Families Suffolk July - August 2015 Issue 24 by Families Magazine

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

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SUFFOLK

Summer Holiday Fun The 2015 Summer Reading Challenge Ipswich Twilight Road Races C

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Exciting classes available in

Sudbury and surrounding areas

Contact Miss Abigail on 01787 211491 & 07580 693747 sudbury@babyballet.co.uk Babyballet Sudbury @bbSudbury

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ISSUE 24 â&#x20AC;˘ July / August 2015

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Welcome

A note from the Editor There are various events, dates and occassions throughout the year that remind me how quickly time passes, and the start of the summer holidays is another one of those annual milestones. Are we really over half way through the year already? I’m sure it was only yesterday I was waking up with a groggy head after celebrating the New Year, and I’m still not sure I have actually shed the “Christmas” weight gain, that I was determined to do by the end of January! For children this time of year is fuelled by the excitement of (at least) 6 weeks off school, oh the fun that is going to be had! However for parents those 6 weeks can often feel like an eternity. I’ve spoken to a number of friends recently who are already worried about how they are going to fill the long summer days. We are therefore pleased to say our summer issue is packed full of ‘Summer Holiday Fun’. We can’t guarantee the weather, but we can guarantee that come rain or shine our magazine is packed full of ideas for keeping the children entertained throughout the holidays. Once again Families Suffolk is really keen to support the Summer Reading Challenge, a fantastic initiative being run by Suffolk Libraries. Please see page 11 for more information. Our friends at Ipswich Town & Waterfront have provided us with a great guide to Ipswich Parks, but even if you are not in Ipswich make sure you visit your local park over the summer for some free fun. And remember to stay safe in the sun, see page 7 for some great advice from the East of England Co-op. Don’t forget you can stay up to date with local news stories and what’s on, via our website: www.familiessuffolk.co.uk. Best Wishes

Stacey Phillips Next issue: September / October 2015 Circulation: 17,000 copies of Families Suffolk are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected retail outlets and various other distribution points throughout Suffolk. If you would like copies for your organisation please get in touch.

Contact us Editorial content: Stacey@familiessuffolk.co.uk 07951 946736 Sales and Marketing: Lisa@familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546 Events and What’s On: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk

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Design & Editing: Designed In house supported by Squircle Creative: 07765 241749 rob@squirclecreative.co.uk Cover image: Supplied by Families Suffolk Families Suffolk is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any correspondences.

In this issue...

5 8

Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 - 19

Local News Clubs & Classes Our Community Family Matters Family Health Parents Place Baby & Toddler Talk Reviews Summer Reading Challenge Most Active County Ipswich Borough Council: Summer Fun Be Inspired Summer Holiday Fun The perfect choice for... • Mobile Baskets • Birthday Parties • Group Bookings • Hand and Footprints • Personalised Gifts

July - August 2015

All Fired Up offer mobile ceramic painting. We bring everything needed to your home or venue of choice. Alternatively visit the pop up studio at Suffolk Food Hall every Thursday 10am-4pm (Including school holidays)

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Clubs & Classes An overview of some of the best local clubs & classes available for the whole family to enjoy... Puddle Ducks Do you have a baby, toddler or pre-school age child that you would like to start swimming with? Are you looking for classes over August? Puddle Ducks are running a mini 3 week term in August on Tuesdays and Fridays at our toasty warm pool in Levington. Class numbers are limited so please do get in touch if you would like to book in. Although fun is at their heart, Puddle Ducks classes are about much more than this. The classes revolve around bonding and play where children don’t realise they’re learning to swim and are acquiring skills that could save their lives. Classes last 30 minutes and provide that perfect opportunity to spend time with your child in the water. New classes are regularly added so please check their website www.puddleducks.com/suffolk to see a list of up to date classes. The next full term will begin in September and they are taking bookings now. Please contact them for further details on suffolk@puddleducks.com.

Mama Wellness Mama Wellness expert Nina Parnham has been running two popular water based exercise classes at the Holiday Inn for almost 8 years. In response to popular demand Nina will be

launching a further two classes on the Waterfront in July. Aqua Blast is designed for participants who want a fun and energetic workout to help tone and improve their body shape, manage their weight and boost their fitness levels. Aqua Bump is designed to improve all round fitness by incorporating specific aerobic, muscular, and flexibility work in a safe environment. This gives women the chance to recover better from the birth, lose any baby weight they may have gained, and aim to be strong enough to carry around all the baby paraphernalia without back and shoulder pain.

Baby also benefits from exercise and will feel good from the endorphins pumping around your blood and is shown to become fitter too when the mother works out, a good reason for mummy-to-be time. To find our more visit: www.mamawellness.co.uk.

Learn Play Grow Learn Play Grow is an effective multi-sports programme, specifically designed for 2-6 year olds. It will take your children on a new journey, a completely

exclusive way to encourage your children to enjoy sports using stories and Learn Play Grow characters. Learn Play Grow is now being taught in pre-schools, nurseries and runs after school clubs in a network of primary schools. Applying LPG into your pre-school curriculum will have endless benefits. So if you either wish to find out where you can take your young children from September to enjoy a Learn Play Grow class or wish to find out how your school or pre-school can offer this programme from the start of the Autumn term please visit: www.learnplaygrow.co.uk

Lazy Daisy The Daisy Foundation is committed to providing all families with a supportive community during pregnancy and early parenthood. The county of Suffolk has such a long history of agriculture and they wanted to ensure that they embraced the farming heritage so they are now proudly working in partnership with Easton Farm Park near Framlingham and The Suffolk Food Hall in Wherstead. The Daisy Foundation hosts a wide range of baby classes suitable for babies from birth to around the age of 2 ½. Each class includes age appropriate education, sensorial development, music, movement, baby yoga and massage so whatever your child’s stage of development you know how to

support their journey to their next milestone. On a Monday they host classes at both Easton Farm Park (free entry for class members) and The Suffolk Food Hall. Classes are available at other venues on other days of the week. For more information please contact Jo via 07944 070 362 or jo-cresdee@ thedaisyfoundation.com

Babyballet babyballet® classes are now available in Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds & Ipswich! They are an award-winning pre-school dance concept for girls & boys. babyballet® dance classes allow babies, toddlers & young children to enjoy the physical & social benefits of ballet, song & dance in a safe, caring, positive and informal environment. With a real focus on learning through play, the unique babyballet® syllabus offers four key stages of ballet where every child can build their confidence & social skills, learning manners, discipline & respect while developing their basic ballet technique, coordination, musicality, balance, posture & rhythm. Give your child the chance to dance at your local babyballet® class where there’s always a warm & friendly welcome. Classes must be booked in advance; a three week trial is £15. For more information call Miss Abigail on 07580693747 or email: sudbury@babyballet.co.uk

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Ipswich Twilight Road Races First-ever Ipswich Twilight Road Races in Ipswich town centre on Friday, August 14. Runners and fundraisers urged to apply for 5k and 10k races Amateur runners in Ipswich and Suffolk are being urged to come forward and enter the inaugural Ipswich Twilight Road Races to compete in either a star-studded 5k road race or a mass participation 10k road race. Participants will start in Rope Walk outside Suffolk New College, run past landmarks including Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium, Tower Ramparts and the Buttermarket before finishing at the college.

Aimed at anyone who enjoys running The races, sponsored by Ipswich Building Society, are aimed for anyone who enjoys

running, from seasoned athletes looking to break a personal best to those new to running and hoping to complete their first-ever 10k race. The night of racing takes place on Friday, August 14, and a variety of cash prizes are up for grabs. It is hoped the evening of road races will attract hundreds of runners and spectators lining the street. Race director Carl Ashton, of the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club, one of the organisers, said: “In running terms this will most definitely put us on the map. This race will have more elite runners than any other race in the East of England and we think we have got the formula

right. If we can get the crowds and spectators lining the streets, then it will be great. If you feel you can’t get involved, please bring out the family and come and watch and support it – it will be fantastic. By linking the event to the Ipswich Maritime Festival weekend celebrations and the uniqueness of the twilight aspect, we expect this race to become a popular event in the future.” Running is becoming a “huge sport” in the Ipswich area, pointing out the weekly Saturday morning parkrun initiative broke the 1,000 participant barrier last month. Paul Winter, Chief Executive of the Ipswich Building Society, said: “As a keen runner myself, I’m proud and excited that we are sponsoring Ipswich’s new Twilight run. “I’ll be doing my best to try and qualify for the fast 5k and beat the sunset.”

The races and how to apply There will be two road races during the Ipswich Twilight Road Races. The first race is the 5km road race starting at 7pm. The criteria is: men must have achieved a finishing time of 20 minutes or under in a 5km race and women must have achieved a finishing time of 22 minutes or under in a 5km race. The qualifying race must have been run since January 1, 2014 and run under UKA rules on an accurately measured course or track. Please note parkrun events do not count. It costs £10 for affiliated club runners and £12 for non-affiliated participants. The first man and woman past the finishing line will each receive £250, while £175 and £100 will be given to the men and women finishing second and third respectively. Cash prizes are also available to those aged over 35 and 40 and affiliated teams. The second race, the ‘Twilight 10km’, entry is open to people of all abilities. It costs £15 for affiliated club runners and £17 for nonaffiliated participants. People can apply for either race now. To do so, visit http:// events.ipswichjaffa.org.uk/twilight.

Ipswich Building Society mascot Pound the Hound prepares for the Twilight Races.

People taking part in either race can fundraise for any charity if they wish to, but all runners will be asked to raise cash for chosen charity Emmaus Ipswich, which provides work experience to people who are unemployed, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. For more about the charity, email hello@emmausipswich.org.

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Family matters

In the summer time… Understanding the Law

The long summer holidays are looming and many of us are working out how to keep our school-age children occupied for the six-week break. One thing we’ll all be hoping to avoid is a trip to A&E because of a fall or accident! But what if your child does break their arm at the local park, or trips over a rug and breaks their two front adult teeth at school before term ends? What would you think? Would you take legal action if the accident may have been someone else’s fault or instead remain uncertain as to your course of action? In this article we’re going to look at personal injury cases when they affect children and explain how things work.

Personal Injury Claims Personal injury cases are often complex and emotional and we don’t always have the full picture at the time of the accident. In most PI cases, a claim relating to the accident can be made on behalf of a child at any time before their 18th birthday; as an adult, they can then make a claim at any time before their 21st birthday.

Get some advice Personal injury cases can be emotionally difficult and having sound, individual advice from someone you trust can make all the difference to your experience of the whole process. There is a tendency to think that the large claim companies who advertise on TV are the best way to go but we would always recommend that you find a reputable, local solicitor who is able to handle your case. They will treat you as an individual rather than another number to be dealt with as quickly as possible; with children’s cases, that is often not in their best interests because the full implications of an injury may not be immediately obvious. Compensation recovered on behalf of a child is usually paid into Court and invested on their behalf until they reach 18. Claims for even relatively low levels of compensation, on behalf of say a three or fouryear old, could be a valuable nest-egg for them when they turn 18 and apply for the release of funds. Stevan Stratton is a specialist family lawyer able to offer advice on a wide range of family law issues. Margary + Miller Solicitors is a long established business providing professional legal services throughout Suffolk and beyond. For more information please visit: www.margary-miller.co.uk.

July - August 2015

We’re going to consider three different scenarios to help you understand the law as it currently stands. As with any legal issue, each person’s situation is different from someone else’s, so if you have any concerns about anything you read here, you are strongly advised to seek legal advice, with an initial consultation provided at no charge. Child claims can be generally divided into three common areas: lack of supervision – often against schools and clubs; defective equipment or design, where this is inherent in the design or equipment itself; and poor maintenance of an area or equipment.

Scenario A Lucy and Charlie Brown are at the local play park. Charlie climbs and subsequently falls off the climbing frame, breaking his arm. Can he make a claim for the injury? Lucy notices the ground beneath the climbing frame isn’t as soft and bouncy as it is below the other play areas. If the climbing frame is suitable, properly maintained, in good working order and the ground area around it is of a reasonable condition, then this may have been a straight forward accident. If, however, the ground surface was not properly maintained to a suitable and reasonably safe standard, it is possible that Charlie could bring a claim against the owners of the play park. Legal advice and representation would assist in finding out whether or not the ground was adequately maintained.

Scenario B At gymnastics, Lucy is using brand new monkey bars. She is not used to them and slips, banging her head and scraping her face as she falls. Can she make a claim for her injury? If the equipment was suitable, safe and Lucy was properly supervised, having been given correct instructions about using the new equipment, then there are probably no grounds for a claim. If, however, the equipment was inappropriate for her age group or not properly maintained, or if Lucy was instructed to use the bars without any prior guidance or instruction, then a claim might be possible. An investigation into the equipment purchase and level of supervision provided may lead to evidence supporting further legal action.

Scenario C Charlie and Lucy have a brand new swing ball, bought from a reputable toy company, to play with in their garden. It is assembled correctly and while playing with it for the first time, the string becomes detached from the pole and sends the ball flying into Charlie’s face, hitting his eye and causing considerable pain. Does Charlie have a claim? Charlie would have a good case for arguing that the equipment was defective. It is possible that he can claim on the grounds that the equipment was poorly manufactured and/or inherently dangerous, especially if he learns that other children have been hurt in a similar way.

Family Health

Stay safe in the sun With many events and activities taking place in the great outdoors this summer, make sure you’re well prepared to keep you and your family safe in the sun. Making sure you have enough sunscreen for the whole family is really important. One application a day simply isn’t enough – even if it’s waterproof. Check the label to find out how long your sunscreen lasts, but expect to top up several times a day. Younger, sensitive skin needs extra protection, so ensure you pick a high factor to steer clear of any nasty burns. For grown-ups, always choose a sun cream with a protection factor of at least 15, and opt for a range of factors which protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget sunscreen doesn’t last forever. It may look and smell the same, but if you’ve pulled out that bottle from the back of the cupboard, chances are it’s out of date. Most sunscreens only have a shelf life of two to three years and may not provide sufficient protection after that.

Protecting your eyes is also essential. This summer, pop to your local East of England Co-op Opticians where you’ll find a great range of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses. If you or your family wear prescription glasses, don’t forget to ask about our new lens coating which offers 100% UV protection – it’s currently free on all children’s glasses and has the added benefit of being anti-reflective, scratch resistant, dirt and water repellent.

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As well as sunscreen make sure to take other forms of sun protection such as hats, t-shirts, beach dresses and sunglasses to give your skin a much-needed break from UV rays, particularly when the sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm. Although we’ll all do our best to make sure we’re protected against harmful rays this summer, sometimes it might not be enough. Make sure you’re prepared for sunburn by carrying a bottle of soothing after sun. Products that contain aloe vera are particularly effective, and combined with paracetamol, will reduce pain and inflammation. For further advice and brighter prices on sun protection, pop to your local East of England Co-op Pharmacy.

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Parents Place

Mum in business Your name: Sandy Page Name, location & nature of your business: iSwim Ltd, Clopton. ASA swim school. How long has your business been running & the reason why you started your own business? I have been running the business for 18 months after a chance opportunity came up to enter a partnership with 2 other swimming teachers who all had entirely different skills to bring into the business. Before children I worked for several years managing the homelessness & housing team of a local authority which was great but didn’t lend itself to spending lots of time with my children now 5 & 7. I had worked as a swimming teacher previously & had also had the experience of setting up a small sports coaching business called Nimble Nippers with another local mum which has been running for 4 years now teaching a variety of sports to little ones. Despite the sports coaching business being really small it gave me the confidence to jump at the chance to take on the swimming pool & build something a little bigger! I am thrilled the business has grown, we now have over 400 children a week come to us to learn what is such an essential skill. What do you enjoy about running your own business? The customers! Big & small we have such a range of people of all ages use the pool we get to meet some really amazing people. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a child gain confidence & reach a stage where they are safe in the water. It is frightening that drowning is still a leading cause of death in children so being able to help get children safe and more aware is brilliant. I have such a lot of fun teaching, the children are fantastic & always make me smile, in the summers holidays we get to teach lots of fun things too such as snorkelling, diving & Scuba as well as spend afternoons building rafts at Swimcamps. The summer is always busy but is so much fun I don’t always want to leave!

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about running your own business? I don’t like having to chase people for money, I’m a mum too & know how hard it is to pay for all the clubs, trips, activities that fill the week so I really hate having to chase money. I suppose the only downside is that you are never off duty, partly that is the enjoyment for me I like being able to sort out lessons for people on the playground or when I meet them at children’s parties. What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? My uncle once said to me that the world was made up of people that say ‘I could be’ & people that say ‘I am, or I can’ he was a little tipsy at the time but I still wanted to be the later. I used to spend too much time worrying about the risks but now with 2 businesses under my belt I don’t think I’d look back What does the future hold for your business? I’m hoping for great things! We are busier this year than ever before, I would like to expand the other activities we already offer over the summer such as the snorkelling, diving, lifesaving etc into more regular sessions. I also hope to expand the business to include water safety programmes for schools which are essential for the safety of our local children. We have so many older children who come to us unable to swim and the short sessions they have with school are just not enough to get them to a safe point. I would like to form partnerships with local schools to bridge the gap for those older ones who haven’t had the means or opportunity to learn to swim. How do you fit your business around family life? I have a supportive family & great friends (thank you Grundisburgh mums) who are always helping me out while I’m teaching, but mainly it fits in quite well. In summer holidays the boys spend a lot of time at the pool but are happy to join in with snorkelling / diving & swimcamps so they get to have fun and I get the day with them & several of their friends which is ideal. What advice would you give to any parents considering starting up their own business? Do your research and be decisive, it’s important to know your business and make sure whatever you offer you can be as flexible as possible. With our lessons we have to charge for a 6/7 week term as our costs stay the same whether a child attends or not. It is always hard on parents if they miss classes so we try and be flexible & if possible offer the chance to make up the lesson another day, that flexibility helps our customers out on occasion. A little goes a long way. To find out more about iSwim visit www.iswim.biz. or call: 01473 277085.

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March - April 2015

Baby & Toddler Talk

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Sponsored by GenR8 you use the mobile service? Our first visit was one of the regular venues but we have also been to a party and found them at a school fete. It’s great that All Fired Up now provides a mobile service - I often see their van driving around Ipswich and the surrounding area. I understand that they will now even deliver a box full of kit (paints, ceramics & brushes etc.) to you at home so that you can create something in your own time. They will then collect what you’ve painted & fire it in the kiln for you. This will definitely be something to do with the kids over the summer holidays! What did you enjoy most about your All Fired Up experience? The best part for me was seeing the children concentrating so hard & working

to produce their design & then so proud of their ceramic when it came back after being fired (about a week later). Was there anything you didn’t enjoy? Not really, it was a positive experience all round. Would you recommend All Fired Up to others? Definitely – it’s a great way to entertain the children and for them to create something that they are proud of. I’d also say that if you are thinking of unique, personal gifts for grandparents or other family members then you can’t go wrong with All Fired Up! www.allfiredupceramics.co.uk

How did you find the ordering and delivery process? It was all straight forward, they arrived really quickly and beautifully packaged. Were you pleased with your purchase? I was impressed with them immediately, super soft and such a fab colour. I couldn’t wait for my son to try them on! The legs are nice and long so you can turn them up, making them last a lot longer than normal trousers. The jeans had a code on the label which you put into the website to trace where and how they were made – it was so lovely to read it to my son. It certainly made me open my eyes to a world of clothing I hadn’t thought about before! It was so special to talk to my son about choosing ethically made and kind to the environment choices – which I think is really important. Have the clothes worn/washed well and withstood the daily trials of clothes being worn by children? They wash beautifully. I thought the colour may fade a little, but they haven’t! They are the ‘go to’ jeans – perfect for my adventurous son. Would you recommend this website and their products? Yes, definitely!

The Summer Reading Challenge

Feature

Suffolk Libraries has revealed the theme of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge The summer reading challenge is a major literacy campaign which encourages 4-11 year olds to keep reading throughout the summer holidays. Last year over 800,000 children across the country took part and it’s also a great way of introducing them to their local library.

Record Breakers It’s organised by the Reading Agency and run in libraries. This year the theme is ‘Record Breakers’ and Suffolk Libraries is hoping this year’s campaign will itself break records. For the last two years the county has seen increasing numbers of children taking part every year with a record-breaking 7,800 in 2013 and then a new record of over 8,000 in 2014.

Simple & Fun The idea behind the summer reading challenge is simple and fun. Children are encouraged to read six or more library books of their choice during the summer holidays with collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate, or medal for

every child who completes the Challenge. Children can sign up at their local library at the start of the summer holidays – it’s absolutely free. A parent from Suffolk whose children took part last year said: “This challenge has definitely made a difference to my girls’ reading. They can’t wait to get to the library every few days. They wouldn’t have picked up a book this holiday if it wasn’t for the challenge! Now I think they will carry on even after it’s ended. So thank you very much. At last my children are enjoying books!”

“Reading can be a passion” Alison Wheeler, General Manager of Suffolk Libraries, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge has been a huge success in Suffolk and seems to become more popular every year. Reading can be a passion for everyone and it’s especially important for children to develop a love of reading from an early age.”

Challenge Young Readers

Every year there is a new theme and this year the Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up with Guinness World Records - the global authority in record-breaking achievements and publisher of the annual Guinness World Records ™book – to establish a ‘Record Breakers’ themed Challenge. Record Breakers brings together fact and fiction, challenging young readers to explore astonishing real-life achievements and world records. Collecting stickers as they go, young readers will discover the weird, wonderful and wacky records from around the world in six different categories: Cool Tech, Way to Go!, The Big Stuff, Animal Magic, People Power and Action! Adventure! People can get updates and more information about the Summer Reading Challenge via www.suffolklibraries.co.uk or ask at their local library.

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Suffolk’S year of cycling

March 2015- February 2016 is officially SuFFolk’S year oF cycling and to celebrate there are many exciting cycling events in the county this summer to inspire you to get on your bike IpswIch cyclIng weekend 22-23rd August

crAfted clAssIque sAturdAy 22 August

Whether you’re a regular on the sportive scene, looking to take on your first cycling challenge, or just want a day out with the family, ipswich cycling Weekend 2015, powered by crafted, has something for everyone.

coming to the historic ipswich Waterfront this august, it’s a summer celebration of cycling with high-quality events over two fantastic days. The sportive will return for its second year with a brand new shorter 55km route designed especially for those entering the sportive scene, as well as subtle revisions to 2014’s popular 100km and 100mile courses through the picturesque Suffolk countryside.last year, 500 cyclists took part in the event, which starts from the

stunning ipswich harbour, with its unique maritime architecture. you can savour a complimentary coffee on the start line, before taking in fabulous views in this timed event. To reward your efforts, delicious refreshments and a cooling local beer will await you on the Waterfront upon your return. registrations are open now at www.ipswichcyclingweekend.co.uk

skyrIde

of free things to do and try out on the day, including the ‘Tricks & Tunes’ area and the friendly Bike cafe, there will be a real festival atmosphere. another fantastic traffic-free bike ride in ipswich register for Sky ride ipswich and you’ll be entitled this august! to a free expert bike check (worth £14.99) at Join thousands of other cyclists and take to the streets for a fantastic traffic-free bike ride through Halfords. you’ll also be able to collect a free Sky ride reflective bib on the day. the town. get a different perspective on ipswich register now at from two wheels, on a special route passing www.ipswichcyclingweekend.co.uk some of its most iconic landmarks. With loads

sundAy 23rd August

tour of BrItAIn women on wheels

Bury st edmunds on sundAy 5th July And sudBury on sundAy 20th septemBer

cycle Suffolk presents Women on Wheels, an opportunity for all women and girls to get on their bikes to take on a challenge and have some fun! Women on Wheels events are mass participation female only rides, usually raising money for a local charity, that put a strong focus on the fun, friendly and inclusive aspects of cycling. They are very much aimed at non-cyclists and existing cyclists alike, with routes of an achievable distance, and are open to all ages, from 8 to 80. There are two WoW events already announced and will take place in Bury St edmunds on Sunday 5th July 2015 and Sudbury on Sunday 20th September. The events are being organised by abbeycroft leisure and South Suffolk leisure, in partnership with St nicholas Hospice. Join the WoW Bury St edmunds and WoW Sudbury Facebook groups to get involved in the conversation around your WoW event.

sAturdAy 12 septemBer 2015 stAge 7: fAkenhAm to IpswIch.

The aviva Tour of Britain will return to east anglia for the first time since 2012, with Suffolk hosting a first ever stage finish.

Stage Seven, on Saturday 12th September, will see British cycling’s premier road cycling event return to norfolk and Suffolk for the first time since both counties hosted the grand Depart. Passing through Thetford Forest on its way to Bury St edmunds the route will take in Stowmarket, needham Market, Hadleigh and east Bergholt, before racing under the orwell Bridge and into ipswich town centre for the finish. Further details of Stage Seven, including ordnance Survey stage maps, will be announced soon along with details of the 20 competing teams. www.tourofbritain.co.uk

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July - August 2015

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Summer Fun

50 P A DAY SUMMER

Get up, get out and get active this summer

SIZZLER

There are literally hundreds of children’s and family activities to choose from in Ipswich during the summer holidays this year. More sport and swimming than you can handle, creative sessions at the Art School, Museum and Mansion, fascinating guided walks, and community fun days in the parks. And what’s more it’s all wrapped up in an amazing ‘50p per day’ Summer Sizzler offer. (Conditions apply). There is amazing variety in the summer programme and here’s a flavour of what’s to come.

GET OUT GET ACTIVE THIS SUMMER

Crown Pools Open every day throughout the holiday and still very much a family favourite! Enjoy the Inflatable slide, family float sessions, Sing-n-Splash, swimming lessons and parties. Wildlife Family fun day A fun afternoon for the whole family, learning about the park’s Wildlife. There’s an opportunity to take part in forest school or a guided walk, go pond dipping or look for mini-beasts in the micro-world of insects or even hold a snake. Kids will love…and usually the parents do too! Sports With something for everyone, the sports centres offer everything from racquet sports to roller skating, archery to athletics, dance, trampolining, traditional sport schemes and summer parties. Super guided walk - Horrible History of Ipswich or Head Hunting Head Hunting - Come and spot a ghastly Gargoyle, a grumpy Granny, find a magical Unicorn and a mysterious Green Man and discover the gruesome legend of Wayland the Blacksmith. With Horrible History, this walk includes all the nasty stuff! Discover the horrible things that have happened in Ipswich – diseases, death, what our ancestors did with their poo, executions, grave robbers, and worse! Very informative and something the kids will talk about over dinner. Show and Tell day at Ipswich Museum: The natural world Bring your bones, fossils, (well-contained) bugs and natural finds along to this event, show your items to us and other visitors, and find out more about the museum’s natural history collections. Partner organisations for this event include Geo-Suffolk, Suffolk Naturalists and Suffolk Wildlife Trust and its FREE! Community Activities - completely FREE There are also many activities held in the centres, parks and recs which are completely free to attend such as the Basketball Roadshows run by Ipswich Basketball Club, Jumpers for Goalposts run by Suffolk Positive Futures and activity days in the parks

S P O RT • S W I M MUSEUM • M ANSION P A R K S • WA L K S

Exhibition: Aspire. The Year of Constable Christchurch Mansion will be hosting John Constable’s masterpiece Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows throughout 2015. The complete programme will be online from 6th July at www.ipswich. gov.uk/schoolholidays including all the booking information and details of that Summer Sizzler - Just £21 for a junior iCard for 6 weeks which includes lots of the activities on the programme plus 50% discount off others (conditions apply). @familiessuffolk

Conditions apply. Find out more at www.ipswich.gov.uk/schoolholidays

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www.familiessuffolk.co.uk

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Enjoying Ipswich’s Parks this summer

Are you tired of seeing your kids glued to the sofa playing video games when it’s a beautiful day?

It seems it’s the default setting these days, and not just for kids either; we could all do with getting up and outside to breathe fresh air and mingle with our fellow beings. The Victorians knew that green space in towns and cities was vital for the health and well-being of the population, and even passed an Act of Parliament in 1841 to build a park in Tower Hamlets and encourage the building of public parks by all local authorities. Nowadays when we want to go for a stroll, jog, picnic or game of football with the kids the park is the obvious place to go, and we can thank the Victorians for creating them and the various organisations of Ipswich for updating and maintaining them ever since.

ipswich town & waterfront

Christchurch Park

Spoilt for choice

First opened in 1895 and was the first public park in the town. Its 80 acres of picturesque grounds are home to the Grade I listed Christchurch Mansion as well as a children’s play area, tennis courts, bowling greens and refreshment kiosks, plus plenty of green space, footpaths and woods to wander and play in.

Other parks in Ipswich include Gippeswyk Park, Bourne Park and Landseer Park, all well-maintained and very pleasant places to picnic on a sunny weekend, to run through breath-steaming on frosty winter’s day, or to walk and kick through the leaves on a mellow autumn evening.

Chantry Park

Things to do at the park

The largest town park in Ipswich at over 124 acres. The park features parkland and wildlife areas, including a lily pond, lime avenue, walled gardens, wildlife meadows and the Nesfield Parterre.

Hollywells Park Just north of the Ipswich Waterfront area, has 67 acres of rolling grounds, ponds and woodland, with lovely sheltered picnic areas. It’s also a favourite with children thanks to the water play facility (summer only) and large galleon-themed children’s play area.

Alexandra Park Sits at the heart of Ipswich next to the University campus. It has excellent views over Ipswich and is home to the annual May Day music and culture event.

July - August 2015

What else can you do in a park apart from walk and enjoy the views? Well you can play rounders or football or Frisbee on the wide-open spaces, after all who’s got a garden big enough for ball games these days? Go pond-dipping or bug-hunting. Fly a kite. Make up a treasure hunt. Make a wonky wooden boat and sail it on the pond. Jog, cycle or do your tai-chi or yoga in the shade of a tree. Exhaust your energetic toddler on the climbing frames. Or just lie on a rug and read a book. We humans are social animals and we benefit from being outside, especially in places where other people gather. Nothing much happens when we’re shut up indoors so get up, get out of the door and head for the park. For more information about all the fantastic parks in the county please visit: www.familiessuffolk.co.uk.

Picture supplied by Ipswich Borough Council

Be Inspired

Summer Holiday Fun

Rainy Day Activities

One thing you can count on this summer is that there will be rain.

When the heavens do open, you’ll need some ideas to keep your little ones occupied and you on the right side of sanity this summer. Sarah Butters offers her favourite ways to fill a wet summer day.

GET BOARD!

Whether you’re a Jedi at Jenga or a master Monopoly player, there’s nothing like a giant board games tournament to pass the time. No one in the Butters household will ever forget the day a game of Battleships descended into an actual World War. And if I’m to be honest, I’ve never quite got over being beaten by my children at Scrabble after they came up with ‘zumba’ on a triple word score. However this is a chance to encourage your family to forget the iPads and X Boxes of today and remember the fun you can have with three dimensional people.

CREATE A RAINY DAY JAR Has your child ever asked to do something that you’ve not had the time for? Maybe it’s baking a batch of biscuits, building some Lego they’ve had since their birthday or showing you a dance routine they’ve created. Whenever time is against you, get your child to write the idea on a piece of paper and pop it in the Rainy Day Jar. It means you can reach into it for ideas as soon as you hear the words ‘’It’s raining!”

TAKE A DIP

If the summer showers won’t allow you to get dry, grab your swimsuit and head to your local leisure centre. News that half of primary

school children can’t swim the length of a pool should be a wake up call for all parents. Many local swim schools offer intense holiday courses for children looking to master this life saving skill and you can support them with a rainy day trip to your local pool. This time of year provides the perfect opportunity to make swimming fun and get the whole family summer holiday ready.

HEAD INDOORS

Your local museum is rain proof and packed with family activities to keep you all occupied. The summer holiday is a time for the attractions on your doorstep to put out the welcome mat for families.

Summer Holiday Fun Over the next few pages we have put together an overview of some of the great summer holiday activities happening around the County over the next few weeks. Make a note of what’s going on, so that when that typical British summer does arrive, you know where to head. For more information & updates on events in your area please also keep an eye on our website & social media.

Birch Farm Nursery  Quality Assured Full Day Care Nursery  Varied Sessions from 3hrs to Full day 7:30am - 6:30 pm  Impressive indoor and outdoor facilities  15 hours a week FREE termly Preschool care for 3 to 4 yrs  Extra curricula activities from Jo Jingles/Swimming/Ballet For more information contact Sarah or Nick  01473 652249  birchfarm@uk2.net  www.birchfarm.co.uk

@familiessuffolk

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www.familiessuffolk.co.uk

01473 788546

Summer Holiday Fun

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