Families Suffolk July - August 2014 Issue 18

Families Suffolk – The local magazine containing useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds

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iss JUL ue 18 Y/ 201 AUG 4

Suffolk

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In this issue

Local News – Clubs and Classes News –Suffolk Most Active County News – Family Matters - Summer Holiday Fun, plus much more I p s w i c h • R U SH M E R E • B E L S T E A D • WH E R S T E A D • P I N E W O O D • K E S G R AV E • H E N L E Y • W I T N E SH A M N A C T O N • H O L B R O O K • SH O T L E Y • C L A Y D O N • Woodbridge • Hadleig h • Sto w market

Welcome Welcome back to Families Suffolk, I hope you are all having fun and making the most of the lovely light evenings and outdoor fun that can be enjoyed over the summer months. Love it or loathe it the 6 week school holidays is not that far away now, so in this issue we hope to have provided you with many ideas of how you can spend your family time whether you are looking to take part in sporting activities, get creative, get messy during outdoor fun, or just looking for some quiet time, we have ideas for everyone. We also have our regular features for you to enjoy, Local News, Clubs and Classes News, Baby & Toddler Talk, Parents Place, Family Matters and Our Community pages. I hope you enjoy this issue, please do get in contact if you would like us to feature any specific article or event, we are always happy to hear from you. I hope you and your family have a lovely summer break.

Happy Reading – Editor

Lisa Giddings

Outdoor fun

Local News

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3-4 5 7

Clubs & Classes News Toddler Talk Unlocking the Secrets of Daisy Baby Massage

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Our Community Suffolk Community Foundation & Concord Media

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Suffolk Most Active County News

12 - 14

Summer Holiday Family Fun

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Family Matters Health, Education and Mediation

11

8&9

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Next issue - September / October 2014 Circulation - 16,000 copies of Families Suffolk are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other distribution points throughout Suffolk. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please contact us.

ithernsea

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Downham Market

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fun & affordable - for all Age groups & Levels!

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DESIGN & EDITING Cresign: 01473 422 779 info@cresign.co.uk www.cresign.co.uk COVER IMAGEs With thanks to Easton Farm Park - The Suffolk Fun Festival

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Local News

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Suffolk Dog Day This year’s Suffolk Dog Day is to be held on 27th July 2014 at the historic Helmingham Hall and Gardens and is sponsored

by Adnams Southwold and Shadwell Stud. Suffolk Dog Day has raised over £285,000 for the Suffolk Community Foundation over the past six years. The Star attraction at this year’s event will be the motorcycle stunt team Inch Perfect!

With their skilled riders, spectacular stunts and crowd participation it will be a show that can’t fail to excite!

Packed full of attractions for dogs and their owners alike, it has been described as “one of Suffolk’s biggest days out”.

Over 8,000 visitors are expected this year and, with even more attractions than in previous years, the 7th annual Suffolk Dog Day is set to be the biggest and best one yet.

For furry friends, there will be a range of events and competitions including the Doglympics, Dog Scurries, games

World Record Bear Hunt attempt Many of the county’s libraries are taking part in a bear hunt with a difference this month. Walker Books and Read for RNIB Day are celebrating 25 years of the popular children’s book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ with a Guinness World Record attempt for the world’s largest reading lesson.

A series of interactive storytelling events will take place on Tuesday 15 July linked to a live broadcast of Michael Rosen reading his book from Colchester at 10am. As well as live streaming of the event, several Suffolk Libraries are holding other bear hunt related activities. The national event is being co-ordinated to raise funds for the RNIB and awareness of visual impairments.

The book itself is very descriptive and accessible and is regarded as a perfect story for children with visual impairments.

Several libraries will be streaming the live event and holding bear hunt activities during the week. There will be activities at Ipswich, Westbourne, Woodbridge, Stowmarket, Hadleigh, Saxmundham and Long Melford libraries. For more details www.suffolklibraries.co.uk or ask at your library or visit www.jointhebearhunt.com/rnib/

of Flyball, the popular Dog Classes and much more, in addition to a performance by the much loved Easton Harriers.

Back due to popular demand, ‘Doggytude’ the dedicated musical bandstand will return with more fine local musical talent than you can shake a tail at!

If shopping is more your thing, there will be have over 80 stalls for you to browse at your leisure in addition to the Catering Village where visitors will have the choice of a range of tasty treats from burgers and sausages to curries, fish and chips. Furry friends are also catered for with some delicious doggy treat stall holders. Kids will be kept entertained at the new Kids Activity Area where they will get the chance to go bungee trampolining, go-karting or to have a go on the bouncy castle and a giant inflatable slide. At Suffolk Dog Day, there really is something for everyone. www.suffolkdogday.com

Previous results have seen PTES initiate a campaign to protect hedgehogs after Around one million discovering the species mammals are killed populations had declined by around a third since 2001. on UK roads each Families this year are being year, but People’s Trust for Endangered encouraged to add to this Species (PTES) is turning these deaths into data between July and a positive, by using recorded sightings of September, a time of year road kill to help monitor the changing state when people are setting off of Britain’s wildlife populations, all with the help of the Mammals on Roads app starting on summer holidays and wildlife’s young animals this July. may be leaving the parental PTES is calling on volunteers to record any home.You can take part in sightings of mammals, dead or healthy, they the survey using the free spot on their car journeys via their mobile app, available from the App phones and tablets. The Mammals on Roads Store and Google Play. app tracks mammals seen during the course Alternatively, the survey can of a car journey using GPS and users logging be completed on the web, what they have seen. The survey is one of or via a printed survey pack. the few monitoring efforts of wild mammal Email mor@ptes.org or populations nationally and relies on wildlife call 020 74984533 to enthusiasts to gather the data each year. request a pack.

Help British Wildlife Protection

Rendlesham Day Nursery to offer 2 year old funding.

From September 2014 many families will now be able to claim 15 hours a week of 2 year old funding!

Parents who are claiming Child Tax Credits with an annual income below £16,190 and parents on income support will be able to access the new funding.

In expectation of this development, the nursery had their toddler room extended last year and are hopeful that all parents claiming the funding will be able to choose the sessions that best suit them.

Rendlesham Day Nursery has been proving high quality childcare for the community for nearly 10 years. The nursery is fitted with web cams so you can watch your children while they play! If you are interested in registering your child please call or email on 01394 420581/info@ rendleshamdaynursery.co.uk to book a visit.

Can you give a little time to make a big difference for young cancer patients in Suffolk?

CLIC Sargent will be holding its national fundraising event, the Big Bucket Collection at venues across the UK this September, as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every day, 10 children and young people in the UK hear the shocking news they have cancer. At CLIC Sargent we do all we can to help – our care professionals aim to support the whole family through treatment. This September, thousands of volunteers will give a little time to hold collections in their local community, aiming to raise £150,000 to help young cancer patients and their families. Volunteer to be a ‘Chief Bucketeer’ and have fun with your friends, family or colleagues. You can collect for a few hours, a day or maybe even more!

We will match you to a venue near you and give you all the support, information and materials you need to coordinate your collection and make the most of this fantastic fundraising opportunity. Signing up to take part is easy. Simply complete our online form at: www.clicsargent.org.uk/bigbucketcollection or call us on 0845 121 2495

Glass and Craft Studio Opens at Kersey Mill. A creative experience for the whole family!

Glass and Craft is especially keen to encourage families with children to come along to Kersey Mill to have a go at creating something as they offer an exciting variety of ideas and formats that will stimulate Glass and Craft, operated by talented local glass painting children of all ages. artist, Stacy Foster and her husband Richard, had its Grand The studio is also a super venue for children’s parties and can cater Opening on Saturday 14th June. Stacy and Richard say that for up to ten children. “We can offer a really great and creative party”, they are now delighted to welcome customers of all ages who says Richard “With our neighbouring café providing delicious homewant to paint their own personal glassware, or to create a made food in a variety of available catering packages”. fantastic 3D design using Decopatch, to their new purpose- Except for parties, reservations are not usually necessary but people designed studio. “We have something for everyone”, says are advised to contact Glass & Craft to check availability.

Stacy “And anybody can make a special present or personal www.glassandcraft.co.uk 01473 517 404 facebook.com/ item no matter what their artistic ability as we will always be GlassAndCraft available to offer some help”.

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Local News The Cuddliest Attraction in Suffolk

The Ipswich Maritime Festival runs from 15th to 17th August. The Bear Garden will be joining in the celebrations by hosting a pirate and princess fancy dress competition with Pirate and Princess bear prizes to be won. There will be various activities throughout the summer holidays including our Bears on tour competition. Take a snap shot of your Bear Garden bear on holiday or on your family day out and upload it to our Facebook page. Make sure you keep your bear looking cool this summer with the stores new season’s wardrobe!

We now have summer outfits and accessories in stock, including

KIDZONE FUN THIS SUMMER HOLS !

The summer holidays are nearly here! What to do with the children during the school holiday can be a problem for working parents. Kidzone are offering 4 weeks of fun to keep the children entertained while you work, full days available 8am-6pm Monday to Friday at a cost of £24. Their holiday club is based at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road in their fully equipped studio, they have their own fully enclosed garden area as well as access to areas around the sports club to do sporting activities and make use of their bouncy castles in the good weather. Kidzone are Ofsted registered offering quality childcare for children aged 3 to 12 years in a safe stimulating and fun environment. They have a full programme of activities including cooking sessions, craft sessions, jewellery making and many outings planned, including visits to Rendelsham Forest, Southwold Maze, Framingham Castle, Felixstowe, a boat trip, crabbing and more...

If you would like further information about the holiday club, before and after school care, crèche sessions, under 5s play groups, birthday party packages, wedding crèches, bouncy castle hire or even a character mascot appearance at your event Kidzone would be happy to hear from you.

07756535059 or 07724114794 www.kidzonecreche.co.uk

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sponsored by

Mermaid Ipswich

Hawaiian outfits, swimwear, sun visors and sun glasses. The Bear Garden is the perfect place to build magical bears come rain or shine. The best way to keep up to date on all bear news is to follow The Bear Garden on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/thebeargardenipswich or on Twitter @beargardenshop.

Find in Tower Ramparts, Ipswich.

01473 558 994 www.thebeargardenipswich.co.uk

POLKA-DOT SUMMER SCHOOLS

The complete labelling solution – because kids lose stuff!

Labels4Kids offers a wide range of name labels, so whatever you need to be able to identify, they’ve got a solution, with labels for school, camp, sports clubs, daycare, and more.

Choose from iron on labels, sew in labels, sticky labels, click on labels, and dishwasher and microwaveproof labels for water bottles or lunch boxes. Labels4Kids offers such a large, tried and tested amount of labels that there really is something for everyone.

Labels4Kids continues the expansion and modernisation of their website to make the ordering process faster and smoother. Not only can you design your vinyl order onscreen now, but postage is free for orders of £20 or more, and they have a 100% money-back guarantee if you have any problems with your labels. Labels4Kids apologise for any ordering problems you may have encountered last year during the website move which took longer than expected but is now completed.

The popular company is expecting a very busy summer, so do remember to get your orders in early at the start of summer to guarantee a quick turnaround in time for school. Follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Flickr, or sign up to their blog for news of more developments later this year! Progressing labelling for your benefit, Labels4Kids care, because try as they might, kids DO lose stuff! www.labels4kids.com/fam

Calling all runners……

This years Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon is fast approaching however there is still time to enter!

The race, which is happening on 21 September will again be hosted in the picturesque Christchurch Park, Ipswich with the race starting and finishing in front of the iconic Mansion House. The main race will start at 10:00am and there is also a free to enter, family fun run.

As well as the races there will be entertainment for the whole family so come along and join in the fun!

Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced runner there is plenty of advice and training programmes available on the event website to help and support you in your training to achieve your goals. How about running the event in support of a local charity?

The events nominated charities this year are St Elizabeth Hospice and EACH and what better way motivate you than to raise money for them along the way.

For details of how to enter, raising money for one of the nominated charities as well as training plans and tips from Ipswich Jaffa Coaches please visit our new event website www.ipswichhalfmarathon.co.uk

Polka-Dot Performing Arts Ltd’s summer school offers the chance for 5 - 16 year olds to experience a week of drama, dance and singing workshops, with a showcase at the end of the week. The sessions are suitable for boys and girls. No previous experience is required and beginners are always made to feel most welcome. Due to local funding the summer school places are from only £55 for the whole week and will include Frozen and Smash themed sessions. Polka Dot is celebrating it’s 10th year anniversary this year. It’s principle, Kelly has been teaching since 2003 is a dance specialist and experienced teacher, she has worked for theatre schools, Suffolk County Council as a sports coach and as a freelance teacher.

The Summer School will be held between 28th July - 1st August at Thomas Mills Sports Centre, Framlingham. The Sports centre is situated at Thomas Mills High School. The centre are very much looking forward to welcoming Kelly and the Polka Dot Performing Arts team back this summer. The summer school usually books up quickly so get in touch soon to book a place.

Contact Kelly 077867 96555 Kelly.polka-dot@hotmail.co.uk

Summer fun at iSwim, Clopton

Join iSwim for a FUN packed summer program in the warm waters of their Clopton pool. They have activities galore to suit all ages and abilities kicking off with weekly summer intensive lessons for those getting started to those already whizzing along. Intensive swimming lessons run weekly throughout the holiday, a great way to develop essential skills at only £38 for the week! Parents needing the afternoon off can take advantage of our Swim Camps running every Tuesday and Thursday of the holiday 12.30 till 4pm. Swim Camps offer hours of fun for children aged 3 and over! For the adventurous we have ‘Wicked Wednesdays’ filled with Flip & Fun Diving, Snorkelling and Scuba Diving sessions. For the whole family why not hire our pool all to yourselves! Private Family Swims are available every day of the holidays for only £24! Now that’s what we call a summer. For the full program or to book contact iswim on 01473 277085 www.iswim@live.co.uk

To contribute to future editions please email editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk or call 01473 788546

Clubs & Classes News New School Year, New hobby?

Gymnastic Courses are a structured and fun way to learn Gymnastic skills. Classes are designed to be stimulating and enjoyable whilst teaching the elements needed for gymnastic development.

Children will experience all gymnastics apparatus including floor, beam, bars, trampoline and vault.

Little Teddy Bear and Teddy Bear classes are extremely popular for children aged 2 to full time school age. They are great way to help children prepare for their time at school by interacting with other children, as well as being part of a structured class.

If your child is at full time school why not get them involved in a new hobby? Our recreational classes are a fun way to help children learn and develop new skills in classes organised by ability.

All courses operate around an award scheme, which gives the classes’ direction and purpose. The cost of an 8 week course is £48.80, with children being tested on the skills they have learnt during the course in week 7, and receiving a certificate in week 8 if they pass.

In order to get your child onto a course, contact Reception on 01473 433676 or email admin@pipersvale.co.uk to put your name down on our waiting list.

We don’t just offer Gymnastics Courses…

We also have Casual sessions for Parent and Toddler, Youth Night and Free Running as well as Adult Night sessions every week!

We also offer Children’s Gymnastic Parties most weekends throughout the year. www.gymnasticsinipswich.co.uk

sponsored by Ipswich Borough Council The largest sport provider in Ipswich

Learn play grow

Learn play grow is an effective multi sports programme, it has created sessions specifically designed for 2 year olds, 3-4 year olds and 5 year olds. It will take your children on a new journey, a completely exclusive way to encourage your children to enjoy sports using our LPG characters, pictures, stories and music. In these sessions our LPG kiddies learn and develop many physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills needed to participate in sport. We also aim to develop happy confident children.

Learn play grow holds daily classes for 2 years olds and 3-4 year olds at Ipswich School, Rushmere sports centre, The Street (off Playford Road), Eaton Place, Ipswich, IP5 1DE. We also run classes in our network of schools and nurseries in Ipswich.

We are offering all children a free taster session to our classes at Ipswich school, and also providing free taster session for all schools and nurseries, to give you an insight into our unique programme. This will also give us a chance to introduce our learn play grow characters to your children.

Learn play grow is now introducing a birthday party package, with £40 off all parties booked before October 2014. *t&c’s apply.

07538 262 376 www.learnplaygrow.co.uk

Gary Staff Martial Arts Academy

Why not use the summer holiday break to try something new and different, either just the children or the whole family. Martial Arts is a skill which not only helps you develop physically in areas such as co-ordination, stamina, balance, and flexibility but also helps develop the ability to concentrate, focus and to have self -belief, plus encourages self-confidence and respect for yourself and for others. To start to learn a skill over the summer that helps in all of those areas would surely be a great way to spend some time. Gary Staff Martial Arts Academy, Turrett Lane in Ipswich offers various classes for children 4 years and over plus a drop in parent and child class.

Gary has had many years of experience and would be happy to welcome some new faces both children and adults alike into the academy over the summer holiday weeks to see for themselves the benefits Martial Arts has to offer. Please contact Gary on 01473 233633 07794167527 or visit www.gsmaa.co.uk

Sports Clubs with Ipswich Borough Council If you’re interested in joining, volunteering or finding out about a sports club, Ipswich Borough Council have a comprehensive and useful online sports club guide to help you find the right club for you. There are currently almost 50 clubs listed covering everything from American Football clubs to Basketball, Boxing, Cheerleading, Disability sports clubs, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Hockey, Orienteering, Rollerskating, Swimming, Rugby, Tri-athlon, Wheelchair Rugby and Yoga.

The guide also lets you know which clubs have received Clubmark status, which sets approved standards in club management.

Find out more at www.ipswich.gov.uk/sport and choose the ‘Sports Clubs’ listing.

Felixstowe Hockey Club Win National Sports Award

One of our local sports clubs, Felixstowe Hockey Club, have won England Hockey’s prestigious ‘Club of the Year’ having been shortlisted along with clubs from Oxfordshire, Cheshire, West Midlands and Middlesbrough.

Felixstowe have had a monumental season in 2013/14 with a number of their achievements from both the senior and junior section of the club contributing to their success in being named Club of the Year. The clubs Mens 1st team were promoted to the highest league they have ever played in while two additional adult teams were entered into local leagues to provide development opportunities for younger players progressing into senior hockey. An amazing amount of work has also seen the club join in partnership with the local schools to increase participation in hockey.

The club, in conjunction with EH and Felixstowe Academy run quick sticks courses, afterschool clubs and schools hockey festivals. A new satellite club contract with Suffolk Sport is also under way to continue to provide hockey playing opportunities for senior school children.

This engagement with local primary and senior schools has had a positive impact on the junior section of the club and now over 100 junior members of the club train weekly. This season has seen the U10s win both Suffolk Youth Leagues with both the U10 girls and boys qualifying for the regional IN2Hockey finals. The club have achieved ClubsFirst status having demonstrated that they run hockey in a safe, child friendly environment and next season will see even more development underway. The hockey season commences again in September 2014 and any children from Reception through to year 9 are welcome to join junior training on a Saturday morning at Felixstowe Academy all weather pitch for just £25 for the season.

For more information contact Becky Williams youth@felixstowehockeyclub.co.uk

Enigma Cheerleading Academy

Enigma Cheerleading Academy is a new and exciting programme based at Inspire Suffolk, Lindbergh Road, Ipswich. Enigma offers All Star Cheerleading to children and adults in Suffolk. The children’s classes have a maximum of 20 children and when there’s more children wanting to cheer than there are spaces they will be adding new classes. The Academy’s Head Coach is Helen Wright who has coached fitness for adults for over 15 years and has been coaching children’s dance, cheerleading and tumbling gymnastics for 5 years, plus is a parent to two fabulous children.

Cheerleading is the fastest growing team sport in the UK, they do not use pom poms in All Star cheerleading as many of you may think! Cheerleaders are extremely fit athletes and both boys and girls have the opportunity to learn skills such as gymnastic tumbling - handstands, walkovers,handsprings, somersaults also acrobatic stunting - lifts and pyramids, throws and spectacular dismounts and dancing - sharp controlled moves that show off the skills of the cheerleaders. The sport is high energy, fun and is exciting to watch as cheerleaders jump, tumble and stunt for two and a half minute routines. Classes are structured in 5 week terms to coincide with school half-terms. Holiday classes and private lessons are also available.

Beginners and Basics Classes for 3 to 13 yrs Saturdays 9am to 9.45am £2.50 per class pay as you go or £10 in advance for the term. From September a 2 hour class for 14+ and adults will be on Thursdays from 7.15pm (£15 for 5 weeks). Squad tryouts will take place in September for all ages from 5yrs up. Helen loves Cheerleading and would like as many children as possible to have the opportunity to get involved so if your child would like to learn to cheer and maybe be part of a competition team please contact Helen on 07825 408730.

www.familiessuffolk.co.uk

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Parents Place

w e i v r e t n i s s e n i Mum in Bus Your name: Fi Siddall

Name, location and nature of your business: Easton Farm Park, farm visitor attraction located in the Deben river valley between the lovely market towns of Framlingham and Wickham Market.

How long has your business been running and the reason why you started your own business?

Easton Farm Park was started by my uncle in 1974 and is 40 years old this year. My first job on the farm was apprentice dish washer in the tearoom and in the intervening years there isn’t a great deal I haven’t taken part in which is one of the most appealing things about a business like Easton.

What do you enjoy about running your own business?

The variety that each day and every season brings. With the animals, the café, the accommodation, the gift shop and all the other aspects of the farm there is always something to get your teeth stuck in to.

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about running your own business?

Fortunately my business is one that my young children can enjoy too as it can be all-consuming, particularly at the busy times of year.

What was the best piece of advice you were ever given?

“It doesn’t cost anything to smile.” Particularly in the tourism industry, it is so important to make our customers feel welcome and, frankly, how hard can it be when surrounded by the stunning Suffolk countryside every day and two gorgeous Suffolk Punch foals right outside my office window!

What does the future hold for your business?

We have got lots of exciting plans and ideas going forward for the next 40 years at Easton! Hopefully the worst of the recession is now behind us and we can start to put into action more fun and excitement for our customers from 2015 and beyond. We are already holding lots more events including the Party At The Park to celebrate our 40th Birthday on Sunday 27th July plus our fantastic Suffolk Fun Festival – a weekend of fun for families on 2nd & 3rd August with an amazing line up of events.

How do you fit your business around family life?

I believe that whatever commitments you have, you just make it work although the plates that you are spinning get faster and faster as each new baby arrives (my third is due in August!) I have a fantastic team at Easton who make the whole thing work and I couldn’t do it without them.

Respite Care in your own home Now that summer is here, thoughts turn to having a holiday. However, if you care for a family member organising a holiday isn’t always straight forward.

Local Care provider My Care at Home explain how the respite care they offer could help every family member enjoy their summer break or family event.

‘We provide short term care for family members while their family carer is on holiday, giving you peace of mind knowing your family member is receiving quality care while you are away. We provide short term respite care in your own home. This can be for as little as an hour a couple of times a week, an overnight stay, weekend, fortnight or longer. Just let us know what you require and we will look to fulfil your needs.

up when they should and do everything that is required. I always know who is coming and have a regular team of people that come to me. All in all it works superbly and if there are any changes the office will ring me straight away and inform me” On 18th June this year My Care at Home won the Outstanding Employer Commitment to training award, this award was from Suffolk Brokerage, a non-profit organisation who assist in maintaining high quality standards of care.

If you would like to find out more about respite care, or some of our other services such as Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companionship, help around the house or see how you could be supported on a regular basis, please call 01449 763086 to speak to Tracy our Manager. www.mycare-athome.co.uk

During the summer months there are lots of social occasions and family events such as weddings. If you would like support at these events or would like company to go shopping for something special, go to the seaside for the afternoon or just go for a walk around your local village, but can’t manage this without help. We can arrange for one of our carers to accompany you.

Our commitment is to provide ‘high quality care’, which we deliver through our greatest asset, our staff and the training that they receive. We recently had an inspection by the Care Quality Commission, which includes some lovely quotes from both our clients and staff, to read the report please visit our website www.mycare-athome.co.uk. Here is just one of the quotes taken from the report.’

“It is a well organised and well run establishment with a genuine caring attitude amongst all the staff. They (staff) are polite, cheerful and kind in nature. They (staff) do things how they know I like things to be done. I have no complaints. I would highly recommend the service and have done so. They (staff) stay the allocated time, turn

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To contribute to future editions please email editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk or call 01473 788546

Baby & Toddler Talk Unlocking the Secrets of Baby Massage with Daisy Baby. By Jo Cresdee Eleven years ago I was a first time mum to my beautiful eldest son. I was comparatively young to be a mother at 23 but had spent my life around young children so felt pretty confident with my newborn. One of the first things that I was excited to do was sign up to a baby massage class It was such a disappointing experience as I had been so excited about learning massage and sharing some special time with my son but we both hated the class and I felt a failure as a mother.

I am sure you are wondering how a potentially soothing and calming class became so terrifying. It was perhaps partly my perception but that makes the memories no less painful. We would all arrive at the studio for the class and be asked to undress our babies and lie them on a mat in front of us.

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That is where the trouble started for me. I would undress Finn and he would scream, we also had to take nappies off and that always resulted in my delightful son urinating all over the mat, me and occasionally the baby next door. We then had to lie our babies down on a mat in front of us, Finn of course would scream again (just as I had calmed him down after removing the clothes and mopping up the wee). We would then massage for three quarters of an hour, during most of which Finn would scream and I would repeatedly pick him up, feed him, rock him and try and put him down again gradually getting more and more stressed and upset as time went on. I could feel the steely gaze of the other mothers and the teacher who would offer helpful comments such as “are you finding it hard to cope” which upset me even more. I wasn’t finding it hard to cope; it was just that the environment of that class was the total opposite of what my baby wanted! I felt increasingly judged, isolated and disempowered so we decided on week 4 of the 6 week course that we would rebel and do our own massage class at home away from prying eyes and judgemental comments and we loved it!

So strong were the negative memories of that first baby class that for the next 10 years I never went to another baby class again with either my second or third child. I had never felt as inadequate as a mother and was not keen to repeat the experience. Then I met Julie Long and Shelley Brinkley and discovered Daisy Baby!

Suddenly everything that I had experienced as a first time mother was explained and was considered normal.

I felt a huge weight being lifted from my shoulders, I finally understood that what I had experienced all those years ago was not down to my capabilities as a mother but due to the needs of a baby in the first few months of life (the fourth trimester).

The first thing that I was taught as a trainee teacher was that young infants in the first 12 weeks of life are often over stimulated by massage – so timing is the key. Classes should be structured so that it is normal for a Mum to dip in and out, not complete the whole class but be able to learn all the techniques covered so that she can use them at home when the time is right for her and her baby allowing her baby to get used to a positive touch. The next great lesson that I learned was that there was no point massaging if your baby was crying, tense, asleep or over stimulated or if the mother felt stressed. One of the primary reasons for massaging a baby is to stimulate a positive hormone exchange between mother and child; if either party is not in the right mood this exchange will not take place. This focus on the emotional aspect of massage really interested me as it was so closely linked to my personal experience and from further research it is clear that there are so many conditions like colic that can have emotional or stress related causes that can be eased or improved by positive touch. Another great revelation – young babies hate lying on their backs due to the primitive reflexes that we are all born with – so it is ok to massage in arms and you don’t have to unwrap a baby and lie them down naked – massage through clothes is just a beneficial.

In a Daisy Baby class movement is incorporated as well as white noise and focus is paid to mums posture and movement as well. It really was a holistic approach to learning baby massage designed to empower Mum and give her confidence that her choices for her baby were the right ones. There is so much more to baby massage than a collection of strokes and moves, what really counts is positive touch, active bonding and a happy confident Mummy surrounded by a group of supportive and understanding friends.

Nearly two years later I take great pride in teaching Daisy Baby classes around Ipswich and Woodbridge. I will never forget the isolation and sadness that I felt in my first baby class but I think that has made me a far more perceptive and supportive teacher. I love meeting groups of new Mummies with their tiny babies and watching as their babies grow into toddlers and the Mummies as they bloom in motherhood and develop lasting friendships with the other women in their class. There is a hidden art to baby massage and I now know that Daisy Baby holds the key. pictures courtesy of Tree Frog Photography www.treefrogphotography.co.uk Jo teaches Lazy Daisy Birthing and Baby classes in Ipswich, Woodbridge and the surrounding area.

There are classes suitable from 14 weeks of pregnancy to children aged 5 years.

For more information please contact Jo via jo-cresdee@lazydaisybirthing.co.uk or 07944 070 362 www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk

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Family Matters In previous articles, Family Solicitor, Josephine Hayes, has considered family-related legal issues such as the law relating to unmarried couples and how to identify your legal position to take account of your personal circumstances. She also offers advice on a daily basis to those whose relationships have broken down. In this article, she discusses the subject of mediation, and the changes that are taking place in Family Law to put mediation as a lower cost alternative for any couple determined to have their day in court, and as a positive way forward for many couples just looking for a solution that will work.

Let’s just talk

When couples first decide to separate or divorce, talking can often be the hardest thing to do. Mediation simply means using an independent person to facilitate negotiations between a couple to help them reach a final agreement on any issues in dispute. A mediator can steer the negotiations and ensure couples remain on track to enable them to reach a financial settlement or resolve disagreements about the arrangements for children. The focus will be on achieving a settlement that will work for both parties post-divorce/separation.

We regularly refer clients to mediation quite early on in the separation/divorce process because it can be a really effective way of helping couples to deal with some of the most emotional parts of the break-up. Providing a neutral forum and facilitating discussion is often the best way of dealing with the issues and concerns that people have during the separation process. It can also help couples rebuild a new form of relationship and enable them to move on.

Dispelling the myth

There has been some misreporting in the mainstream media about mediation, reporting inaccurately that all couples who get divorced will now have to go through some form of mediation before their decree absolute can be awarded. This not completely true. Since the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014, anyone wishing to make a court application in relevant family proceedings must first attend a family Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

The purpose of the MIAM is to ensure that the parties understand the mediation process, are provided with all of the necessary information, and have explored the possibility of alternative dispute resolution. Mediation itself is not compulsory. Couples are only required to attend an information and assessment meeting.

The reason is because mediation is much cheaper than court proceedings and it is in the public interest as far as possible to keep disputes of every kind, but particularly family breakdown disputes, out of the court system.

Mediation: a good option

We find that even where cases are not going to end up in court, mediation can be really helpful for couples.

Mediators are usually family lawyers or magistrates used to dealing with family law. They are not there to provide advice; rather they are there to assist a couple come to an agreement they can both live with. Mediators can steer the negotiations and help keep the discussion on track to ensure that a suitable and timely agreement is reached.

Unlike commercial mediation, it is unusual for solicitors to be directly involved in family mediation sessions, which will generally involve the parties and one independent mediator. As the mediator cannot give advice, it is vital that each party has taken legal advice before the process begins so that they are aware of what they may be entitled to.

Attending mediation without solicitors can produce a better forum to discuss the issues and can keep costs down.

However, we always recommend that clients stay in touch with their solicitor during the mediation process to ensure that the agreement reached is fair and appropriate. It is worth noting that whilst mediators cannot give any advice, they will often encourage the parties to seek legal advice if there is anything they are unhappy with or if they feel that a settlement may not be appropriate. If a mediator suggests that legal advice should be taken on any specific issue, it is important that the parties heed this advice and that any questions are raised with solicitors during the mediation process to avoid the mediation agreement breaking down at the last moment.

A mediation agreement itself is not legally binding and enforceable unless or until it has been converted into a Consent Order which can be filed at Court during divorce proceedings.

Agreements concerning children are voluntary agreements and it is important to remember that they can be changed if there are any legitimate concerns over the welfare of the children.

Family consultancy

In some circumstances, mediation may not be the best option for separating couples and there are a variety of other forms of dispute resolution which may be more appropriate. Family consultancy is a relatively new concept but has proved very successful for families with children. Family consultants are not usually lawyers but are often social work trained or skilled professionals with extensive experience of assisting when families separate.

Set apart from mediators, family consultants work with parents in a range of practical ways to provide advice and suggested solutions to ease the burden on parents and ensure that the impact of separation on children is minimised.

They attempt to approach family breakdown from the point of view of the child and can even work directly with children to ascertain their wishes and feelings and help the parents to work together to achieve an appropriate way forward.

Resolution

The organisation to which I belong, Resolution, is a national organisation of family lawyers who are commmitted to resolving family disputes in a constructive and non-confrontational way. At Margary + Miller, we have adopted the Resolution code of practice and are committed to the Separating together approach. If an agreement can be reached and contested court proceedings avoided, then there is almost always a better outcome for families. By working with your solicitor and considering all your options, a marriage breakdown can be less painful and more straightforward than many couples first fear.

Josie Hayes is a specialist family lawyer able to offer advice on a wide range of family law issues.

Margary + Miller Solicitors is a long established partnership providing professional legal services throughout Suffolk and beyond. With an established reputation built on reliability, customer service and flexibility, the firm prides itself on providing quality advice, supported by legal expertise and local knowledge. Offering fixed fee and bespoke services, Margary + Miller Solicitors are confident that all of their services offer clients value for money.

For more information visit www.margary-miller.co.uk

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To contribute to future editions please email editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk or call 01473 788546

Family Matters

Health

Enjoy a healthy summer

With the school holidays just around the corner, Live Well Suffolk, the county’s free healthy lifestyles service, has put together a series of handy tips to help families enjoy a healthier summer.

Picnics Simple food swaps are one of the best ways to turn a picnic into a healthier lunch, as opposed to one that’s filled with calorie-laden snacks like sausage rolls.

Rather than having sandwiches made with thick white bread, choose wholegrain varieties or wraps and fill them with salad and lean meats like ham, chicken or tuna. Instead of taking crisps and creamy dips, try breadsticks or chop up some sticks of carrot and cucumber and dunk them in a low-fat dip such as salsa. For dessert, cut up chunks of strawberries, pineapple, melon and mango. Take some skewer sticks and let your children make their own yummy fruit kebabs.

Barbecues With barbecues, try and avoid having too many processed meat products that are high in fat like sausages and burgers and instead barbecue fish or vegetable skewers. Be sure to serve lots of fresh salad, but stick to low-fat dressings. Rather than choosing a creamy potato salad, try serving with a jacket potato or new potatoes.

Education Is your child

‘school ready’?

As we approach the summer holidays, many of you may already have started to think about September, especially if your child is starting school for the very first time. For children and their parents the transition from nursery/ childcare/ home to school can be a big change.

Recent comments from Ofsted stated that ‘ Too many children start school without the range of skills which they need’ and that steps need to be taken to ensure children are ‘school ready’

It’s important to make sure that food is properly cooked on a barbecue – take care to make sure it is not undercooked or equally, too burnt. With chicken in particular, it’s best to cook it in the oven first and finish it off on the barbecue.

Ice Lollies and Drinks Ice lollies are a summer must-have, but they’re really easy to make at home and provide a much healthier alternative to shop-bought ones which can be full of sugar. Pouring some diluted sugar-free squash or some pureed mixed berries into a mould and freezing for a couple of hours makes a lovely healthy treat.

To keep hydrated during hot weather, drink six to eight cups of water throughout the day.

Avoid sugary fizzy drinks and fruit juices and instead try sugar-free, flavoured sparkling waters.

Keep active Whether you’re at the beach, the park or just in your garden, keeping active during the summer is easy. Ball games and rounders are firm family favourites and there are lots of walking and cycling routes right across Suffolk that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Making simple food swaps is an easy way to enjoy a healthy summer

Live Well Suffolk provides a range of practical health support and advice in the county. In July, the organisation will be launching its latest healthy lifestyles campaign, encouraging both adults and children to take advantage of its new ‘Lose Weight with Live Well Suffolk’ programme.

If you’re worried about yours or your child’s weight and would like some free support, call Live Well Suffolk on 01473 229292 or visit www.livewellsuffolk. org.uk. For a range of delicious, healthy recipes and meal ideas, you can also visit www.nhs.uk/change4life.

education it is all done through play and experience and at the child’s own pace and is regularly adapted to children’s individual interests.

To help get the children ‘ready’, we believe in building strong relationships with local schools. We invite all reception teachers to visit their transitioning children at nursery during the summer term.

This initial meet in familiar surroundings plays an important part in boosting the child’s confidence when induction day arrives.

When our children move to school in September, they will encounter a new environment with different routines and expectations. The experience of Wigwams will stay with them and hopefully the ‘schools will be ready’ for them! ‘ Wigwams Nursery is part of the Bows and Arrows Nursery Group, which is an independent not for profit charity owning four nurseries around Ipswich: Buttons and Bows, Wigwams, The Children’s Triangle and Little Learners. The Group prides itself on giving children the very best possible start in life by offering the highest quality childcare (3 out of its 4 settings are rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted). Its vision is to help develop its children into strong, confident, and happy individuals.

Ipswich based Wigwams Nursery Preschool Room Leader Val Bowman talks about what ‘school ready’ means at their setting which is rated outstanding by Ofsted.

‘It is difficult to say ‘school ready’ without feeling slightly nervous about what that really means. It is impossible to expect all preschoolers to follow a ‘one size fits all ‘ set of values and learning styles. There are no two children alike. Every child learns in ways unique to them personally.

Our children make the transition to school knowing they are valued and respected, that their interests are incredibly important and that we listen carefully and take into account all their communications. These we consider to be the most important aspects of making a child ready for school.

At Wigwams we encourage children to think about their responsibilities, both for themselves and others. They are challenged to stretch their abilities not their nerve and they are praised and appreciated for being who they are.

Respecting each other connects everything we do at Wigwams, children learn to associate their behaviour with its effect. This means taking turns, listening to each other and always thinking and questioning why we do things.

Like all Nurseries and Preschools, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS) which builds a coherent and flexible approach to care and learning.

The EYFS is designed to ensure ‘school readiness’. Through everyday playful activities and experiences, children are taught aspects of learning, such as shapes, numbers, early maths, writing or mark making. At Wigwams there is no formal sit down

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Our Community

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Suffolk Community Foundation

Suffolk Community Foundation is Suffolk’s local charity for local people. They are an independent grant-maker, dedicated to helping local people in times of need.

Working in partnership with others wanting to make a difference in their local community, the Foundation channels much needed funds into local charities and community groups who are doing remarkable and often unpublicised work right across our county.

Thanks to the generosity of the Suffolk public, the Foundation has awarded over £9 million to more than 2,000 charitable organisations across Suffolk over the past nine years.

©Trevor Jolley

In this issue the Our Community page finds out about two charities in our community, Suffolk Community Foundation and Concord Media

Last year, the foundation made over 450 grants totalling £1.6 million. These grants have supported a huge range of local projects such as relieving rural isolation for older people, creating opportunities for young or disadvantaged people, supporting those suffering domestic violence or providing vital equipment for community centres – all projects where a small amount of money can make a big difference.

One such recipient is Thornham Magna Community Open Spaces; a volunteer led group who wanted to encourage everyone in Thornham to come together and take part in outdoor activities that improve the local area. The group received an Improve & Prove award of £5,000 for outstanding volunteer commitment to the creation of the community play area.

their natural surroundings, experience change and continuity, and, of course, play in a wide variety of ways.

Working in partnership with other agencies and groups, the organisation created a safe outdoor community space for residents and visitors. It is a stimulating natural play area where children and young people can play.

This is just one example of the many projects and charitable organisations that Suffolk Community Foundation supports across the county.

An area such as this can be an important social place, not just for children and young people, but also for parents, carers and the wider community. It is a space where local children and young people can enjoy spending time, be physically active, interact with

For more information on how the Foundation can help you support Suffolk communities, please visit www.suffolkcf.org.uk or call 01473 602602

Concord Media

Concord Media is an educational charity which has been operating in Ipswich for about 50 years. They specialise in programmes on DVD about social issues, including a number about child care which could be very useful material for anyone involved in childcare.

These childcare programmes include titles such as ‘I don’t need Toys’, about children playing with everyday objects, ones on baby massage and yoga for very young children, and in particular the ground-breaking films by James and Joyce Robertson, which show the effects of separation from the mother, and ways in which the trauma can be lessened.

Some interesting series show a child growing up, and comparative child care in different cultures. We

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tend to take for granted that little children should play, but in different cultures this isn’t always the case, for instance in rural Nepal. In the film ‘Monday’s Child’ we see in detail the development of a baby, born in winter to a subsistence farming family in rural Nepal. She is not given toys, but held by her mother and other family members constantly.

In ‘Saturday’s Child’ an Indian family is observed with a new baby, and its development. It shows some of the traditional rituals which are observed, including baby massage. It’s fascinating to see child care in different contexts.

A new programme about mothers and babies in Russia, ‘The Road Home’, documents what happens to single mothers who can’t find anywhere to live with their infants. The children are put into ‘orphanages’, which doesn’t mean that they are really orphans, and the mothers can visit them. There are heartrending scenes of mothers having to say goodbye to the toddlers, who are too young to understand what’s happening, and feel rejected. The films shows very graphically how these children show the symptoms of deprivation, at first demanding attention, and then slowly giving up hope and becoming unresponsive and apathetic, in spite of good material care by the attendants, who are unable to give them the individual attention that they so desperately need.

In order for everyone to have access to these informative DVD’s Concord intend in the near future to have an internet hire system at low prices suitable for the purses of individuals rather than libraries. If you would be interested in knowing when the hire system is up and running or about how you can get a copy of any of these programmes give Concord a call.

01473 726012 www.concordmedia.org.uk

To contribute to future editions please email editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk or call 01473 788546

dates for your diary Colour dash Saturday 12th July Starts 9am, registration from 8am. For children’s charity EACH The most colourful fun run you’ll ever be part of!

Get showered with clouds of coloured powder every kilometre as you dash around the 5km course in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. This will be the first Colour Dash in Suffolk and it is open to all people of all fitness levels - families, work colleagues, teams and individuals.

You can run, walk or stroll the 5km route. These fun and colourful events are taking the UK by storm, and are a great way to raise funds and have fun at the same time. With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow: 1 Wear white at the starting line 2 Finish plastered in colour!

There are only 1,000 spaces so sign up today!

Sky Ride Ipswich is back! Sunday 31st August, 11.00am

A fantastic traffic-free bike ride through the town between 11am and 3pm, passing some of the town’s most iconic sights. With loads of free things to do and try out, including the brand new ‘Tricks & Tunes’ area, plus the friendly Bike Cafe. It will be a real festival atmosphere. Register your free place now www.goskyride.com/IpswichSkyRide/ – and if you’re one of the first thousand to sign up, you’ll also receive a limited edition gift on the day. Everyone who signs up for Sky Ride Ipswich is also entitled to a free expert bike check (worth £14.99) at Halfords.

Dig Deep Suffolk Races 6-7th September 2014

Dig Deep Suffolk is a unique weekend of trail running over a variety of distances through the beautiful Suffolk Countryside and coastline. There are 4 races to choose from including the 5.5 mile Rendlesham Dash Trail Race, a 20km Trail Race a 28 mile ‘Intro Ultra’ Trail marathon and the 50 mile Ultra Tour of Suffolk. The event takes place on 6th and 7th September 2014 and will be based at Wantisden Hall, Nr Woodbridge where competitors camping and registration will be located along with talks, demonstrations, films and running retail provided by Sweatshop (Ipswich). The shorter races (Rendlesham Dash Trail 5.5 mile race and Rendlesham 20km Trail race) are a great way for those taking their first steps into off-road running to appreciate the benefits and difference from running on tarmac. More information and entry details are online at www.digdeepraces.co.uk

Suffolk celebrated the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in style!

Having criss-crossed the world and travelled around 68 Commonwealth countries and territories since it left Buckingham Palace in October 2013, the Baton reached Suffolk on 9 June where it notched up some 120 miles and was seen by an estimated 10,000 thousand people as it made its way to Lowestoft, Newmarket, Bury St.Edmunds and Ipswich. Here’s a quick look back at some of the highlights of its journey through Suffolk.

For more information call us on 01473 27619 or email treehouse@each.org.uk www.each.org.uk/events/events_diary/ colour_dash

New inclusive Doorstep Sport Club for Ipswich The opening of a new inclusive Doorstep Sport Club disadvantaged communities in an effort to increase motivation and allow young people to develop a in Ipswich is to take place on the 26th June at the sporting habit for life.

Castle Hill Community Centre.

The ‘Inclusive Ipswich’ club has been created with the aim of increasing and sustaining participation in sport and physical activity by young disabled people between the ages of 14 and 25.

Sports charity ‘Street Games’ has been commissioned by Sport England to create 1000 Doorstep Sports Clubs for young people across the country between 2013 and 2017.

Inclusive Ipswich has been formed as part of a national initiative by Sport England targeting

It is hoped that this new multi-sport club will provide those in and around Ipswich with a disability with an

opportunity to play sport in a friendly, welcoming and enjoyable environment.

The Doorstep Sport Club programme has now led to the development of 6 clubs across Suffolk - four new clubs currently being established and two set up last year in Ipswich and Lowestoft.

The Inclusive Ipswich Doorstep Sports Club starts on Thursday 26th June from 5pm-6pm at the Castle Hill Community Centre, Highfield Road, Ipswich, IP1 6DG. The club will continue every Thursday throughout the year thereafter.

To register, or to find out more information about the club, please contact Matt Abbott on 07846 510139 or e-mail matt@elatussports.co.uk.

Helping Suffolk to become England’s Most Active County www.mostactivecounty.com www.familiessuffolk.co.uk

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Summer Holiday Fun Big Cook Little Cook Family friendly restaurant The Mermaid on Yarmouth Rd in Ipswich will be hosting a series of Big Cook Little Cook sessions every Tuesday throughout the school summer holidays. The sessions will run from 2.30-4pm and include lots of fun and activities. Every week the children (under supervision) will cook something either sweet or savoury.

Whilst their food is cooking they can enjoy a craft activity.

When the food is cooled they get to eat it or they can take it home. It’s a lot of fun for a few hours all for £1.50 per child.

It is best for children that are able to work on their own but parental help is ok. ‘Like’ Mermaid Ipswich on Facebook for all other offers and events during the summer holidays.

Easton Farm Park Daily pony rides, train rides, egg collecting, hug a bunny, meet the farm animals, tractor & trailer rides and lots more interactive fun over the summer holidays. A visit to the farm is a magical experience with two indoor playbarns and the new, improved outdoor playground with acres of space to run around or drive one of the many pedal tractors around the yard.

Meet the farm animals every day, including the newborn Suffolk Punch foals, kid goats, chicks, bunnies and piglets.

There are lovely walks around the Park down towards the beautiful river Deben and plenty to learn about the animals and the native flora and fauna along the way.

Look like a scarecrow after a straw fight in the Straw Barn or pelt Mum and Dad with soft balls in the cannon playzone followed by a delicious cuppa and slice of homemade sponge (or rocky road).

The farm has lots of special events through the summer holidays so keep an eye on the web for more details www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk or via the facebook or twitter pages.

RSPB Minsmere The summer holidays are a time to be outdoors enjoying the warmer weather and soaking up all that our wild spaces have to offer. Perhaps you and your family enjoyed BBC Springwatch during the summer term when a whole variety of wildlife was brought to our screens live from the RSPB’s Minsmere nature reserve near Saxmundham. The show took us up close to booming bitterns, sleek nightingales and hungry tawny owls and encouraged huge numbers of us to visit the reserve in person.

So what’s going on at Minsmere now that the cameras have stopped rolling? Well, there is a huge amount to see and do for you and all the family. Look for young avocets, common terns and gulls on the ‘Scrape’, the watery area of the reserve that the avocets were nesting on during Springwatch. The infamous bitterns can still be seen now and are often easiest to spot on their feeding flights, as they bring food back to their hungry chicks. Young marsh harriers will have started to fledge around now and will be tentatively trying out their wings; watch them flap hesitantly over the reeds. There will also be an excellent variety of butterflies and dragonflies flitting, dashing and buzzing around the reserve and fast-flying hobbies may be seen hunting the dragonflies above the reedbeds.

A visit over the summer will keep children busy all day long with lots of outdoor activities to get involved with. Get rid of any excess energy in the Wild Zone and Wild Wood Adventure. Try climbing the play tree or become a bittern or a sand martin in child-sized play habitats, then build a den or search for minibeasts beneath a sheltered canopy of woodland. There are plenty of seasonal activities held at Minsmere too – watching the bird ringers carefully ringing birds with tags is a particular favourite for our younger and older visitors alike. You can borrow a choice of equipment to make your visit all the more memorable, including binoculars, digital camera, bug box or ID guides in the children’s Explorer backpacks.

For more information on how to get to RSPB Minsmere and for upcoming events please visit www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere.

The Suffolk Fun Festival The Suffolk Fun Festival celebrates its second year at Easton Farm Park with an action-packed full weekend programme of events that will include music, magic, street theatre, puppets, kites, clowns and canoeing PLUS all the fun of the circus with stilt-walking, plate-spinning, juggling, tight-rope walking and more. The Crafty Barn will present a world of weather-proof indoor activities including face-painting, rocket building, cheese making, chocolate tasting, soap baking and lots more and on Saturday night the Barmy Barn will host a fancy dress competition and children’s disco.

The RSPB and The Suffolk Wildlife Trust will be on hand to educate and entertain with a range of nature-based activities and even the tiny tots can play, create and explore with the Imps toddler team. The spectacular Suffolk Kites will be back on Sunday with giant-size displays and make-your-own kite workshops, and the more intrepid adventurers can build and fire a rocket or go canoeing along hidden stretches of the River Deben.

Join our team of egg-collectors, enjoy a pony ride, or a train ride, experience the brand new giant sandpit or settle down and watch the Rhubarb Theatre’s amazing family shows.

Our outdoor band-stand will stage a spectacular array of local talent with live music, including the Easton Rabble Choir (who you can join on the spot and sing along with) and Punch & Judy.

An assortment of delicious hot and cold food and drink will be available all weekend, so join the fun for just one day or, for the full Easton Farm Park Fun Festival experience, camp with us on Saturday night in the Farm Meadow and enjoy the sights and sounds of the farm beneath the stars.

The Suffolk Fun Festival takes place on Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd August with all the fun beginning at 10:30am on the Saturday morning. www.suffolkfunfest.co.uk

ALton Water Sports Centre Alton Water Sports Centre is based at Alton Reservoir near Stutton Ipswich. The reservoir is the largest area of inland water in Suffolk, making a very safe location for young people to experience and explore the outdoor environment.

The Centre offers a wide range of courses running throughout the summer; the courses are designed to progress young sailors through the RYA stages whilst inspiring a passion for watersports. Their highly motivated, qualified instructors deliver carefully structured sessions that combine a foundation of basic skills and improving techniques for all ages and abilities in a fun and friendly environment. There is a wide range of training courses on offer, for the younger student we offer our under eight fun course designed to give confidence in water based activities through to our intermediate race school for the older student who wishes to take sailing and racing to the next level!

Courses are run for students aged from 6 -16 years plus adult courses are run throughout the year.

Additionally there are a wide range of water sports equipment for hire which includes single and double sit on top kayaks, rowboats, sailing dinghies, windsurfers and stand-up paddle boards, suitable for all age groups and abilities.

The centre also offers private one to one instruction based on three hour sessions with all necessary equipment supplied.

There is also an onsite café and BBQ facilities which can cater for birthday parties or group fundays.

01473 328408 www.altonwater.co.uk

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To contribute to future editions please email editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk or call 01473 788546

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The Summer Reading Challenge

Summer’s sorted for less than £1 a day!

There are literally hundreds of activity sessions to choose from during the summer holidays at Ipswich sports centres, pools, parks and museums.

Ipswich Borough Council’s summer holiday programme for kids is bursting at the seams with activities to suit everyone. At the sports centres and pools there are plenty of the very popular casual activities where you can just rock up and take part without booking such as rollerskating, swimming, sportschemes, football, and racket sports, but there are also many special activities which have fewer places on them so those ones do require booking in advance such as trampolining, dance, archery, Kimmy’s Petting zoo, arts and crafts and Commonwealth Games Extravaganza! But if you’re more of an ‘outdoorsy’ type then fear not they’ve got that covered too! The Ipswich wide activities are taking place across Ipswich parks and recreation grounds with the brilliant Jumpers for Goal Posts, Basketball Roadshow and Activity Days (all of which are completely free of charge). Plus the park ranger events include Creature Feature, Gardens for Wildlife, Over the Bridge and Mini Bug Safari. Now if you prefer a stroll but you want some excitement their guided walks are fun, informative, and still very healthy. Walks include Horrible History of Ipswich, Head Hunting, Go On Safari and Dangerous Dragons and Other Fabulous Beasts…just the names are intriguing! But can you believe it…that’s not all… there are also loads of things to do in the mansion, museums and Art School too.

The Discovery Room in Ipswich Museum, Tuesdays during the summer holidays are running sessions such as Stars and Planets in the Astradome, Bugs and Butterflies and Bones and Teeth. Or how about the Family Art Room on Wednesdays at the Ipswich Art School open for children of all ages plus parents, grandparents or carers to get creative together. And finally History House on Thursdays in Christchurch Mansion to learn about victorian fashion, get suck in helping Cook in the kitchen and get your hands dirty as you explore the estate with the Victorian Gardener.

Now as if that wasn’t enough, the other really great news is that they’ve packaged practically everything up into one fabulous summer deal for kids! The junior iCard Summer Saver is again incredibly good value for money at just £28 (or £34 if you want to and are old enough to include the gyms) and this price includes all the casual activities, eight of the specials we talked about, all the guided walks, and all the park ranger events. WOW! What a summer programme they have in store. The full programme will be available to view from 7th July at www.ipswich.gov.uk/sport and bookings will be taken from that day. But don’t forget to buy your junior Summer Saver before you book anything so that you get the best value. Call the centres for bookings and to purchase the iCard on free phone 0800 0371 371 or just pop in to see them. A bumper summer planner will also be available a couple of weeks before the kids break up.

local author and illustrator Rebecca Elliott.

All of Suffolk’s 44 libraries will soon be running the annual Summer Reading Challenge which is a hugely successful literacy campaign to get children to enjoy reading throughout the summer holidays.

Children can sign up from 19th July and the reading challenge runs until 6 September so there’s plenty of time to register and get reading! Libraries are also looking for volunteers to help out at libraries. They’d be Last year was the most successful ever in Suffolk and in the UK. called on to help children with their reading and to listen Nearly 2,400 Suffolk children joined the library service to take part to them talking about the books they have read, so it’s very rewarding and great experience. and 7,700 children in total signed up to take part in the reading challenge in the county. 810,000 took part nationally.

Some comments about last year’s reading challenge: The Summer Reading Challenge is a national initiative by the “My six year old daughter’s favourite part was Reading Agency which is promoted and co-ordinated across libraries. It’s widely accepted as one of the most successful ways talking to the volunteers about her books. They of getting children engaged with reading and their local library as really made her feel special and grown-up.” it uses fun and colourful characters and incentives to challenge “I thought the Summer Reading Challenge was them to read six books during the holidays. amazing because you get to read all sorts of books This year’s theme is ‘Mythical Maze’ and children aged four to eleven will be encouraged to find their way around a labyrinth that introduces them to fantastical creatures from the world of legend and mythology, collecting stickers of each character along the way as they complete reading challenges.

Each time a child completes a book they are given a prize to keep them going – for the first book it’s a Mythical Maze poster, then a bookmark, a zip tag, puzzle and finally a wristband. There are also competitions along the way and every child who completes the challenge gets a certificate.

and there are fun activities to do.” – A seven year-old.

“Brilliant incentive to keep children reading during the summer. Even our four year old participated which is an excellent way to get him looking at books.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can talk to their local library. There is more information at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Everyone who takes part must be signed up at the library but this is free and easy.

Children signing up this summer will also get the new Suffolk Libraries children’s library card which has a colourful new design taken from a book by

Summer Fun at Colchester & Ipswich Museums Now that summer has arrived, why not take the children along to the great family activities and events that will be going throughout the summer at the Colchester and Ipswich Museums. All six Colchester & Ipswich Museum venues offer fun, hands-on sessions that encourage children to express themselves through a variety of mediums such as art, music and literature.

Ipswich Art School Gallery exhibits Tidal Margins 3 a major new exhibition of work depicting the coastline and rivers of Suffolk this summer. Six artists, four writers and two photographers have joined forces to create this unique exhibition of paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and writing. Tidal Margins 3 runs until 7th September 2014, free admission.

On the 11th and 12th July why not stroll along to Ipswich Museum after hours for a performance by Unscene Suffolk – a local theatre group whose visuallyimpaired members invite you to explore the process of fossilisation and decomposition in a whole new way.

Suitable for all the family, £5 per person, bookable in advance.

The newly re-opened Colchester Castle gives you the opportunity to meet some real Castle characters on Wednesdays in the summer holidays, Free after Castle entry. You can meet a variety of characters and find out more about their lives when you visit the Castle.

For all activity times, costs and booking information Colchester events: 01206 282940 Ipswich events: 01473 43369 www.cimuseums.org.uk/what’son

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We try our best to ensure the information listed is correct, but please always check with the venue before setting out in case things have changed

Outdoor Theatre Summer Theatre at the Fort - The Tempest Wednesday 6 August 2014, 7pm Landguard Fort, Felixstowe Join The Pantaloons Theatre Company on a voyage to an enchanted island full of adventure, romance, magic and monsters! Refreshments available or bring a picnic, then sit back and enjoy. www.thepantaloons.co.uk.

Felixstowe Tourist Information Centre 01394 276770 www.landguard.com Alice through the Looking Glass Friday 8 August 2014, 6pm - 8pm Melford Hall, Long Melford, Sudbury Quantum Theatre brings its lively brand of comedy, music and magic to Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic. Booking Essential 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ melford-hall The Three Musketeers Outdoor Theatre and Picnic Saturday 23 August 2014, 6pm - 9pm Ickwoth, The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds Enjoy a right rollicking evening with Boxtree Production’s performance of The Three Musketeers. Wonderful family entertainment in the beautiful setting of Ickworth gardens.

01284 735270, ickworth@ nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ ickworth

activities, stalls and a variety of food will be on offer. www.ip-art.com/whats-on/ ipswich-music-day Beowulf & the Monsters Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 July 2014, 10am-4pm West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, Icklingham Road, West Stow Lively costume performances and gripping tales of the Anglo-Saxon saga Beowulf & the Monsters, as Wulfingas return to the Anglo-Saxon village… Little monsters welcome to this familyfriendly event!

01284 728718 www.weststow.org The ‘P’ Festival Sunday 20 July 2014, 11am4.30pm Peasenhall Assembly Hall The 7th Peasenhall Pea Festival takes place in the beautiful Suffolk village of Peasenhall and celebrates the pea, its growers and its heritage. This is a unique, quirky and popular day out; one of the Top 50 must do things in Suffolk. The festival opens at 11.00am with a children’s pea themed fancy dress parade and continues with music, wacky pea themed games and activities, and local pea produce, through until 4.30pm. The famous World Pea Podding Championship will be contested again this year starting at 2.00pm.

John O’Connor on 01728 660339 www.peas.org

Birds of Prey Exhibition and Flying Displays Sunday 20 July 2014, 10am – 4pm Activities and Langer Park, Felixstowe Get up close with majestic birds Events of prey from the Warren Hill Raptor Project. Admission free.

Ipswich Music Day Sunday 6 July 2014, 12pm - 8pm 01394 276770 www.visitfelixstowe.co.uk Christchurch Park Ipswich Music Day, one of the largest free one-day music events Hoot’s Story Walk in the UK. The event will feature a Meet: Thornham Walks main car selection of the brightest talents park, IP23 8HH to be found in East Anglia across Thursday 24 July 2014, 10:30am12:00noon. six stages. There will also be plenty of other entertainment on Join Hoot the Owl on a trail of offer; fairground rides, children’s discovery around Thornham

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Walks. Make a leaf necklace, try your hand at nest building, play games and enjoy a story for the younger explorer. Recommended age - 7 and under. Cost £2.00 children (accompanying adults FREE) www.midsuffolk.gov.uk 01449 724650 Mud, Bugs and Baking Every Thursday and Friday morning during the holidays starting on the 24 and 25 of July and ending on the 28 and 29 of August. 10am-12pm The Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket Suffolk Each session starts with a story followed by fun activities for everyone to join in with. Drinks and biscuits are included in every session. £2 per child plus normal museum entry. There are limited spaces so please book ahead.

01449 612229 www.eastanglianlife.org.uk Beatrix Potter Day Friday 25 July 2014, 1pm 4:30 pm Melford Hall, Long Melford, Sudbury Celebrate the Tales of Beatrix Potter and Beatrix Potter’s involvement with Melford Hall 01787 379228 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ melford-hall RingQuest - A LOTR Themed Family Adventure!

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, Icklingham Road, West Stow Saturday 26 July 2014 Explore the West Stow AngloSaxon Village and Country Park in this Lord of the Rings themed family adventure. Find the clues, solve the riddles and help save Middle Earth. Hobbits welcome!

01284 728718 www.weststow.org Felixstowe Carnival Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 July 2014 Felixstowe Seafront Theme for 2014 is “Land, Sea and Air. On the Saturday enjoy the procession through the town with floats, majorettes and bands

starting from Colneis Road at 1pm. On Sunday enjoy the Air display (1230-1.30pm) over the sea, featuring “The Blades” Aerobatic Display Team, Yak 52 and Trig Aerobatic Team. With a spectacular firework display from the end of Felixstowe Pier at around 9.30-9.45pm. During both days you can enjoy two stages of music, craft fair, fun fair, children’s area, including Punch and Judy shows, volleyball and sports, Stalls (charities and local businesses) and refreshments. felixstowecarnival.org HESFES Summer Camp Saturday 26 July to Sunday 3 August 2014 Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal HESFES stands for The Home Educators Summer Festival. It is a family based weeklong event. The event is packed with workshops and activities, speaker’s conferences and evening entertainment. www.hesfes.co.uk Summer Holiday Trail Saturday 26 July – Sunday 31 August 2014, 10am – 4pm Landguard Fort, Felixstowe Hunt out the clues around Landguard Fort - and join in the Summer fun. Normal admission charges for the Fort apply, plus £1.00 for a trail sheet.

01394 675900 www.landguard.com Suffolk Dog Day Sunday 27 July 2014, 10am - 5pm Helmingham Hall and Gardens, Helmingham, Stowmarket Enjoy a great day out with your dogs, family and friends. www.suffolkdogday.com 01473 786918 Party at the Park & Motor Show Sunday 27 July 2014, 10.30am - 5.30pm Easton Farm Park, Easton, Woodbridge Come and join in our 40th anniversary celebrations which will include our classic car show.

01728 746475 www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

Pond dipping Monday 28 July, 4th,11th,18th and 25th Aug 10am - 4pm RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve Did you know our beautiful dragonflies and damselflies start life as nymphs living in our ponds? Join us as we dip our nets in the Minsmaere pond to search what other life is present.

We will also be looking at our findings under the microscope in the Discovery Centre. Price: Free, but entry fees apply to non RSPB members 01767 693540 www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/ guide/m/minsmere Hog the Hedge Tuesday 29 July 2014, 2pm - 4pm Foxburrow Farm, Melton, Woodbridge Family afternoon - Join us for roly poly adventures, prickly challenges and to snuffle for food in the woods. Look in hedgerow hideaways for hedgehog’s friends, foes and food. £2.50 adults and children. Please book.

01394 380113 www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org The Big Bug Hunt Tuesday 29 July 2014, 11:00am3:00pm.

Meet: Needham Lake, IP6 8NU Join in a hunt for minibeasts at Needham Lake. Have a go at pond dipping and sweep the meadows for grasshoppers.

What will you discover? Cost £3.00 children (accompanying adults FREE) www.midsuffolk.gov.uk 01449 724650 Family Fun Day - Wildlife Day Wednesday 30 July 2014, 12pm – 4pm Holywells Park, Cliff Lane, Ipswich, Join Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Ipswich Borough Council Rangers for a free fun afternoon of wildlife activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking necessary.

01473 890089 www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Family Nature Walk - Summer Stroll Wednesday 30 July, Wednesday 6 August, Wednesday 13 August, Wednesday 20 August, Wednesday 27 August 2014, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve Enjoy our interactive family nature walks where we will bring the nature reserve alive with a 45 minute adventure - using all your senses to explore the delights of our summer plants and insects. All walks will start from the Discovery Centre where there will be quizzes and crafts taking place.

Price: £1.50 per person and reserve entry fees apply for non RSPB members.

01767 693540 www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/ guide/m/minsmere Dotty’s Story Walk Thursday 31st July, 10:30am12:00noon.

Meet: Babergh District Council Offices, Corks Lane, Hadleigh, IP7 6SJ Join Dotty the Ladybird on a walk of discovery as we take a trail through the meadows: with activities, games and a story for the younger explorer.

Recommended age - 7 and under. Cost £2.00 children (accompanying adults FREE) www.midsuffolk.gov.uk 01449 724650

Slugs, snails and all things slimy!

Join us as we rummage under the logs and in the woodland leaf litter. Do you know who has green blood or 7 pairs of legs? Come along, you never know what you might find! Price: Free, but reserve entry fees apply to non RSPB members 01767 693540 www.rspb. org.uk/reserves/guide/m/ minsmere Eureka Friday 1 August 2014, 10am - 2pm Foxburrow Farm, Melton, Woodbridge Activity Day for 6-10 year olds.

Experiments and exploring the extraordinary in nature. Please Book. £6 per child (discount for siblings) 01394 380113 www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Let’s Do It! Autism Summer Fete and Fun Day Saturday 2 August 2014, 12 – 4pm Suffolk Food Hall Ltd, Wherstead, Ipswich. Enjoy a variety of attractions on offer including; computer gaming, bouncy castles, inflatable slides, fete games, music, entertainment, sensory toys, chill out areas, charity information, raffles and much, much more. The fete is open to everyone and we are keen to have your support for this event which we hope will Wild Beach be the first of many annual Thursday 31 July 2014, 2pm Let’s Do It! Autism Family Group – 4pm fetes in the future. Please help Beach Road, Dunwich, Suffolk by buying your entrance and Family activities at Dunwich attraction tickets early, visit Beach - No booking required. www.suffolkfoodhall.co.uk and Come along to this taster session follow the link. of Wild Beach. An opportunity to investigate the shoreline and enjoy lots of creative activities. No unaccompanied children.

01473 890089 www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Suffolk

Woodland Wonders Friday 1 August, Friday 8 August, Friday 15 August, Friday 22 August, and Friday 29 August, 10am - 4pm RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve

For many more fun, family, events visit our NEW website: Familiessuffolk.co.uk/ whatson

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