energetic songs. Witness Macbeth’s Killer Queen wife Lady Macbeth in action on stage. mac birmingham Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH, macbirmingham.co.uk, 0121 446 3232

Spectacular Science Show

Date: 25 August Time: 2.30pm Tickets: £8 Age: 6+ Come along and explore the wonder of matter - see the exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins, dancing paste, vanishing beakers and exploding Pringle tubes!

The Core Theatre Solihull Theatre Square, Touchwood, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG, thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk, 0121 704 6962

Mamma Mia!

Dates: Tue 28 Jun - Sat 3 Sep Times: 2pm; 2.30pm; 7.30pm Tickets: From £28 Age Guidance: 3+ The ultimate feel-good musical show, set on a Greek island. Many of Abba’s greatest hits featured including Money money money, Dancing Queen, Gimme gimme gimme… and many more.

Birmingham Hippodrome Hurst Street, Southside, B5 4TB, birminghamhippodrome.com, 0844 338 5000 Issue 34

21

What’s On Family Fun in the SUMMER HOLIDAYS Ackers Adventure Address: Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, B11 2PY ackers-adventure.co.uk 0121 772 5111

Like us on FACEBOOK Families Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield Aston Hall

Admission: £3 per child per session.

This is a chance to get a taste of what happens at the Barber all year round! You can take part in an artist-led workshop.

Roll Up! Roll Up! Victorian Day at Aston Hall

Barclaycard Arena

Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston 0121 675 4722

Date: 23 July Times: 11 - 4pm Admission: £8 (£6/£3) Prepare to be amazed as you see Queen Victoria at the grounds of Aston Hall.

Visit the Palace of Curiosities. See a real mermaid!

Family Craft Activity Days

Dates: 27 Jul; 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Aug Times: Drop-in between 11am - 3pm Admission: £1.00 per child or free if you’ve paid to visit the Hall.

Make puppets, picture frames, masks, crafty castles, and much more.

Back to Backs, National Trust

King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA, barclaycardarena.co.uk, 0121 780 4141

Taekwondo International World Championships

Date: 16 – 17 July Time: not confirmed at time of going to press Tickets: From £17.58 Not to be missed! Come and see Taekwondo world champions from around the globe, as well from our four home nations. This event will include sparring, traditional patterns, musical patterns and destruction. Events for children, cadets, adults and executive adults.

Date: 6 August Time: 10.30 – 3.30pm Admission: £22 per person Age: 5+ There’s a range of activities to try out on the Ackers Thrillseeker Taster Day! Have fun trying the skiing, climbing, canoeing, zip wire and much more! BBQ onsite.

Bushcraft Family Taster Day

Date: 17 August Time: 10am – 1.15pm Admission: £80 for 2 adults and 2 children Come along for a morning of family bushcraft skills. You will cover Shelter Building, Fire Lighting Techniques and much more. Pre-booking essential.

Climbing Taster Session for Families

Date: 18 August Time: 10am – 1.15pm Admission: £80 for 2 adults and 2 children This family climbing session will cover equipment, knots, basic climbing skills and abseiling. Pre-booking essential.

Date: 19 August Time: 10am – 1.15pm Admission: £80 for 2 adults and 2 children This family introduction to Canoeing and Kayaking will cover the basics of equipment, getting into the water, and paddling. Pre-booking essential.

Festivals

Dates: 28 Jul to 25 Aug Times: 12.30 - 2.30pm Admission: £2 per child Complete the history mystery trail, and win a prize.

Great fire of London Week

Birmingham Caribbean Festival

Centenary Square, Birmingham City Centre 29 - 31 July, 11am - 9pm birminghamcaribbeanfestival.org Come along, and enjoy a warm Caribbean welcome! See and taste the arts, culture, food and drink, in their various forms.

Entertainment includes Levi Roots, Legend Live (Bob Marley tribute band), and Miss Culture Jam (storytelling and poet).

Dates: 30 Aug – 4 Sep 2016 Admission: £7, £5, £3 Commemorate 350 years since the Great Fire of London at Blakesley Hall with themed crafts, garden and house trails and quizzes.

Cadbury Character Weekend

Barber Institute of Fine Arts University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TS barber.org.uk 0121 414 2261 education@barber.org.uk

Dates: Hoards of Treasure: Tue 2, Wed 3 & Thur 4 August. Make your own Shakespearean Book: Tue 16, Wed 17 & Thur 18 August Times: 11 – 12.30pm, Ages 4-8 years; 1.30 – 3pm, Ages 8-12 years Admission: £25 per child for three sessions Booking essential

Hoards of Treasure

2nd – 4th Aug: Build a treasure chest, make a map and create a stash of precious objects you’d hope to find!

Make your own Shakespearean Book

17th – 19th Aug: Make a book – 17th century style! Bind it, create a fantastic Frontispiece, and then fill it with detailed drawings.

Festival for diverse communities

Fri 29 - Sun 31 July, 11:00 to 21:00, Centenary Square Birmingham.

www.birminghamcaribbeanfestival.org

Issue 34

History Detective Thursdays

Cadbury World, Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2LU cadburyworld.co.uk 0844 880 7667

to enjoy Caribbean culture, food, music and arts in a family friendly environment.

22

Dates: 25 Jul - 23 Aug Times: 12.30 - 2.30pm Admission: £2 per child Join in the family craft activities inspired by different children’s stories.

Cadbury World

Summer Art Schools

Canoe/Kayak Family Taster

Bookbench Summer Craft Activities - Tuesdays

Dates: 27 Jul - 31 Aug Times: 11 - 4pm Free event Take part in traditional garden games like croquet. Bring a picnic!

Roundhouse Un-Tour

Thrillseeker Activity Taster Day

Blakesley Rd, Birmingham, B25 8RN birminghammuseums.org.uk/blakesley 0121 348 8120

Play Day Wednesdays

55-63 Hurst Street/50-54 Inge Street, Birmingham, B5 4TE nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-tobacks, 0344 800 1895 Dates: 9, 16, 17 & 23 July Time: 11.30am – 2pm Admission: Adults £8.20; Children under 12 free Roundhouse Un-Tour provides the unique opportunity to see one of Birmingham’s hidden gems before restoration takes place. Roundhouse Birmingham is at the heart of the canal and was part of the ‘city of 1000 trades’. The ‘Un-Tour’ is history but not as you know it. Will it be a treasure hunt? Or a quest? One thing is for sure, the Un-Tour will be a tour with a difference.

Blakesley Hall

Summer Taster Sundays

Dates: Aug 7, 14, 21 & 28 Times: 11 – 12 noon for 4 – 8 years; 12.30 – 1.30pm for 8 – 12 years

Black Country Living Museum Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ bclm.co.uk 0121 520 8054

Young Archaeologists’ and Curators’ Club (YACC)

Dates: Aug 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th 31st Time: 12.30 - 3pm Age: 8 – 16 years Attendance to this activity is free (does not include entry to the open air museum) Booking essential Join in the storytelling, learn about oral history traditions, hear of real lives and real stories and look at children’s fiction of 19th and early 20th centuries.

Family Night

Date: 13 August Time: 6.30 – 10pm Admission: £10 (£5) Pre-booking essential The whole family is invited for an evening of tremendous fun, to celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday. Storytelling, creepy crawlies, face-painting, birds of prey, and much more in store!

Dates: 9 & 10 July Time: 9.30 – 4pm Admission: Adults: £16.75; Children (aged 4-15 years): £12.30; Under 4 years: Free Those colourful cadbury characters will be coming along this weekend to welcome visitors at regular intervals throughout the day.

Heritage Weekend

Dates: 16 & 17 July Time: 9.30 – 4pm Admission: Adults: £16.75; Children (aged 4-15 years): £12.30; Under 4 years: Free Come along for a guided stroll around Bournville, and gain a history of Cadbury’s home town. See George and Richard Cadbury’s vision.

Summer Holiday Family Fun

Dates: 16 July – 4 September Times: 16 – 17 Jul, 9.30 – 4pm; 18 – 22 Jul, 10am – 4pm; 23 & 24 Jul, 9.30 – 4pm; 25 Jul – 4 Sept 9am – 4.30pm Admission: Adults: £16.75; Children (aged 4-15 years): £12.30; Under 4 years: Free Cadbury World welcomes you and your family to their summer of fun! There will be a host of hilarious entertainers, from ventriloquists to maestros of magic in the Cadbury marquee. Catch a photo with one of Cadbury’s characters. Freddo, Caramel Bunny and all their friends will be happy to see you!

What’s On

Follow us on TWITTER @familiesbirm The Core Theatre

(previously Solihull Arts Complex) The Core Theatre, Solihull Theatre Square, Touchwood, Homer Road, Solihull, B91 3RG thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk 0121 704 6962

Time: 1 - 3pm Admission: £4 per child Get crafty! A make and take craft activity for families.

Turning Pages

Dates: 27 Jul, 3 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug Times: 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Admission: £5 per session. Lunch supervision offered for extra £2 Age: 4-10 years Early booking recommended Children’s holiday workshop with artist Helen Lane. Topics include The Little Mermaid, Jungle Book and Harry Potter!

Hoar Park

B4114 Nr Ansley, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0QU, hoar-park.co.uk, 024 7639 4433

Craft Fairs

Dates: 17 July, 21 Aug Times: 10 – 4pm In Hoar Park’s Red Barn, refreshments available. Events are subject to change.

For information about any of the events call the office.

Hole Farm Trekking Centre Woodgate Valley Country Park, Watery Lane, Quinton, Birmingham, B32 3BS, 0121 422 3464, birmingham.gov.uk

Pony Mornings

Days: Tuesday - Sundays Opening times: 10am – 4pm Admission: from £7 Experience a half hour pony trek through Woodgate Valley. A safe environment free of any roads. This could be a one off, once a year fantastic experience for some young people to meet, touch and ride a pony. For others it is the start of an enjoyable hobby.

Their pony mornings last for 2 hours and involve the riders learning about horses, carrying out grooming and having a led trek. Held during school holiday periods.

Sutton Coldfield, B73 6EN suttongames.co.uk Dates: 9 – 10 July Times: 12 – 5pm More than 60 events, including a 400m Run, Active Children’s Exercise, Baby Sensory, Baby Yoga, Basketball, Children’s Duathalon, Face Painting, Football, and much much more. It promises to be a great day out for the whole family.

Symphony Hall

Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA

Music for Youth Festival

Museum and Art Gallery of Birmingham Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH, 0121 348 8038, birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag

Staffordshire Hoard Conservation: Festival of Archaeology Date: 28 – 29 Jul Time: 10 – 1pm; 2 – 4pm Admission: Free Put on a lab-coat and clean a object under the microscope, identify your archaeological finds and handle real archaeological objects.

Soho House

Soho Avenue, Birmingham, B18 5LB, 0121 348 8150, birminghammuseums.org. uk/soho

Parent, Baby and Toddler Meet-up - Tuesdays Dates: July 5, 12, 19, 26; Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Times: 9.30 – 11.30am Admission: Free Parents, grandparents and carers can bring babies and toddlers along to play toys while the grown-ups enjoy a cuppa and chat. Free parking, secure garden.

Days: 5 – 9 July Times: Various, see mfg.org.uk Tickets: Adult £17.50, Child £9.50, under 5s free Love fine music? Then come along for a five day feast for your ears, and your hearts! Witness the talents and skills of our young musicians. There will be over 400 live performances featuring something for music lovers of all generations.

Tues: Choirs / Infant & Junior groups Weds: Choirs / Ensemble & Chamber Thurs: Brass Bands, Wind Bands, World Music, Folk & Roots, String & Chamber Fri: Brass & Wind Bands, Jazz Bands & Orchestras, Evening Jazz concert Sat: Orchestras, Ensemble & Chamber, Rock, Pop and Urban thsh.co.uk, 0121 345 0600

National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain Date: 5 August Time: 7.30pm Tickets: from £6.25 An orchestrally thrilling journey through space. Music to leave ears ringing and spines tingling!

Tamworth Castle

Tamworth Castle, The Holloway, Tamworth, Staffs, B79 7NA, tamworthcastle.co.uk, 01827 709626

The Big Read: BB Taylor

Enchanted Castle

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

Date: 30 July Times: 12.30 – 1.30pm Admission: Free Age: 5 – 10 years A chance for your children to learn from a real author. A fun writing workshop, exploring the magic of words.

Crafty Kids Workshops Thursdays

Sutton Coldfield Community Games

Town Hall, Birmingham

75-80 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6HA birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery 0121 348 8140

Dates: 4 - 25 Aug

Wyndley Leisure Centre, Clifton Rd,

Dates: 25 - 29 Jul; 22 – 26 Aug Times: 11.30 – 4.45pm Admission: Adult £7, Child 5+ £4.50, Child 2-4 £2.50, Child under 2 free.

Who likes knights, dragons and fairies?

Then follow the magical trail through the Castle! Prepare to be enchanted….

Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3DQ, thsh.co.uk, 0121 780 3333

National Children’s Orchestras of

Great Britain: Under 12 Orchestra

Date: 20 August Time: 6pm Tickets: from £5 Come and enjoy a brilliant evening of youthfully exuberant music. NCO’s Under12 Orchestra provides a fresh approach to concert repertoire. Prepare to be truly amazed.

Umberslade Farm

Butts Lane, Tanworth in Arden B94 5AE, umberslade.com, 01564 742251 Opening Daily Times: 10am to 5pm Admission: Adults £7.50 (£8.50); Child £6.50 (£7.50); Under 2s go free.

Umberslade has lots of activities this summer whatever the weather, including: Tractor Rides and Pony Rides (Weekends and School Holidays only), Bottle feeding Lambs, Calf Feeding, Small Animal Holding, Meet and feed the goats, Collecting the eggs, Meet and feed the chickens, Pony Care, Indoor play and Outdoor play

Weoley Castle

Alwold Road, Weoley Castle, B29 5RJ, 0121 348 8120, birminghammuseums.org.uk/weoley

Medieval Open Day

Date: 31 Jul Time: 12 – 4pm Admission: Free (Craft Activity £1 per child) Fun times in Medieval Weoley! See knights do battle, learn about medieval history, enjoy craft activities.

Competitions. Terms and conditions.

1. Only one entrant from the same email account will be accepted.

2. Under 16s must obtain parental consent before entering.

3. Entries must be received by the closing date stated on each individual competition. Proof of entering cannot be taken as proof of receipt.

4. All decisions of Families Birmingham are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

5. No prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize.

6. Winners’ contact details will be supplied to the Promoter of each competition.

7. Families Birmingham is not liable for any delay or failure by the Promoter to deliver any prize or for the quality of the prize or for any loss or damage arising in connection with the competition.

8. By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to these terms and conditions.

9. Winning entries will be randomly drawn from all correct entries and contacted via the email account provided by the entrant. If Families Birmingham does not obtain a response from the winner within 24 hours, we reserve the right to select another winner at random.

10. This competition is restricted to residents of the West Midlands only.

Open your ears to the music of the universe with the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers.

Experience classical music's must-hear piece, Holst's The Planets.

£5 FOR

UNDER

25S*

In association with

*A £3 transaction fee, plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box office.

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NYO is a registered charity No. 290598. Photo: Jason Alden

Fri 5 August 2016, 7.30pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham nyo.org.uk

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Classic, quirky, funky … fitted shoes with a difference!

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