The local magazine containing useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds
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Suffolk Fab40 Adventures Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show Beat the Street 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 31 • September / October 2016
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design a cake and raise funds for your club or school!
Design a cake Families magazine and the Outrageous Cake Academy are combining to give one lucky young reader, aged between eight and 15, the chance to design and make your own Christmas cake. Your cake can follow any Christmas-related theme, or you can adapt your favourite cartoon, traditional film, or super-hero and make it festive.
Draw your own unique Christmas cake design to cover the cake template as outlined here, show us the colours you want on it and a bit about the characters The winner and nine of their friends, classmates or group members, will be invited to the Outrageous Cake Academy during November to make all the elements needed to decorate your cake under the expert eye of award-winning cake decorators Graham and Tina Weare. Your very own cake will then be ready for your Christmas party, or for you to raffle to raise funds for your club, school or a charity of your choice.
For all competition details plus a cake template to download please visit:
www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/ipswich/in-the-know/design-a-cake-comp 2
September - October 2016
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Welcome
A note from the Editor
In this issue...
Welcome to our Autumn issue.
There have been some big changes since our last issue, Firstly it is with great pleasure that I can announce the safe arrival of my new daughter Emily Fiona Phillips. Born on the 28th June, and completing my Family.
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A special and personal thank you to the very talented baby photographer Erin Freeman for capturing this beautiful picture of Emily at just 8 days old. There have also been some changes to the magazine since our last issue. Following the launch of our new Families website in June we have moved all of our ‘Local News’ and ‘What’s On’ content online, Our new website allows you to keep up to date with news, events and listings from around the County, and a great source of information for all Suffolk families, Visit the new website today: www.familiesonline.co.uk
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Our current issue now includes a number of great articles from the new Fab40 Adventures programme to information about the next Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show taking place in October. We hope you enjoy. With best wishes
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Stacey Phillips Next issue: November / December 2016
Visit our new website today
Circulation: 17,000 copies of Families Suffolk are available through nurseries, schools,
www.familiesonline.co.uk
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 Design & Editing: Designed In house Cover image: Supplied by Suffolk Fab40 Adventures
Printed in the uk by the Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC / PEFC suppliers www.magprint.co.uk
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.
Contents 4 - 5 Our Community 6 Family Finance 7 - 9 Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show 10 Family Food 11 - 12 Education Feature 13 Family Health 14 Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service 15 Public Health 16 - 18 Clubs & Classes 19 Family Fun 20 - 21 Real Life Stories 22 Parent’s Place
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Our Community
Suffolks’ Fab 40 Adventures is an exciting new programme which aims to help inspire families with wonderful ways to leave their living rooms behind and step outside into their local park or further afield and explore the amazing world of nature on our doorstep. Beaches and woodlands, forests and farmland, heaths and saltmarshes, miles of footpaths and acres of urban parks – our county has so much to offer. The ‘Fab 40’ project is all about putting family time first – modern lives are all too busy, especially when both parents are working. Getting active all together outside for just a few hours really can be a walk in the park and Suffolk’s Fab 40 Adventures – ten for each of the four seasons – offers a wide range of outdoor activities for you to try. From enjoying awe-inspiring shooting stars on a clear summer’s night to breaking the ice on a winter’s day puddle, and from marvelling at mad March hares on a bright spring morning to thrilling to the antler-crashing drama of the autumn’s red deer rut, a total of 40 seasonal adventures has been drawn up as outdoor challenges to be experienced and revelled in over the coming year.
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September - October 2016
More than 400 families and grandparents took part in a Suffolk wide survey last year to help bring the adventures together – and there is something for everyone and every age!
Mental and physical well being Getting out into the natural world promotes mental and physical well being; helps prevent disease and is proven to aid recovery after illness. So this autumn make sure you switch off the screen unplug the wifi and take time to reconnect with nature (though the promise of finding Pokemon may help entice the older kids!)
Autumn Adventures We love the 10 Autumn Adventures - You can kick fallen leaves on a walk; take photos of the wonderful autumn colours; build a den; bake a wild blackberry pie; collect and roast sweet chestnuts; make pumpkin soup; build a home for wildlife; eat an apple straight from the tree; make seasonal decorations from pine cones and see and hear the clash of antlers in the annual deer rut. Did you know RSPB Minsmere provides one of the top locations in the country to watch this spectacle? The project does have a serious side as well, as there has been a
huge decline in the amount of time young people spend outside. A twoyear Government study revealed this year that 10% of children in England have not set foot in a park, forest, beach or any other natural environment for at least 12 months.
10% of children in England have not set foot in a park, forest, beach or any other natural environment for at least 12 months. The enthusiasm of family peers for green spaces also strongly influences whether children visited the natural environment. In households where adults were frequent visitors, 82% of children followed their lead.
Our Community Getting Children back outside And this is why Suffolk’s Fab 40 Adventures is so important – we must start encouraging our children to get back outside, to learn about nature at first hand, about risk, and to spend time with our families and friends in a relaxing environment that is proven to improve your mental well-being and your physical health. There is now a recognised mental health epidemic amongst our young. One in ten children aged between 5 and 16 years are currently struggling with a mental health problem that will likely continue to affect their lives into adulthood. As a parent or grandparent, it’s often difficult to know what to do to when our kids are going through hard times but research shows that children with easy access to nature are more able to cope with stressful life events and are generally less stressed individuals than those living in urban habitats lacking green spaces – and we are very lucky here in Suffolk that we have an abundance of wild and natural spaces and urban parks across the county. Time spent in forests, by rivers, on heaths and on seashores all help improve our self-esteem and mood and just five minutes of exercise in a “green space” such as a park can boost mental health, with a study in the Environmental Science and
Technology journal suggesting the strongest impact was on young people.
We offer you a range of family law services We all need help from time to time. Our friendly and approachable solicitors are on hand to advise you on a host of family law services: · Family breakdown - helping to achieve financial security for you
Living in Suffolk we can choose from huge variety of environments such as the woodlands and heaths of The Brecks in the west of the county, to the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths and Dedham Vale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which gives us a wonderful coastline, health land and rivers valleys to the east. Add to that the multitude of fantastic parks in our towns and we are never far away from finding respite from today’s pressures.
· Children - support and expert advice on arrangements for children · Mediation - discussing the issues that matter to you
FREE initial consulation
Call 01473 611211 barkergotelee.co.uk 41 Barrack Sq, Martlesham, Ipswich IP5 3RF Free parking
Find out more You’ll find everything from recipes and building instructions to details of local nature reserves, top tips on wild places to go and how to get the most from your visit at www.fab40suffolk.co.uk And don’t forget that throughout Suffolk the whole family can visit the majority of the county’s amazing wild places for free! Find out more about Suffolk’s Fab 40 Adventures www.fab40suffolk.co.uk @ suffolkfab40 #40adventures
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Family Finance
Financial Education
You’re never too young to start
by Stacey Bunn, Financial Education Assistant.
In August the Money Advice Trust released research looking at the financial habits of under-25s, with 51% of 18 to 24 year olds saying they regularly worry about money – and around a third (32%) feel their debts are a “heavy burden”. For such a young age group this seems too high a figure, however the positive news is that 69% of the age group have set a budget that they try to stick to – but 42% say they are finding managing their money harder than they had expected. So why is this age group feeling the financial pressure? The introduction of financial education in the National Curriculum for year 10 students in 2014 was a positive move, campaigned by the government’s All Party Parliamentary Group for Financial Education and industry figures such as Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis. Previous to this there was no formal agenda for financial education, yet we are bombarded with financial jargon, slick adverts and even tempted to sign up to store cards in high street shops. It’s easy to see how people can be led astray.
Money Days At Ipswich Building Society we’ve recognised the importance of financial education from an early age. In 2008 we launched our primary school money days,
aimed at year 2 pupils, and concentrating on numeracy, literacy and creativity. We’re now refreshing the programme, called Money Metrics Primary, and have worked with an educational consultant to ensure it is relevant and useful – and, of course, an enjoyable day for the children too!
My Puppy: Maths & Money App To support this we released our free app, My Puppy: Maths & Money, based on our primary school content with games such as dominoes, bingo, pairs and the money bear. It’s interactive and fun – children can create and name up to 10 puppies, and play the games to earn puppy pounds to be spent in the shop on items for their kennel.
Money Metrics Secondary programme Moving into secondary education, our Money Metrics Secondary programme meets the needs of the national curriculum for Year 10. Our fully staffed programme has been hugely popular, with our staffed sessions reaching over 2,000 students in Suffolk so far this year. Students are equipped with the skills they need for later life, such as budgeting, working out a pay slip, learning financial jargon and also planning a holiday.
Investing in our local communities All of our work in schools and colleges is free, as we strongly believe in establishing core life skills to enable students to make informed choices about their finances. To us this is all part of being a mutual organisation – investing in our local communities, supporting those that live within them, and helping boost the local economy and future workforce.
Teaching children about money: our top tips • Make it relevant Use situations where money is present, such when in a supermarket talk about the concept of setting a budget, different methods of payment and change
• Make it fun Is there something your child really wants? Talk about how can they save up for it – and how will it feel once they have bought it.
• Give them independence Make them responsible for planning a day out, set the budget and ask them to outline how they will spend it. Discuss the cost of transport, food, entrance fees and souvenirs. Will they have enough money?
Find out more about Ipswich Building Society’s financial education by visiting www.ibs.co.uk 6
September - October 2016
Baby & Toddler
The Suffolk Baby and Toddler Show is coming back to the Suffolk Showground on Sunday 23rd October. The Show is the biggest and best parenting event in the county, with over 80 fantastic stands all under one roof, celebrating everything pregnancy to preschool. There will be great shopping, parenting experts, a fantastic demonstration programme, activities, refreshments and fun-filled family entertainment. To make sure everyone has a fun day, the little ones will have a large soft play area to enjoy and special guest appearances from Paw Patrol, Fireman Sam, and Minnie Mouse throughout the day, with photo opportunities. There is a jam-packed programme in the Demonstration Area, with a whole range of different activities and taster session for you to try, including baby and toddler first aid, baby massage, hypnobirthing, baby yoga, music and movement classes, baby signing and much more. You can also get your hands on one of 500 exclusive goody bags containing some great treats! Goody bags are strictly limited and will only be available to advanced ticketholders so make sure you get yours by buying your tickets early, before they all go. Whether you are expecting your first or you have a pre-schooler, this is the premier parenting event in the county, celebrating everything pregnancy to preschool in Suffolk – we look forward to seeing you there!
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Baby & Toddler Meet Best Selling Author Sarah OckwellSmith at the Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show Best-selling author and parenting guru Sarah Ockwell-Smith will be giving a talk on:
“How to get your baby or toddler to sleep without tears” She will also be available for a Q&A after the session. Sarah has written several best-selling parenting books including: The Gentle Parenting Book; Why Your Baby’s Sleep Matters; The Gentle Sleep Book; Baby Calm and Toddler Calm.
THE DETAILS ON: Sunday 23rd October, 10am – 3pm AT: Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP3 8UH ENTRY: £3.50 in advance with goody bag (£4 on the door) Children are free Advanced discounted tickets are just £3.50 and are available now at www.suffolkbabyandtoddlershow.eventbrite.co.uk Stay up to date with all the latest show news, special offers and giveaways on Facebook: www.fb.com/suffolkbabyandtoddlershow or at www.yourlocalbabyshow.co.uk
THE SPONSORS
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September - October 2016
Baby & Toddler
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Believers in Outdoor Learning and Play
SPECIALISTS IN IPSWICH CHILDCARE FOR 0—5 YEAR OLDS 3 settings rated OUTSTANDING in all areas
Win a whole bundle of baby goodies worth £100 from the new Suffolk based online children’s clothes and accessories retailer Diddle Pigs.
www.bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk Call 01473 240304 E: info@bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk
What’s included: 1 x Nod London baby grow in ‘Line dancing moths’ choice of sizes from 0-3 - 9-12 months 1 x Lara and Ollie teething bangle in cream 1 x Pebble Toys Fox knitted fair trade rattle 1 x Lil’ Cubs Oranges and lemons swaddle blanket 1 x £30.00 gift voucher for www.diddlepigs.co.uk
www.thedaisyfoundation.com
Pregnant?
Diddle Pigs is an exciting new online store, based in sunny Suffolk. Launched in September 2016 their aim is to create a hassle free shopping experience for parents.
Daisy Birthing™ – the ground breaking Active Antenatal™ program A practical, educational and supportive journey through pregnancy, birth and baby To find your local class contact Jo:
To find out more visit: www.diddlepigs.co.uk
t: 07944 070 362
We’re going GaGa...!!
e: jo-cresdee@thedaisyfoundation.com
Introducing the new Infantino Go GaGa range; a vibrant variety of products that mix luxurious fabrics, natural wood and rubber with bold, beautiful colours. Win a fantastic Activity Gym & Ball Pit.
The Infantino’s Go GaGa has been exclusively launched with Mothercare. to see complete product range & stokists visit: www.mothercare.com
How to win? To get your hands on one of these great prizes, simply visit our stand at the Suffolk Baby & Toddller Show.
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Festivals Feature Family Food
Fresh ideas their lunch box will love In association with
If you’re not a committed lunchbox packer already, why not start this new school year and treat your little ones to inspiring and delicious lunch time choices they’ll want to get their teeth into.
NHS Choice’s recommends a healthy lunchbox should contain: • Starchy foods, such as bread, rice or pasta • Protein foods, such as meat, fish and eggs • A dairy item, such as yoghurt or cheese • Vegetables or salad and a portion of fruit At the East of England Co-op we have a great range of own-brand and locally sourced produce for making a healthy, balanced lunch box they’ll look forward to tucking into. Starchy foods are a good source of energy to help them get through the school day. Sandwiches are a staple of any packed lunch and allow you to make sure they get a good mix of starch, proteins, dairy and veg. For something as simple as cheese sandwiches (the nation’s favourite) or ham, you’ll find a great range of pre-packed locally sourced meats and cheeses on our Deli-to-Go.
With 32% of Brits tucking into the same lunch every day, why not use pittas, bagels or wraps to keep lunch fresh and exciting.
Calcium is crucial for growing healthy bones and teeth. Yoghurt is a tasty and easy calcium-filled lunch box snack you can feel good about. From local Marybelle Dairy yoghurts produced down the road in Halesworth using local milk and fruit, to a host of wellknown brands there’s a flavour to suit all tastes.
1 off
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September - October 2016
If that’s got your own taste buds tingling, why not make your own pack lunches too. Olives may not be the most obvious choice for a packed lunch, but with a host of health-boosting benefits helping to maintain a tip top immune system why not be inventive and make them a fun part of your lunch. The East of England Co-op sells a great range from The Greek Olive Company that are stuffed with all sorts of different flavours.
Fresh
£1 off when you spend £2 or more on fresh produce
IDEAS
THEIR LUNCH BOX
will love
For your nearest store visit
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Terms & Conditions: Valid at East of England Co-op food stores until 30th September not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. No Cash alternative. Excludes National Lottery, PayPoint, Gift Vouchers, Fuel, Infant Formula, Saving Stamps, Tobacco Kiosk sales and Subway. This voucher cannot be solely used for the purchase of alcohol. Photocopies will not be accepted. In store voucher. This voucher must be presented at time of purchase.
To make it even easier to ensure your family get their five a day, the East of England Co-op has a great range of fruit and veg including pre-cut cucumber and carrot sticks.
www.eastofengland.coop
As well as being packed full of tasty, nutritious food with a wealth of health benefits, you could also save yourself some money too. Research conducted by Vouchercloud.com last year confirmed that 62% of employed Britons who buy their lunches are spending an average of £1,840 each year, whilst those taking food from home spend only one third of this, £552. That’s a lot of extra money to spend on great days out for all the family. With over 40 food stores across Suffolk, open 7 days a week till late, pop to your local Co-op and pick up everything you need to keep lunch time tummy grumbles at bay.
Education Feature
Getting your child into a good routine By Sally J Hall
School days and dark mornings can play havoc with your child’s routine. Here’s how to keep them happy - and get them up on time! As you and your child get into the autumn and winter school term, it can be difficult to cope with changing weather and dull days.
morning, with everyone getting frustrated. Sticking to this routine makes for a happier family.
The long evenings of summer are over, the nights draw in and the mornings are dark. Getting your child settled into a good routine is essential if you are going to ensure they get enough sleep and are able to get up on time for school without too much effort and moaning.
Make sure they know their routine too
Exercise is your best friend Even if the weather is dreadful, try to make sure that your kids have some exercise every day. Not only will it help keep them fit and healthy but it also helps them to get a good night’s sleep. The best time is just after school, when it’s still light and you can take them to the playground or let them loose in the garden. Then it’s time for homework, dinner, bath and bed.
Plan your mornings
Having a planner on view is a great way to avoid missing tutoring sessions, music lessons and play dates. A big calendar on the fridge means everyone can see what’s happening and when.
Why routines work Children respond really well to a routine so you’ll thank yourself when they adapt to doing the right things at the right time each day. Have breakfast and dinner at set times, bedtime must be absolutely set in stone and homework should have appointed times too. Giving your kids too much choice over their own routine just leads to their spending too long on games or play and not enough for homework and helping with chores
Most parents would agree; mornings are bad times! Everyone is tired and cranky and if you’re not careful, it can descend into chaos. So having a routine that is followed every school day can help immensely. Set an alarm for 15 minutes before you need to get the kids up and get yourself together in that time. Whether it’s that first cup of tea, a shower or choosing what to wear, make sure you have time for you first - and everything else will go that bit more smoothly. Then it’s time to get the kids up and for them to follow their routine, too. Avoid any electronic stimulation in the morning, so ban games, X-Boxes and the TV, as time can slip away when they are distracted.
Maths + English + study skills = dream job Contact your local Kumon maths and English Study Centre to book your two-week Free Trial.
Be prepared Getting things prepared the night before can help immensely with the morning rush, so prepare lunchboxes and get breakfast things out the night before.
Ipswich Central Study Centre 01473 614 665
1 OCTOBER – 20 NOVEMBER
Have rules Make sure there are rules for where things are put when your kids arrive home each day. Let them know that they can’t just dump their gear anywhere! Those school bags, shoes and coats must go in a specific place so that there is no frantic searching in the
Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only. Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability.
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Education Feature
The Ultimate Homework Guide Helping your little one with their homework needn’t be difficult if you follow these simple tips. By Liat Hughes Joshi
How to make the most of parents’ evening Parents’ evening is your opportunity to get feedback on how your child’s doing at school, so how can you get the most of your time in there?
Plan Your appointment might only be for five or ten minutes so prioritise what you want to cover in advance. What do you need to know the most and what do you want to communicate to the teacher? Write a list and put it in order of importance in case you run short of time. Take a pen/ pencil and paper to write notes.
Be realistic about what the teacher will tell you The style of feedback teachers give has changed since most of us were kids – it tends to be less blunt and less about direct comparisons with classmates. Don’t expect class rankings for example.
Like it or not, homework is a necessary part of school life. So how can you make it run as smoothly as possible? Incorporate homework into a routine Many children benefit from having a set homework time - they’re somewhat less likely to push back if it is just what happens at 5pm or whenever works for you both; consistency is key.
Help yes, but don’t do it for them! As a parent your key role is to ensure that your child has somewhere comfortable and reasonably quiet to do their homework and the items required, e.g. a dictionary or ruler. You might also have to clarify what a question means or provide support if they are stuck. But do remember it is their homework not yours!
How much is too much? Most primary age children will get 30 to 60 minutes a week plus reading and perhaps spellings and times tables. If you think your child is being set too much, it’s definitely worth having a chat with their teacher.
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September - October 2016
Stay ‘on point’ Parents’ evenings usually run to tight schedules and most teachers will stick strictly to the time limits. Save the general chit-chat for another day and keep the conversation focused.
Be open-minded about less flattering feedback You might receive negative feedback, albeit this should be constructive. Even if you don’t agree, stay calm and at least hear the teacher out respectfully before asking further questions.
Don’t be surprised if the teacher talks about a ‘different child’ (not literally!) Sometimes children behave or perform differently at school compared to at home – your child might be extremely chatty with you but very quiet in the classroom for example.
Need more information or still got concerns? It’s normally fine to request a follow-up meeting with the teacher
Family Health
Open up opportunities for your kids at the East of England Co-op Opticians The start of a new school year can be a daunting time for children, particularly those that struggle with reading, have dyslexia, sensitivity to light, frequent headaches or on the autistic spectrum making it harder for them to keep up with their classmates. If you’ve spotted your child moving closer to or further away from the page, rubbing of eyes or blinking more than usual, these can all be signs that a child may be struggling from the effects of visual stress.
Visual Stress As many as one in five people in the UK experience visual stress. Symptoms can include a blurring or movement of print, letters changing shape and size, or patterns appearing on the page.
As many as one in five people in the UK experience visual stress. If any of this sounds familiar then the experts at the East of England Co-op Opticians are here to help. Research has shown that the use of colour can alleviate many of these problems.
Through a series of simple tests the Colorimetry experts can identify whether or not colour could help enable your child to read more easily. The assessment will also identify which colour is best for an overlay.
Coloured overlays can help children to read more fluently by reducing the symptoms of visual stress. Coloured Overlays Coloured overlays are transparent sheets of coloured plastic in a range of colours that can be laid over a page or book. In the correct colour, they can help children to read more fluently by reducing the symptoms of visual stress. If overlays help reading, patients can progress to a full colorimetric assessment using an instrument called the Intuitive Colorimeter. The assessment finds the exact colour for precision-tinted lenses to suit each individual from a range of 100,000 colour options.
Co-op Opticians Visual Stress
Ipswich 01473 226009 Symptoms check list
Lowestoft 01502 500126
Do you…
experience headaches or rapid tiring while reading? find you have problems focusing on blocks of black and white text; that print seems to move or blur, letters change size or shape and patterns appear on the page?
find yourself moving closer to or further away from the page as you’re reading? catch yourself tracing lines of text as you go, rubbing your eyes more often than usual or even struggling to understand the line you’ve just read?
If any of the above sounds familiar then you may well benefit from colorimetry testing at your local Co-op Opticians.
Colorimetry specialists
FIND OUT MORE... To find out if someone in your family could benefit from Colorimetric testing or to make an appointment for a sight test, contact our friendly eye care team in Ipswich 01473 226009 or Lowestoft 01502 500126. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online at www.eastofengland.coop/opticians.
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Co-op Opticians Ipswich 01473 226009 Lowestoft 01502 500126 /FamiliesSuffolk
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01473 788546
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Daniel, 35 Factory Fitter & On-call Firefighter Daniel is a Factory Fitter and has been an on-call firefighter for Saxmundham, since November 2011. “In 2000 I applied to become a full time firefighter, but unfortunately I wasn’t successful. 11 years later, I heard Saxmundham Fire Station were recruiting on-call firefighters, so I went along to an open day. That’s where my firefighter journey began. After an interview, medical, aptitude test and a great two weeks training at the Wattisham training centre, I became a fully-fledged firefighter! “I live and work within 5 minutes of the fire station so I can respond at any time and every Monday night the crew get together for drill night. We do weekly checks on the equipment and training drills. “For a long time I wanted to be a firefighter; I love that I get to help people in a physical emergency services role.”
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Being part Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is like having a second family.
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For Further Information 11
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September - October 2016
www.suffolk.gov.uk/firestations Call the service’ s On-Call Liaison Officer: 07776 475069
Public Health
Beat the Street
Sudbury and Great Cornard challenged to Beat the Street for Suffolk’s Year of Walking!
2016/17 is officially Suffolk’s Year of Walking which is a celebration of walking in Suffolk; promoting walking events and encouraging new walking opportunities. The Year of Walking launched as part of the Suffolk Walking Festival on Saturday 14th May and has a website, www. suffolkyearofwalking.co.uk which has lots of walking information and showcases all of the walking events taking place across the county. Suffolk’s Year of Walking has already had a variety of key events including the Pigs Gone Wild and Turtle trails in Ipswich and Lowestoft over the Summer and now it’s Sudbury and Great Cornard’s turn to come along for the stride and ‘Beat the Street’!
What is Beat the Street? Running for six weeks from 21st September to 2nd November, Beat the Street is a free, fun
game where local residents are rewarded with points and prizes for exploring their town on foot or bicycle. More than 40 special sensors called ‘Beat Boxes’ will be placed on lampposts across Sudbury and Great Cornard and players collect points by tapping cards and fobs against as many Beat Boxes as they can while travelling across their area. Local children are able to earn points for their school and adult players are able to create their own teams or support an existing team or school. Schools, community groups and businesses will all be competing with each other to see who can travel the furthest and win up to £500 worth of sports equipment supplied by
Decathlon for their team. Beat the Street Sudbury and Great Cornard is an initiative run by Intelligent Health in partnership with Suffolk County Council and designed to inspire whole communities to get moving.
Beat the Street rewards people for making small, positive changes to their behaviour – by swapping your car for a bike or walking an extra bit each weekday you could help your school, business or community group win some great prizes.
Win up to £500 worth of sports equipment for your school / community group or business.
Anyone can get involved and it’s a really great way for people to get outdoors and to get moving. It’s a great chance to get families and friends taking part together to work as a team whilst improving their health at the same time.
The game is coming to Sudbury and Great Cornard for the first time following the success of Beat the Street in Lowestoft and other cities across the UK including London, Liverpool, Nottingham and Reading.
@familiessuffolk
/FamiliesSuffolk
Get Involved Want to get involved in Beat the Street? Visit www.beatthestreet.me/SGC or follow Beat the Street on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ btssgc) or Twitter (@btssgc).
www.familiesonline.co.uk
01473 788546
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Clubs & Classes
The benefits of after school clubs and classes Whether or not you think you may be raising the next Picasso or David Beckham, there’s no doubting the pluses of after school clubs. While finances may not permit your little ones being involved in different activities every night of the week, there’s no doubt that a couple of well-chosen clubs can be great for giving your child an insight into areas that the school curriculum doesn’t cover.
Suzuki Cell o Tuition Age 4-5 upwards - DBS checked
01473 429410 www.rachelraval.co.uk
From ballet to basketball and art to archery, there’s an after school activity out there for every child. And the best thing about them is they’re brilliant for all sorts of reasons – not just learning a new skill. For a start, after school clubs give kids the chance to let off steam outside of the classroom. When you consider that in many countries around the world, kids don’t even start school until 6 or 7 years old, a full day in the classroom for youngsters can be a big ask. That’s why an alternative to textbook learning can be hugely rewarding.
So, why are clubs so important? Team sports like football, rugby, and netball are not only brilliant for keeping kids active but also helping them learn team work where they can begin to appreciate what’s good for the whole team, rather than just thinking of themselves. Competitive sports are also great for learning difficult life lessons like being a gracious winner - and loser. However, if you’re on the lookout for team building clubs with a less competitive edge, you could consider Brownies and Scouts – kids love them! Meanwhile, learning a musical instrument is ideal for discovering the art of practice, patience and persistence. Drama clubs are perfect for shy kids who learn to find their voice singing and acting alongside others, while ballet and dance is suited for kids to learn discipline and self-expression.
Don’t forget the fun factor! The list is endless. There are clubs for almost anything you can imagine. Archery, chess, horse riding, computer clubs, film making and even circus skills are all proving popular alongside the more traditional arts and crafts, swimming, tennis and Kung Fu. However, new skills, team work and confidence building aside, the most important thing to think about when deciding which club to choose is the fun factor.
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September - October 2016
Clubs & Classes
Local Clubs & Classes: Reader Reviews
Stagecoach Your name: Rosa Manteiga
Kumon
Your child’s name and age: Roma Manteiga Nicholson, Aged 11
Mayur Mishra, a student from the Kumon Ipswich Central Study Centre, has triumphed at school after receiving high grades across the board in his GCSE exams. Mayur first joined Kumon when he was nine years old, starting with the Kumon Maths Programme, before taking up the English Programme in 2011. Now, seven years later, Mayur has received grades A* in five of his GCSE subjects, including maths, further maths & English literature. In September he will be attending his grammar school of choice to complete his A-levels. Alongside his studies, Mayur also works at the Kumon Ipswich Study Centre as a classroom assistant. Mayur’s mother and father are suitable proud of their son’s accomplishments. They said: “We strongly feel that Kumon has instilled a structured approach and discipline for Mayur to achieve incredible results in his GCSE Mathematics and English. We hope that Kumon can inspire many other students in the future and help them to achieve best results.” READ MORE ONLINE... www.familiesonline.co.uk
How did you find out about Stagecoach? Local Magazine Advert What made you choose Stagecoach classes? It’s well known nationally. What were you hoping your child/children would gain from attending classes? Confidence, the chance to mix with other children and enjoy all aspects of Performing Arts like singing, drama and dance. Do you feel they have achieved this? Definitely How often and how long are the classes / courses your child/children have completed? Each session is 3 hours long. She attends on a Friday, and the class includes 1 hour each of drama, singing and dance every week during term time. Were the classes good value for money? Yes definitely worth it. What did your child/children enjoy most about the classes? She enjoys all 3 elements, but the dance is her favourite.
Rachel Raval: Cello Tuition “As an adult student, I approached Rachel not only because of her qualifications and experience, but also because she performs regularly with Trianon Music Group, and with her own band ‘The Cornerhouse Trio’. One thing I like about Rachel is that she puts you at ease whilst teaching. I find her to be very friendly, supportive and flexible around my needs, and she will always go out of her way to support me in learning pieces I have discovered on my own. After one year of teaching, Rachel entered me in for my first music examination. I achieved Grade I with Distinction. I would definitely recommend Rachel if you are looking for a cello teacher”.
What do you feel have been the biggest benefits of attending Stagecoach classes? She has gained so much confidence. Stagecoach teachers used to have to pry her away from us as she was so shy, 7 years on she is eager to get into her class each week. She’s had several exciting performing opportunities and made loads of new friends. Stagecoach is a family. Everyone encourages each other and the children all get on so well. The teachers are lovely and all the kids really enjoy the classes. We highly recommend Stagecoach. Roma will miss it when she eventually outgrows Stagecoach, but until then she will continue to enjoy her time there.
Birch Farm Nursery Established 1991 – 2016
25 Years
Full Day Care Nursery & Holiday Club Varied Sessions from 3hrs to Full day 7:30am - 6:30 pm Shift patterns may be accommodated (subject to staff ratios & notice of pattern) Impressive indoor and outdoor facilities
HORSE RIDING FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES
15 hours a week FREE care for 2,3 and 4 yrs (Subject to status) Extra curricula activities from Jo Jingles/Swimming/Ballet Ofsted Rated Good For more information contact Mini 01473 652249 birchfarm@uk2.net www.birchfarm.co.uk Birch Farm Silver Hill Hintlesham Ipswich Suffolk IP8 3NJ
Friendly family run yard offering equestrian learning and fun for all. Our team of qualified BHS Staff offer a range of classes, including Tots classes from 2 years with Creche facilities available Friday mornings. EMAIL: HILLFARMEC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
You can also follow us on @familiessuffolk
/FamiliesSuffolk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
01473 788546
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Clubs & Classes
Gymnastics in Ipswich
Following the success of Team’s GB’s gymnasts at this year’s Olympic Games, Families Suffolk talks to the County’s leading Gymnastics Clubs. Gymnastics in Ipswich is a purpose built gymnastics centre of the highest quality based on the south east side of Ipswich, with 2 gymnastic halls, dance studio, classroom/meeting room, and catering facilities. Our centre proudly boasts a variety of the latest equipment including two sprung floors, tumble track, fast track, foam pits, trampolines, vaults, bars, beams, pommels, ring frames and P-Bars.
Classes for all ages and abilities Throughout the week our programme varies to cater for all ages from babies to adults, from structured classes to casual come and play sessions, from gymnastics to dance and so much more. We have recently extended our existing programme to offer Sunday classes for both pre-school children and those at full time school. We also host many competitions from Recreational to International level.
Our preschool classes are extremely popular, with the focus on getting children used to being part of a structured class and interacting with other children in a fun and safe environment. It is a great way to prepare them for starting school. In addition, they’ll learn gymnastic moves helping with balance, coordination and core strength.
Class Times & Dates • Our Tots Teddy Bear classes run every Wednesday 9.25am9.55am for children from walking to 2 years old. • Our Little Teddy Bear classes are structured sessions for children aged 2-3 years old, these run every weekday 11am-12 noon. • Our Teddy Bear classes for children aged 3-4 ½ years old run every weekday 10-11am, 1-2pm and 2-3pm and also Sundays 9-10am.
Recreational Classes For children in full time school up until 12 years old, we offer structured Recreational classes Monday to Friday after school and on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Our recreational classes are a fun way to help children learn and develop new skills in classes organised by ability, having the chance to progress through our grade system to reach their full potential. All of our courses are run as an eight week course. The cost is £24.40 for our Tots Teddy Bear course and £48.80 for all our other eight week courses. In order to get your child onto the waiting list for one of our courses, please contact our reception desk on 01473 433676 or email: admin@pipersvale.co.uk However, if you don’t want to commit to a structured course, we also have casual sessions. For more information visit the webiste: www.gymnasticsinipswich.co.uk
There’s more… We don’t just do Gymnastics!
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Join the adventure through story, rhyme and yoga inspired moves! Contact us!
Email: somer@yogabugs.com Tel: 0845 863 0693
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September - October 2016
yogabugs.com
We also have dance and karate classes at Gymnastics In Ipswich, as well as offering birthday parties most weekends throughout the year. Please see our website: www.gymnasticsinipswich.co.uk or contact Reception for more information.
Family Fun
Sponsored by Ipswich Borough Council
Something for everyone with the family iCard No doubt your six-week holiday was an almighty juggling act involving excitable children, constant activity and very little time to yourself. So watching your kids step out at the start of September in shiny news school shoes ready to start the new term was probably accompanied by a mixture of emotions. While your little ones might miss the carefree fun of the long break, you may well be breathing a sigh of relief at your empty nest.
We have a treat that will cheer your kids up – and give you back a little me-time.
Something for everyone Ipswich Borough Council has something to suit everyone with the iCard. A brand new approach to adult fitness classes and after school activities for children, it delivers a programme which you can dip in and out of.
It’s simple... There are no membership fees, no contracts, no joining fee and no hassle. You simply make a booking and choose to either pay monthly or pay as you go. This gives you the freedom to try out lots of different sports and see which you like best. Fitness classes for adults take place all week. Junior clubs are held on weekends and evenings to fit around the school day. And if you have youngsters at home, don’t worry. Ipswich Borough Council also provides crèche facilities at some of its venues which means you can attend a class and leave your baby or toddler in safe hands. Crèche places can be booked seven days in advance with an iCard and the price is included for all-inclusive monthly iCard members.
So much to try Adult activities include a full range of fitness classes – legs, bums and tums, yoga, Pilates, body conditioning, Box Fit, aerobics, Zumba, circuit training and more. Adults can also book slots to use the gym and athletics track, sign up to play racquet sports and take advantage of a swimming programme as well as use the sauna and steam room facilities. Kids can try the junior athletics classes, racquet sports, trampolining, rollerskating and iGym junior – gym and fitness sessions for over 12s. There are also football and rugby clubs and swimming sessions for young people. The iCard can be used to book activities across their sporting venues including Crown Pools, Gainsborough Sports Centre, Whitton Sports Centre, Northgate Sports Centre and Profiles Waterfront.
How to apply You can apply for a monthly membership iCard or a bookings iCard. Your bookings iCard is free of charge and allows you the freedom to book online and pay as you go. Monthly prices are dependent on the membership type but monthly memberships do offer exceptional value for money and include unlimited access to all activities with no contract, no joining fee and no annual subscription. To get a monthly iCard visit any of our sports centres or Crown Pools and ask at reception or call 0800 0371371. For a booking iCard call us on the freephone number above to set it up and then collect it next time you visit one of our venues. Visit www.Ipswich.gov.UK/sport for more information and a full timetable. @familiessuffolk
/FamiliesSuffolk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
01473 788546
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Real Life Stories
Counting the Costs of Cancer
this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month CLIC Sargent Fundraising Manager in Suffolk, Daisy Turner explains why costs go up and income goes down when families are faced with the shock of a cancer diagnosis. “CLIC Sargent’s mission is to change what it means to be diagnosed with cancer when you’re young. Our service teams provide vital support to young cancer patients aged 0-24 and their families during and after treatment, to help them live life to the full.
How you can help
Our CLIC Sargent Social Workers give families emotional and financial support including grants and help to access the benefits they’re entitled to. We know that for many families of young cancer patients, cancer has a devastating impact on their finances. Many have to face mounting costs and dwindling income. They have to take time off work and deal with the stress of unexpected costs. To raise awareness of the financial impact of childhood cancer, we carried out a survey to over 400 parents and young cancer patients, CLIC Sargent social workers, parents and young people – this is what we’ve found out:
Loss of Earnings From our research we discovered that as a result of their child’s cancer diagnosis, two in five parents had to give up work in order to support their child and half experienced a loss of earnings.
Mounting Debt As a result of mounting costs and loss of earnings, three-fifths of parents surveyed had accumulated some form of debt as a result of their child’s cancer diagnosis, mostly owed to family and friends or to credit card companies and one in six had borrowed over £5000.
Extra Costs This figure may not come as a surprise when we learned that parents spend an average of £600 additional expenses due to their child having cancer in an average month during active treatment. This amount was most commonly spent on travel, extra food, and other small extras like toys and treats. Our research found that, on average parents were spending £131 per month on travel and £129 on food.”
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This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re asking schools, families and businesses to help us continue supporting families coping with cancer by taking on our £170 Challenge.
Why £170? Because that’s the grant CLIC Sargent gives to families after a child is diagnosed with cancer, to help stop unexpected costs like parking and petrol becoming a problem. So, why not take the £170 Challenge at your school?
Stress and Anxiety
The Power of Cake - Get Baking - show off your baking skills and whip up some tasty treats to sell to friends, family and work mates. Or raise it your way - do a sponsored walk, a spelling competition or even take on our Big Buzz challenge.
With all the added pressure of mounting costs, 75% of parents and 54% of young people surveyed felt that managing their finances during treatment caused them additional stress and anxiety.
Sign up for your free fundraising pack at: www.clicsargent.org.uk/content/childhoodcancer-awareness-month
September - October 2016
Real Life Stories
The Calf at Foot Dairy The Calf At Foot Dairy main focus is bringing back compassion in dairy farming. The calf-friendly, cow-kind dairy! The Calf at Foot Dairy produce ethical, raw, Jersey milk from ‘purely pasture’ fed cows allowed to keep their own calves, delivered via mail order around the UK to the compassionate consumer. They are one of only two dairies in the country using the ‘calf at foot dairying’ method.
The mission It was set up as a personal mission by Fiona Provan, whose life long goal was to highlight the plight of the conventional dairy cows and introduce a different way of producing milk- Calf at Footing.
Overcoming the sceptics! Calf At Footing was pooh poohed as non-productive, expensive and unrealistic. But when compared to removing calfs from their Mum at birth or very soon after and those calfs being fed with a milk replacement the alternative, to Fiona, was worth putting herself into poverty.
The Up’s & Down’s The result of 4 years trying to improve the idea that was first written on the back of a fag packet has had its ups and downs (the downs at times humongous). But The Calf At Foot Dairy continues to prove that if you appreciate the changing milk yield due to the Calfs taking the milk and work with it, rather than against it as commercial dairying does, and if you are willing to evolve with compassion at the forefront, then others including conventional dairies can do this too. Hopefully then other dairy cows will experience the compassion that they do at the Calf At Foot Dairy, and make the world a better place for dairy cows.
Find out more To find out more about the Calf at Foot Dairy visit: www.the-calf-at-foot-dairy.co.uk @familiessuffolk
/FamiliesSuffolk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
01473 788546
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Parent’s Place
Mum in Business Interview: Hazel Ackland Your name: Hazel Ackland Name, location and nature of your business: Hill Farm Equestrian Centre, Chelmondiston, Horse Riding School How long has your business been running and the reason why you started your own business? The business was formed in 2002, I took over the ownership of the business in April 2016. My life long dream to own my own riding school. To give my children and other children the amazing outdoor childhood I had. What do you enjoy about running your own business? Flexibility with my working hours. Knowing that all the effort I put in is for me and my children. Is there anything you don’t enjoy about running your own business? Knowing when to switch off at home. Giving myself certain evenings to deal with emails, (trying not to let it interfere with family time)
What was the best piece of advice you were ever given? It’s OK to be scared about big decisions, you just need to be true to yourself. What does the future hold for your business? A continued friendly atmosphere for my family and customers. A fun place to learn about pony care and riding. How do you fit your business around family life? This was the main reason for taking over the business. I have 2 small children Lily 5 and Daisy 3. I am now able to drop the children off to school/play group before work and pick up too( I am able to arrange my lessons around school hours). Fridays I have a childminder at the yard so Daisy can be at work with me ( and look after other children- crèche facility) During the holidays my girls join in on Pony Days and Pony Weeks. ( they are becoming very good little jockeys!!) What advice would you give to any parents considering starting up their own business? Do it!! Best decision I made. It will seem tough at the start, but things soon calm down and you will get yourself into a great routine that suits you and your family life.
To find out more visit: www.hillfarmec.co.uk
YogaBugs Writing Competition As you may be aware, this year marks the 100th birthday of Roald Dahl. Following the recent release of ‘The BFG’ in cinemas, YogaBugs have been inspired to host a marvellous event and run a gloriumptious competition!
Just a little bit about us We are YogaBugs Ipswich & Colchester, a children’s activity company who specialise in delivering story-inspired classes, with an emphasis on imagination and fun! We will be running a competition to celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday, to promote children’s literacy and to also raise a few pennies for the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity.
The competition To honour the birth of Roald Dahl, we have created a competition to inspire children to use their imagination and get creative, by coming up with their own story for The Bug. The winning story of the national competition will be made into a class that will be taught in sessions all over the UK. The winning family will also receive prizes from us, such as a framed version of their published story and an adorable bug to take along on their very own adventures! The winner and runner-ups will also receive prizes donated by The Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity such as classic books and more! YogaBugs Ipswich & Colchester will also choose a local winner who will receive a free session for his/her nursery or school. To enter the competition and for full terms and conditions, please visit: www.localyogabugs.com/ipswich for more details.
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September - October 2016
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www.familiesonline.co.uk
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