SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 19/02/2019 15:20 Page 4
News Polka Theatre closed for renovation
Congratulations to children from Priory CofE School in Wimbledon who have been judges of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2019. Although adult judges chose the shortlist, the winners will be decided by children from 12 schools around the country. The winner will be announced on Blue Peter on 7th March on World Book Day.
Further to a £1.2 million award from Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, our beloved Polka theatre is closed until the summer of 2020 to allow much needed rebuilding and refurbishing–excellent news to celebrate its 40th birthday year and make ready for the next 40 years. The development includes a new Adventure Theatre specially designed for young children up to age 5, a new
rehearsal and development studio, a creative learning studio designed with particular reference to children with sensory needs, as well as improved access facilities. Polka is one of the few theatres in the UK dedicated exclusively to children. A further £1 million approx is still needed to help complete this £7.5 million project. https://polkatheatre.com
Like to get involved with Families magazine? Could you help us by distributing a batch of magazines in your school? Would you like to review shows and events and share your reviews? If so, why not join our team of ‘roving mums’! We want to involve you in the production of the magazine: share your passions, your favourite eateries and in exchange you will get a chance to win prizes, tickets to shows and to review products to keep. There will be a limited number of mums in the team. Email editor@familiesSW.co.uk or call 020 8696 9680.
About WIFI and Smart Meters In our Jan/Feb issue we mentioned a piece published in ‘The Lancet’ about the potential health risks to humans associated with prolonged exposure to WIFI (mobile phones, computer routers, masts, baby monitors etc). If you haven’t read it yet, do, it is very important. One reader wanted his viewpoint expressed about smart meters (not about the potential risks of WIFI use). At Families we like our readers to make up their own minds, so please read the Lancet report here http://bit.ly/Lancetarticle, or find out more about smart meters here http://stopsmartmeters.org.uk/ and here’s what our reader has to say: “New gas and electricity smart meters are being offered to every home across Great Britain at no extra cost. With an end to estimated bills and a portable in-
home display showing spending on energy in pounds and pence, smart meters equip families with the tools necessary to eliminate energy waste at home and reduce bills. By reducing energy use, we can cut the amount of carbon we produce as a country and help to tackle climate change. To reassure the public that smart meters are safe, Public Health England has conducted and published extensive peer-reviewed research. This research has found that while smart meters do use radio waves, they do so at a typical rate of a millionth of the minimum international guidelines and significantly lower than existing devices such as mobile telephones or WI-FI.” To learn more about the benefits of smart meters and protections in place, visit www.smartenergygb.org
4 Families South West • March/April 2019
Enjoy British Science Week Families can enjoy a wonderful time together during British Science Week 2019 which will take place from 8 to 17 March. Science Week is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths with fascinating, entertaining and engaging activities for all ages taking place across the UK. You
can also download a series of FREE activity packs at www.britishscienceweek.org filled with resources and ideas to try out at home or school, without the need for a science background or expensive equipment. To find an event close to you, visit www.sciencelive.net familiesonline.co.uk
