Scallymag for Todmorden & Hebden Bridge - Spring '12

THE

S C A LL Y A G

M

®

Walsden, Cornholme, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Luddendenfoot & Surrounding Areas

DAILY DIARIES

Mother’s Day

Focus on:

For Pre-school and Out-of-School Activities

Some Fantastic and Exclusive Treats for all Mums

Domestic abuse

OUT & ABOUT

Family Health

British Commercial Vehicle Museum The Best Parks in Calderdale

Craniosacral Therapy Putting a SPRING in your step

Spring ‘12

Issue 36

For Local Parents, Carers & Kids

Plus Great Competitions, Classified Ads, AND MUCH much more!

e s ea e l p ak t ne o

classified page header market place Post or Email your Children’s “For Sale” adverts to us, we’ll put them on our website and print them in our next issue. We can also advertise “Wanted” items.

No Trade Please Mamas & Papas Sola Carrycot, in very good condition, black £35.00 01706 817 374 * Mamas & Papas Cybex Aton Orchid car seat up to twelve months, in very good condition £35.00 01706 817 374 * Concord Rio Baby Rocker, a lovely little chair, good condition £30.00 01706 817 374 * Moby D baby sling, never used £20.00 01706 817 374 * Tiny Love Classic Mobile, a few tunes and lots of nice dangling animals, in very good condition £10.00 01706 817 374 * Baby Einstein Entertainer, brilliant, you can leave them to their own devices in this, in very good condition £35.00 01706 817 374

Tippitoes Door Bouncer, an absolute winner, in very good condition £10.00 01706 817 374 * Ameda Dual Electric Breastpump, comes with loads of spare bottles and a rucksack, absolutely brilliant, can’t recommend enough £40.00 01706 817 374 * Philips Avent Bottle Warmer £5.00 01706 817 374 * Bambino Mio Nappy Set - small, plus nappy liners, unused £10.00 01706 817 374 * The Dangerous Book for Boys - hardback £10.00 01706 819472 * Imaginext Fisher Price Pirate Ship in good condition £5.00 01706 819426

Mac Pac Vamoose baby carrier (size 2). Includes sun and rain cover. In immaculate condition.

Cost over £200 new. £70.00 01706 813401 * Apollo Fire Chief boys bike, 12” with stabilisers. Good condition.

Cost £70 new. £25.00 01706 813401 * BabyDan Babyden Playpen/ Fireguard in Silver with Grey Playmat. In good condition, mat never used. Cost £75 new. £40.00 01706 813401 * Petite Star 3 in 1 Car Walker.

It’s a bouncer, exerciser & walker in one. Suitable from 6 months. Cool Blue Coupe style car design. Toy/feeding tray.

Musical & interactive features, varied height positions.

Excellent condition. £45.00 07843 411364

Two Lindam ‘easy fit plus’ baby gates, hardly used. £18.00 07401 442765 * Brio Builder System set to make four models, including Fork Lift Truck, Helicopter and Dinosaur.

In box with instructions £10.00 01706 819426 * Selection of Barbie toys; two dolls with clothes, bedroom furniture set and a Sindy Mini car. ‘Played with’ condition but still lots of fun to be had £5.00 01706 819426

Don’t Forget:

Between issues visit our website www.thescallymag.co.uk for an up-to-date list of items For Sale

Ballet - Tap - Modern Jazz - Theatrecraft Musical Theatre - Freestyle - Street Dance Cheerleading - Rock 'N' Roll - Ballroom - Sequence Salsa - Latin - Zumba - Melody Movement Pre School Dance - Gymnastic Dance - Limbering

Tel 01706 839113

www.dcdance.co.uk www.facebook.com/dcdanceuk

DC Dance - Victoria Road - Todmorden - OL14 5LP

2

welcome contact us

contents Diary Pages Playgroups, Swimming, Libraries & Soft Play Pre-School Diary Out-Of-School Diary Competitions Design our next front cover Out & About British Commercial Vehicle Museum Top of the Tops Classified Adverts The place to buy and sell you baby and kids stuff Family Health Put a Spring in your Step All about Craniosacral Therapy Literacy The latest news from The Book Case News Top award for local teacher New Family Social Club Focus On: Fighting against Domestic Abuse Feature The dangers of Carbon Monoxide Treats Celebrate Mother’s Day with our Super Special Offers!

Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 4 Page 7 Page 9 Page 2 Page 20 Page 23 Page 19 Page 5 Page 6 Page 16 Page 22 Page 21

For competition entries, to discuss and book advertising space, ideas for future articles or just to let us know what you think of the magazine, please get in touch by any of the following means:

 Bankside House, Haugh Road, Todmorden, OL14 6BU  hazel@thescallymag.co.uk  01706 814392  www.thescallymag.co.uk The Scallymag (Todmorden & Hebden Bridge)

Editor: Hazel Bregazzi Lay-out & Design: Hazel Bregazzi Publishing: Bankside House Publishing, Todmorden Distribution: Many thanks to all schools, groups and other businesses which help with the distribution of The Scallymag® Special Thanks: To all advertisers whose contribution ensures the magazine can be distributed Free of Charge Editorial & Advertising: Hazel Bregazzi, Bankside House, OL14 6BU info@thescallymag.co.uk Disclaimer: Whilst every care is taken to ensure that information contained in this magazine is true, accurate and fair, the publisher cannot take any responsibility for events arising from the use of this information. Any statements or opinions given in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. © The Scallymag® 2012 Nothing may be reproduced without permission

Congratulations To: Ivy Blackmoor

aged 5, of Hebden Bridge, who painted our wonderful front cover picture

“The Spring Dance”

She gets a £25 voucher to spend at Silly Billy’s Toy Shop in Hebden Bridge.

Many thanks to Nuno from Silly Billy’s for judging the competition this time.

3

competition

A

Home to school transport

ll parents have a duty to ensure their children attend school but, in some cases, Calderdale Council has a duty to help families got their children to school.

Broadly speaking, children will be entitled to free school travel if they are: • a Calderdale resident • attending the nearest school to their home address • under 8 years old and live more than 2 miles away, or • over 8 years old and live more than 3 miles away However further criteria are taken into consideration if; • Your child qualifies for free school meals • You receive the maximum level of working tax credit • Your child is attending a school because of their (provable) faith, which may not be their nearest available school.

4

If your child is due to move up to secondary school in September ’12 you should get more information from your primary school in the weeks after Easter.

If you are not sure whether you qualify or not then contact the council (details below) or visit their website.

If you are still in doubt fill in an application form. The Access Team will assess your case and write back to you before September.

Access Team Children and Young People’s Services Northgate House Halifax HX1 1UN Telephone: 01422 392749 Email: info@calderdale.gov.uk

news Local teacher wins award

W

endy Orrell, Principal of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, has recently been presented with the organisation’s 2011 UK Franchisee of the Year Award. It is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding work amongst the Academy’s students.

The citation commended her success in building and maintaining excellent relationships with her students, their parents, local schools, the Press and for going the extra mile.

Wendy, a former schoolteacher, has been the Principal for seven years during which time she has overseen the growth of the Academy such that there are now classes in Hebden Bridge, Norden, Littleborough, Middleton, Ashton, Stalybridge and

Shaw. Studios in Uppermill, Oldham and Rochdale will open soon.

The Academy’s award-winning programme for 5 to 17 year olds aims, by means of drama, to develop life skills essential to a child’s development; enthusiasm, confidence, self-esteem, communication skills, team work and creativity through a highly developed and extensive after-school drama curriculum. Making new friends and having lots of fun are also important.

The curriculum, which has been developed over nearly 30 years internationally, is progressive. Young people can remain in the Academy from age 5 to 17 without ever repeating a lesson. It is aimed at three age groups; Lower Primary (5-8), Upper Primary (9-11) and Youth (15-17) and fits in with the

curriculum of the schools.

Kindy Drama for pre-schoolers is on the drawing board.

Wendy Orrell said: “Receiving this Award is satisfying as it recognises the efforts of many people. I am grateful for the work of my teachers and the support of parents without which we could not be successful. Working with their children is a delight. Local schools, with whom we work closely, have made a huge contribution to our work, to the extent that one school has integrated the programme into its curriculum.

Recognition of this kind is appreciated.”

If any parent feels that their child can benefit from being part of the Academy they can contact Wendy on 01706 810164/oldham@helenogrady.co.uk, or visit the website www.helenogrady. co.uk

��������

5

news Family Social Night is a Hit with Locals

A

new weekly event at Hebden Bridge Trades Club brings food and good company to local families.

The Family Social is a drop-in event, run every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3.30pm. Parents can bring their children to meet and play with others, while mums and dads have time to relax and chat. From 4pm, the Trades Club’s resident chef, Lhamo, serves up delicious homemade Tibetan food costing just £2 to £3 per dish.

Local mum-of-two, Lucy Tatam, decided to trial the idea before Christmas and she was thrilled by the positive response from the community.

“I had been informally calling in at the Trades Club for curry with another mum for a while. Our kids loved letting off steam after school and we got a night off cooking!”

So, with encouragement from a friend, Lucy began discussions with the Trades Club, with a view to establishing a regular family-friendly club. She was pleased to discover that bar manager, Philip Clark, was very supportive of the idea. He has ensured that everyone feels very welcome and the space is child-friendly, as well as providing space to store the group’s “bits box” of toys and craft materials. `He is even planning to set up a Wii zone where kids can play games on the giant projector screen.

The feedback from local families has been overwhelmingly positive. Many parents admit to finding themselves at a loose end in the early evening, after collecting their children from school.

Open Day Wednesday 23rd May 2:30-4:30pm

St. John's, Cragg Vale Kindergarten 3 to 6 years School from age 6 Charity: 1090119

Phone Marilyn - 01422 885249 | www.hebdensteiner.com

6

The problem is especially acute during the short, dark winter days. “My friends and I have found that our kids need to unwind after school. They want to play together before heading back home and, as parents, we are not necessarily ready to lock ourselves up at home for the entire evening. The Family Social bridges that gap really nicely,” explains Lucy.

For those with hungry tummies, chef Lhamo prepares her dishes without the use of chilli on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Her food has proved very popular with children and parents alike.

Toddlers have been devouring dahl and rice, and teenagers have been tucking into delicious noodle soups. For those parents of really fussy eaters, there’s always the option of bringing sandwiches or grabbing a bag of the time-tested favourite, chips!

The most fundamental principle of the group is that this is relaxing time and space for both parent and child. No membership or subscription is required, and the group is free to attend on a

no-obligation, drop-in basis.

As well as new faces, the group welcomes new ideas on how they might expand and develop to better serve the needs of local families. Future plans for the group include hiring children’s entertainers, showing family films and running craft projects. Anyone with talents, time and enthusiasm to share is invited to contact Lucy on lucy@netmindz.co.uk. Or simply call in to the Trades for a chat with the other parents.

out & about

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum

King Steet, Leyland, Lancashire PR25 2LE 01772 451011 http://www.bcvmt.co.uk/

B

etween 1896 and 1990 Leyland was home to one of Britain’s largest motor vehicle manufacturing plants.

From Leyland Motors, through British Leyland and eventually to the Rover Group, Leyland made its name producing commercial vehicles, including buses, vans and trucks.

The museum is housed in one of the old Leyland Motors buildings, in Leyland, less than an hour’s drive from here. It has been in existence for over 20 years, building up a collection and preserving the history of road transport in the UK. The museum itself is housed in one large ‘shed’. Vehicles are grouped together so there is a row of buses, a row of trucks, a few old steam powered vehicles and (best for our kids) a row of Fire Engines, one of which I’m sure used to be in Trumpton!

The ‘star attraction’ is the purpose built ‘Popemobile’, made for the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982. Remarkable though this vehicle may be, it probably won’t be too fascinating for anyone aged under about 30, who won’t remember all the fuss made about it in 1982!

The museum has a traffic lights system which is explained when you buy your entrance tickets. Every vehicle has a small sticker on it with a picture of a traffic light. If green is lit, anyone is welcome to explore inside, climb up and around and generally enjoy the vehicle fully. An amber light means exploring is permitted with help of a

member of staff, and a red light means no entry. I didn’t count up but my children were off searching for green or amber lights straight away and only found about three, though one was the Trumpton Fire Engine. Having said that though, the staff were very friendly and approachable and did their best to add to the experience where they could.

As well as the vehicles, there were other small exhibitions. One which caught my eye was the story of motorways. Might not sound too interesting but, when you remember that the first motorway in the country was built within a few miles of the museum, and these new road builders had to invent such things as motorway service stations and slip roads (which needed leaflets printing to explain how to use them), I actually thought it was very good.

The museum is all on one level, so pram/pushchair use is no problem.

There was a small café selling cakes and snacks, which we didn’t sample, and a small shop with plenty of pocket-money toys.

Overall it might pass an hour or so for toddlers who like getting close to big trucks, or sitting in the driving seat of buses for pretend journeys to the seaside, or ringing the bells on fire engines, or for older children with an interest in history, but it’s probably more suitable for dad or granddad.

The museum is only open mid March to late October but it also hosts special events throughout the year. I would recommend, if you are planning a trip, have a quick look at the website to check it is open and if there is anything special to see.

7

Hi! My name’s Joe and I’m one of the team of Physios from Back to Fitness Physiotherapy. I’m based at our Mytholmroyd clinic, so come and see me with your aches and pains and I’ll quickly get you ‘ Back to Fitness’ again!

Sing Along with Jo Jingles!

Fun Music, Singing & Movement Classes for children aged 3 months to 5 years

Physiotherapy and Sports Massage

Classes in Bury, Haslingden, Rochdale, Littleborough, Todmorden, Rawtenstall & Heywood

WHAT WE TREAT: For details call Jo on 01706 212889 jocorbettuk@aol.com www.jojingles.com/rossendale





Back pain & sciatica Sports injuries Whiplash Postural pain Arthritis Muscle, tendon and ligament Repetitive strain

Daytime, evening and weekend appointments

 

8

Registered with BUPA and all other health insurance providers Discount Voucher!

‘Been hitting the gym a little too hard and feeling aches and pains?

Use this voucher to take £10 off the cost of a physiotherapy assessment!

You pay just £35!!!



Telephone: 0800 0751 641



Email: enquiries@backtofitnessphysio.com



Unit 1C Dean Hey Country Business Park, Mytholmroyd, HX7 5RU



www.backtofitnessphysio.com





Good access and free parking!

No need for GP referral!

out & about

Play Area

Midgley

Top Trumps

By Eugenie Karen

Part 1 - Top of the Tops

A

void getting stuck in the rut of the same old playground. Here’s a guide for multitaskers to consult at a glance.

The format should be familiar to most but the categories need a little explanation. Scores are 1 low to 10 high.

Access is car parking and bus stops.

Equipment is quality and range of slides, swings etc.

Peace of mind depends on whether fencing keeps dogs out and children in.

Age range is how broadly the equipment will appeal to various ages.

Underfoot is obvious. Some playgrounds are quagmires, some aren’t.

Last, and of paramount importance, Comfort and Joy. This is what’s in it for you when you aren’t swinging swings or chasing after toddlers. If there’s a great cafe nearby or even good benches or, better still, picnic tables, the score will be high.

Over the next few issues we will cover as many local parks as possible. This issue: an overview of three playgrounds perched on the Tops. Enjoy the views.

Heptonstall

Access

5

Equipment

5

Peace of Mind

1

Appeal to all ages

4

Underfoot

6

Comfort and Joy

2

A study in peeling paint and faded charm. The views are great and everything works fine, but it feels tired. A car park bisects the playground and there is only one lonely bench.

Watch out for the tyre swing’s secret trick of sloshing water down dangling legs. The negatives are countered by a steep and exciting slide and good swings - though only baby and toddler ones.

Old Town

Access

10

Access

7

Equipment

9

Equipment

6

Peace of Mind

2

Peace of Mind

1

Appeal to all ages

9

Appeal to all ages

5

Underfoot

10

Underfoot

3

Comfort and Joy

7

Comfort and Joy

5

It’s spankingly new, shiny and sleek. There’s easy parking and a nearby bus stop. If you turn your back on the houses and brace yourself against the wind, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding hills. It’s strong on equipment, there’s something for all ages and the slide is easy to scale via steps or slope. Should the elements defeat you, the Towngate Tearoom is only a short walk away.

Old Town, old school, but it has its charms. It gets muddy.

Bring your boots. The swings are excellent, long chains mean they go high but mind you don’t sink too far into the ooze underneath. The climbing frame has a cushioned surface beneath so falls won’t be a complete mud disaster. There’s not much for really little ones but plenty of pottering space.

The picnic benches are a boon.

9

Todmorden Children’s Centre Nursery

DO YOU NEED EXCELLENT QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILD?

Todmorden Children’s Centre Nursery offers a high standard of care in a stimulating and caring environment in which children can develop and work towards reaching their full potential.

Free places available for ages 3- 5 years For more information or to book a place please call us on 01706 548140/41 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Todmorden Children’s Centre Road, Todmorden, OL14 7BXCollege Todmorden Community Tel: 01706 548140 Burnley Road, Todmorden OL14 7BX

��������������� �������������� ����������� run by highly-trained and loyal staff, with high staff: child ratios

Est. 2002

Private Day Nursery

Rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ by Ofsted Highest quality, purpose built facilities Wonderful countryside location 15 hrs/week of 3-4 yr old free places Sensory room & library

���5 star kitchen serving healthy vegetarian food freshly made on site ���Imaginative year-round ������������� ���������������������� in the heart of Hebden Bridge with waterside and park views ����������������� organisation, led by parents and carers

���������

����

�� �����

For more information call

������������� www.crossleymillnursery.org.uk Crossley Mill Nursery, New Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8AD Registered Charity No. 519937

10

“the experience of a lifetime” Out of School & Holiday Club 4 – 14 years Fantastic outdoor playing field with trampoline and traversing wall Computer suite and internet Sports hall with indoor traversing wall Extensive & varied play opportunities PS3, Wii & X-Box Dean Hey Farm, Cragg Road, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge HX7 5RU Tel 01422 882010 www.thearkexperience.co.uk

Open 7am – 6.30pm

51 weeks a year

diary pages

T

he heart of The Scally Mag are the following indispensible diary pages.

Colden Preschool Colden School Playground, Smithy Lane, Colden, Hebden Bridge 01422 846734

Todmorden Playgroup Todmorden C of E School Playground, Burnley Rd, Todmorden 01706 812019

Rainbow Kids Hope Street Baptist Church New Road Hebden Bridge Mags - 07940 040931

Steiner Kindergarten Steiner Kindergarten St. John’s Centre Cragg Vale Marilyn - 01422 885249

Monday

9:15 - 11:45 1.00 - 3.30* ages 2 - 5

9:20 - 3:30* ages 2½ to 4

9:15 - 11:45 12:45 - 3:15* ages 2½ to 5

9:30 - 11:30 ages 2 - 4

9:45 - 1:45 ages 3 to 6

Tuesday

9:15 - 11:45 1.00 - 3.30* ages 2 - 5

9:20 - 3:30* ages 2½ to 4

9:15 - 11:45 12:45 - 3:15* ages 2½ to 5

Wednesday

9:15 - 11:45 1.00 - 3.30* ages 2 - 5

9:20 - 3:30* ages 2½ to 4

9:15 - 11:45 12:45 - 3:15* ages 2½ to 5

Thursday

9:15 - 11:45 1.00 - 3.30* ages 2 - 5

9:20 - 3:30* ages 2½ to 4

Friday

9:15 - 11:45 1.00 - 3.30* ages 2 - 5

9:20 - 3:30* ages 2½ to 4

This section shows the opening times for the places you might want to visit regularly with your children.

9:15 - 3:15 ages 2½ to 6

9:45 - 1:45 ages 3 to 6

9:15 - 3:15 ages 2½ to 6

9:15 - 11:45 12:45 - 3:15* ages 2½ to 5

9:45 - 1:45 ages 3 to 6

9:15 - 3:15 ages 2½ to 6

9:15 - 11:45 12:45 - 3:15* ages 2½ to 5

9:45 - 1:45 ages 3 to 6

9:15 - 3:15 ages 2½ to 6

9:30 - 11:30 ages 2 - 4

* Lunchtime supervision is also provided for children staying all day, for a small extra charge.

2:00 - 6:00

Tuesday

9:00 - 12:00 1:30 - 4:00 7:15 - 9:00

9:30 - 1:00

10:00 - 5:00

Wednesday

9:00 - 12:00 1:30 - 7:00 8:00 - 9:00

9:30 - 5:00

10:00 - 7:30

Thursday

9:00 - 12:00 1:30 - 4:00 7:00 - 8:00

9:30 - 7:30

10:00 - 1:00

Friday

9:00 - 12:00 1:30 - 7:00

9:30 - 5:00

10:00 - 7:30

2:00 - 4:30 5:00 - 7:30

Saturday

9:00 - 1:30 2:45 - 6:30

9:30 - 4:00

9:30 - 4:00

10:00 - 12:00

sunday

9:00 - 5:00

2:00 - 4:30

The centre spread is always the pre-school diary. All activities listed on these pages will require an adult to remain with the child at all times. Some activities have limited places, some only run in term time and some may be cancelled at short notice. We always advise phoning ahead before setting out to any activity and, for some of the courses, it is essential. All Children’s Centre services are free, with any donations gratefully received.

Some sessions may be bookable.

1:00 - 5:00

Jitterbugs Play Centre Riverside Works, Todmorden Road, Littleborough 01706 378123

2:00 - 4:30

Upsy Daisy’s Playcentre Moderna Business Park, Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd 01422 881717

10:00 - 7:30

My Play Cafe 7 Central Street, Hebden Bridge 07517 539 821

9:30 - 7:30

Soft Play Pockets Snooker Club, Hollins Mill, Rochdale Road, Todmorden 01706 812297

Walsden Library Inchfield Road, Walsden 01706 815602

9:30 - 12:00 1:30 - 7:00

2:00 - 8:00

4:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

2:00 - 8:00

4:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

4:00 - 8:00

1:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

2:00 - 8:00

1:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

2:00 - 8:00

4:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

9:00 - 8:00*

11:00 - 6:00

9:00 - 4:00

9:00 - 6:00

9:30 - 6:00

9:00 - 8:00*

11:00 - 6:00

Parties Only

10:00 - 4:00

9:30 - 6:00

*Not available if a party is booked

Mytholmroyd Library Cragg Road, Mytholmroyd 01422 883933

Monday

soft play areas Soft Play at the Creche Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Todmorden Library Strand, Rochdale Road Todmorden 01706 815600

Library times

Hebden Bridge Library Cheetham Street Hebden Bridge 01422 842151

* See Diary Listing for Fun Swim times

Swim for all Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Swim

9:45 - 1:45 ages 3 to 6

The Glen House Montessori PreSchool Glen House, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge 01422 884682

Mytholmroyd Playgroup The Community Centre, Caldene Avenue, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge 01422 882226

Pre-schools and Playgroups take children from around 2½ years for up to 10 sessions per week.

All children become entitled to 15 hours nursery (or pre-school or playgroup) education per term-time week (up to 38 weeks per year), free of charge, starting at the beginning of the term following their third birthday.

Please call any of the groups listed for further details

pre-schools & playgroups

The second spread shows the many different activities available for school age children, from Chess to Dancing, Karate to Brass bands! Again, please use the contact details provided to check details before setting out.

And finally, if any details are out-of-date, inaccurate or missing, please get in touch with us using any of the methods listed on page 3. Accuracy in these matters is important to us, but we need your help!

11

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

MONDAY

Pre-school diary

12

Parent & Toddlers 9:00 - 10:30 Scout Road Primary School, Scout Road, Mytholmroyd 01422 883327

Bongo Bongos 9:00 - 10:00 (Term Time Only) Cornholme J&I School, Portsmouth, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Information Service (Drop-in support for Children & Families)

9:30 - 11:30 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904

Midgley Under 5’s 9:45 - 11:15 Midgley School, Midgley Jo - 01422 881984

Montessori Pre-School Group 10:00 - 12:00 Glen House Montessori School, Cragg vale, Hebden Bridge 01422 884682

Heptonstall Parents & Toddler Group 10:00 - 11:45 Heptonstall Social & Bowling Club, Acre Lane, Heptonstall Hannah-Louise 07528 626 000

Stay 10:00 Todm Todm Colle Todm 0170

Parent & Toddler Swimming 12:30 - 1:30 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913

Talk First (baby signing) 1:00 - 1:45 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Baby Massage 1:30 - 3:00 Valley Medical Centre, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge 01422 841218

Coun Pare 1.30 Todm Todm Colle Todm 0142

Centre Vale Toddlers 9:30 - 11:30 The Bowling Pavillion, Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden Please call in for details

Reflexology (by referral) 9.00 - 12.00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140

Steiner Parent & Child 10.00 - 12.00 St John’s Centre, Cragg Vale Sally - 07904 052816

TalkFirst Baby & Toddler Signing 10:00 - 11:00 Fielden Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden Susan - 01706 878781

Central Street Parents & Toddler Group 9:00 - 11:00 Central Street Infants School, Hebden Bridge.

Pauline - 01422 842784

Luddendenfoot 0 to 5’s 9:15 - 11:15 Luddenden Foot Civic Centre, Station Road, Luddenden Foot Sophie

Lumbutts Baby & Toddlers 9:30 - 11:15 Lumbutts Methodist Church Lumbutts Helen

Mytholmroyd Toddlers 9:30 - 11:30 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Elphaborough, Mytholmroyd 01422 882226

Parent & Toddler Swimming 9:00 - 10:00 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913

Counselling Service for Parents (by referral) 9.00 - 4.00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01422 250081 - FREE

Steiner Parent & Child 10.00 - 12.00 Steiner Centre, Macpelah, Hebden Bridge Sally - 07904 052816

Baby/postnatal Yoga 11:30 & 2:00 Blessingway, Birchcliffe Centre, Hebden Bridge Elaine - 07967 974 376

St. Josephs Toddlers 9:15 - 11:15 St Joseph’s School, Wellington Road, Todmorden 01706 812948

The Methodist Church Toddler Group 9:30 - 11:30 Scout Road, Mytholmroyd Joyce Greenwood 01422 883792

Family Stay and Play 10:00 - 11:30 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Bongo Bongos 10.00 - 11.00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140

Blackshaw Head Parents & Toddler Group 9:30 - 11:30 Blackshaw Head Chapel, Hebden Bridge Ann - 01706 810596

Creation Station - Little Explorers 9:45 - 10:30 Jitterbugs Play Centre, Todmorden Road, Littleborough Neela - 0844 854 9092

Steiner Parent & Child 10.00 - 12.00 Steiner Centre, Macpelah, Hebden Bridge Sally - 07904 052816

Mytholm Parent & Toddlers 9:00 - 11:00 Hebden Royd School, Church Lane, Hebden Bridge 01422 842821

Toddler Talk 9.00 - 11.00 (2nd Thu only) Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 - FREE

Jo Jingles 9:30 - 10:15 (under 2s), 10:30 - 11:15, 11:30 - 12:15 (over 2s), 12:30 - 1:15 (over 3s), 1:30 (3 - 9 months) Todmorden Sports Centre, Jo Corbett - 01706 212889

PEEP Group (For families and children with additional needs)

Childminders Drop In (2nd

Tuesday Only)

9:30 - 11:30 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Infor

supp

10:00 Hebd Cent 0142

Parent & Toddler Swimming 1:30 - 2:30 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913

FixL Train 3:00 10a T Busin Rach

Melody Makers 10:00 - 10:40 Dodnaze Community Centre, Hirst Grove, Hebden Bridge Patricia - 01422 844037

Sure Start Baby Club 10:00 - 11:00 Jitterbugs Play Centre, Todmorden Road, Littleborough

Todm 12:30 Todm Com Road Jenn

TalkFirst 10:30 - 11:15 Jitterbugs Play Area, Todmorden Road, Littleborough Sharon - 01706 378123

Little Bear Feet 11:30 - 12:15 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 1½ - 3 yrs

Parent & Toddler Swimming 11:45 - 12:45 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913

Preg 1:30 Bless Cent Elain

Luddendenfoot 0 to 5’s 9:15 - 11:15 Luddenden Foot Civic Centre, Station Road, Luddenden Foot Sophie

Centre Vale Toddlers 9:30 - 11:30 The Bowling Pavillion, Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden Please call in for details

St Michael’s Angels 9:30 - 11:00 St Michael’s Church Hall Mytholmroyd Catherine - 01422 883130

Toy Library 9:30 - 11:30 Central Methodist Church, Todmorden Pete - 07724 528027

Dodn 9.45 Dodn 54 H

TalkFirst 9:30 - 10:30 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Creation Station - Little Explorers 9:45 - 10:30 Upsy Daisy’s, Mytholmroyd Neela - 0844 854 9092

Post Natal Mum & Baby Yoga 11:00 - 12:30 Calderale Yoga Centre, 38 Hangingroyd Lane, Hebden Bridge Donna 07985 274181

Parent & Toddler Swimming 12:15 - 1:15 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913

Arts & Crafts 1:00 - 2:00 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

FixL Train 1:30 10a T Busin Rach

Stubbings Toddler Group 9:00 - 11:00 Stubbings Infant School, School Street, Hebden Bridge, 01422 842728

Old Town Parents & Toddlers 9:00 - 11:00 Old Town Primary School, Billy Lane, Old Town Kate - 07917 793192

Luddendenfoot 0 to 5’s 9:15 - 11:15 Luddenden Foot Civic Centre, Station Road, Luddenden Foot Sophie

Mytholmroyd Toddlers 9:30 - 11:30 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Elphaborough, Mytholmroyd 01422 882226

Aquatots 9:30 - 10:15, 10:15 - 11.00 & 11.00 - 11.45 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Baby Stay and Play 9:30 - 11:30 Todmorden Health Centre, 01706 548140 FREE

Bong 9:30 Vario 0170 FRE

Steiner Parent & Child 10.00 - 12.00 St John’s Centre, Cragg Vale Sally - 07904 052816

Ante-Natal Clinic 1.30 - 3.00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden By appointment only via your midwife

Intro to Football 1:45 - 2:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Wild Things Drama Group 3:45 - 4:30 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Ducklings Swimming Classes 4:00 - 4:30, 5:30 - 6:00, 6:00 - 6:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Pre-School Swimming Classes (Level 2+) 4:30 - 5:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Cam

Kids Disco & Cheer 9:00 - 10:00 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 3 - 6 yrs

Pre-School Ballet & Tap 9:15 - 10:15 The Conservative Club, Rochdale Road, Todmorden Sarah Hitchon - 07929 576785

First Ballet & Tip Tap Toe 10:00 - 11:00 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 4 -5 yrs

Little Bear Feet 10:00 - 10:45 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 1½ - 3 yrs

Talk Group (For Families of

children with additional needs) 11:00 - 1:00 2nd Sat of month

The Fielden Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01422 847444 - FREE

Ducklings Swimming Classes 9:00 - 9:30, 10:30 - 11:00, 11:15 - 11:45, 4:30 - 5:00, 6:00 - 6:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

1:30 - 2:45 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge Amanda - 01422 224156 FREE

Fun Swim 1:30 - 2:45 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Melody Movements 9:00 - 9:45 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 3 - 4 yrs

(ages

5:45 Lumb Todm Les

y & Play 0 - 11:30 morden Children’s Centre morden Community ege, Burnley Road, morden 06 548140 - FREE

Under 5’s Fun Swim 10:00 - 11:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Walsden Community Playgroup @ St Peter’s 1:30 - 3:00 St Peter’s Church, Walsden Catherine - 01706 818403

St Mary’s Family Service All Children Welcome 4:05 onwards St Mary’s Church, Todmorden 01706 819300

nselling Service for ents (by referral) - 5.00 morden Children’s Centre morden Community ege, Burnley Road, morden 22 250081 - FREE

Yoga (with Creche) (by referral) 1:30 - 3:00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140

Tatty Bumpkins 4:00 - 5:00 Zion Housing Co-op Studio, Hebden Bridge Clare - 07790 761702

Kids Disco & Cheer 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 4 - 6 yrs

rmation Service (Drop-in port for Children & Families)

0 - 12:00 den Vale Children’s tre, Hebden Bridge 22 844904

Bumps & Babes - support group for multiple births

10:00 - 11:30 The Methodist Church, New Road, Hebden Bridge Nicola - 01422 843129

Stay & Play 10:00 - 11:30 (Term Time Only) Woodbank School, Luddendenfoot 01422 844904 FREE

Lifestyles Mums & Babies ning - 4:00 Top Land Country ness Park, Cragg Vale hel - 07702 796236

First Ballet & Tip Tap Toe 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 4 - 5 yrs

Tiny Bop Pop Disco 4:45 - 5:15 Abi’s Dance Steps, Bailey’s Gym, Walsden, Todmorden Abi - 01706 816135 2 - 5 yrs

morden Family Support 0 - 2:00 alternate weeks morden Fire Station mmunity Room, Stansfield d, Todmorden ni - 01706 839787

Luddendenfoot 0 to 5’s 1:15 - 3:15 Luddenden Foot Civic Centre, Station Road, Luddenden Foot Sophie

Baby Stay & Play 1:30 - 3:00 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Rhyme Rattle ‘n Roll 4.00 - 5.00 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 - FREE

Ducklings Swimming Classes 5:00 - 5:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

gnancy Yoga & 7:30 singway, Birchcliffe tre, Hebden Bridge ne - 07967 974 376

Blackshawhead Arty Toddler naze Parent & Toddlers Group 9:45 - 12:00 - 11.15 naze Community Centre, Blackshawhead Chapel, Hirst Grove, Hebden Bridge Hebden Bridge Lorraine - 01422 844971

Lifestyles Mums & Babies ning - 2:30, 3:00 - 4:00 Top Land Country ness Park, Cragg Vale hel - 07702 796236

Messy Play, 1:30 - 2:30 Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

go Bongos - 10:30 (Term Time Only) ous Locations 06 548140 EE

The Woods (Forest School

mpaigners - Eagles

Todmorden Swimming Club

- 7:15 butts Church, Lumbutts, morden or Pat 01706 814754

10:00 - 12:00 Eastwood, Todmorden Lizzie - 07772 331780

Toddler Tuesday

Family Social From 3:30 Open 10:00 - 5:00 Trades Club, Holme Street, Flying Saucers, Butlers Wharf, Hebden Bridge Hebden Bridge Lucy - 07943 771739 01422 846666 10% off Pottery Painting plus a free coffee (excludes holidays)

Baby Stay & Play with Baby Clinic 1:30 - 3:30 Todmorden Children’s Centre, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Careers4Adults & Job Centre Plus 1.30 - 3.30 (fortnightly) Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 - FREE

Todmorden Swimming Club

Bongo Bongos 1:45 - 2:45 Term Time Only Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Family Social From 3:30 Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge Lucy - 07943 771739

- Widths

7:00 - 8:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 817559

Little Angels 10:00 - 11:30 St. Michaels Church, Cornholme, Todmorden Irene - 01706 817296

Lesbian Parents Group Stay and Play 10:00 - 12:00 (3rd Thu only) Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden 07704 568237 FREE

Weaning Group, 11:00 - 12:00 (1st Thu only) Todmorden Children’s Centre Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, Todmorden Health Visitors - 01706 811114 FREE

Melody Movements 4:00 - 4:45 Todmorden Dawn - 01706 839113 Age 3 - 4 yrs

Children’s Yoga 4:00 - 5:00 Calderdale Yoga Centre, Hangingroyd Lane, Hebden Bridge Abi - 01422 844146 Ages 3 - 7

Ducklings Swimming Classes 5:00 - 5:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

Feeding Friendly 10:00 - 11:30 Todmorden Children’s Centre Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Ben’s Story and Rhyme Time 10.30 - 11.15 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Young Parents’ Group 1.30 - 3.00 (2nd & last Fri Only) Todmorden Children’s Centre, Burnley Road, Todmorden 01706 548140 FREE

Young Parents Group (For parents under 25)

2.30 - 4:00 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE

Messy Play 1:30 - 3:00 Hebden Vale Children’s Centre, Hebden Bridge 01422 844904 FREE 1 - 2 yrs

- Widths

7:00 - 8:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 817559

SUNDAY

s 4-6 yrs)

& Outdoor Play all year round - please dress accordingly)

Yoga for Pregnancy 7:00 - 8:30 Todmorden Donna 07985 274181

Live @ 9:15 interactive, informal worship 9:15 - 10:00 (1st & 3rd Sun only) Central Methodist Church, Todmorden 01706 839032

Lesbian Parents Group Sunday Socials 2:00 - 4:00 (last Sun only) Various Locations - call for more info.

07704 568237

Key

Activities with the white background are pay-per-session (FREE if stated), possibly with a one-off joining fee.

The shaded background indicates courses with booking (and payment where applicable) usually required for a series of sessions.

13

out of school diary Space 1 at The Ark (Out of

Hebden Royd Out-OfSchools Club 7:45 - 9:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Upper Rooms, St James’ Church, Hebden Royd 01422 842821 4 - 11 yrs

Girls Group (Arts, crafts,

Modern Jazz Dancing 4:00 - 7:15 4:00 - 5:30 Fielden House, Fielden Dodnaze Community Centre Square, Todmorden 54 Hirst Grove, Hebden Bridge Sarah Hitchon Jean 01422 843216 07929 576785 8 yrs + 3 + yrs

After School Swimming 4:30 - 6:15 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913 4+ yrs

Fit Kids Boot Camp 5:00 - 6:00 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

The Fun Track Out of School 7:45 - 9:00 & 3:00 - 6:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Caldene Ave. Mytholmroyd 01422 882226 3-11 yrs

Swimming (level 2 and above) 4:00 - 6:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Boyz Only Street/Break Dance 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Football Coaching 5:00 - 6:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 8+ yrs

Woodcraft Folk (Elfin) 5:15 - 6:30 The Fielden Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden Pete 01706 818346 6+ yrs

Hebden Royd Out-OfSchools Club 7:45 - 9:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Upper Rooms, St James’ Church, Hebden Royd 01422 842821 4 - 11 yrs

After School Swimming 3:30 - 6:30 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913 4+ yrs

Starter Tennis Sessions 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Land, Todmorden Adele 01422 284432 5 - 10 yrs

Ballet & Tap 4:00 - 6:30 (various classes) Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113 5+ yrs

Swimming (level 2 and above) 4:00 - 7:00, Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

The Fun Track Out of School 7:45 - 9:00 & 3:00 - 6:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Caldene Ave. Mytholmroyd 01422 882226 3-11 yrs

Family Social From 3:30 Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge Lucy - 07943 771739

Creative Dance 4:00 - 6:00 Dance 4 All, Castle Hill School, Halifax Road, Todmorden Penny Alexander 01422 884634 5+ yrs

Coached Mini Tennis 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden Andrew Bentham - 01706 815265 5 to 11 yrs

Swimming (beginners) 5:00 - 5:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Hebden Royd Out-OfSchools Club 7:45 - 9:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Upper Rooms, St James’ Church, Hebden Royd 01422 842821 4 - 11 yrs

Family Social From 3:30 Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge Lucy - 07943 771739

Swimming (level 2 and above) 4:00 - 7:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Dancing - Various classes 4:00 - 8:45 Fielden House, Fielden Square, Todmorden Sarah Hitchon 07929 576785 10 + yrs

Girls Football Development 5:00 - 6:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 8+ yrs

The Fun Track Out of School 7:45 - 9:00 & 3:00 - 6:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Caldene Ave. Mytholmroyd 01422 882226 3-11 yrs

Gymnastics Club 4:00 - 5:15 Calder High School, Brier Hey Lane, Mytholmroyd Tracey 07970 730224 Beginners

Children’s Yoga 4:00 - 5:00 Calderdale Yoga Centre, Hangingroyd Lane, Hebden Bridge Abi - 01422 844146 Ages 8 - 13

7th Todmorden Rainbows 5:00 - 6:00 Roomfield Baptist Church, Todmorden Katie - 07769 151276 5 - 7 yrs

Beginners Cheerleading 5:15 - 5:45 Abi’s Dance Steps, Bailey’s Gyn, Walsden, Todmorden Abi - 01706 816135 5+ Yrs

Hebden Royd Out-OfSchools Club 7:45 - 9:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Upper Rooms, St James’ Church, Hebden Royd 01422 842821 4 - 11 yrs

After School Swimming 3:30 - 4:30 Shade Junior & Infant School, Shade, Todmorden 01706 812913 4+ yrs

Football Training 4:00 - 5:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5 - 8 yrs

Dancing - Various classes 4:00 - 8:00 Fielden House, Fielden Square, Todmorden Sarah Hitchon 07929 576785 10 + yrs

Junior Street, Disco & Cheer 4.30 - 6.00 (various classes) Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

The Fun Track Out of School 7:45 - 9:00 & 3:00 - 6:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Caldene Ave. Mytholmroyd 01422 882226 3-11 yrs

Swimming (beginners) 4:00 - 4:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Swimming (level 2 and above) 4:00 - 6:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Children’s Yoga 4:00 - 5:00 Calderdale Yoga Centre, Hangingroyd Lane, Hebden Bridge Abi - 01422 844146 Ages 3 - 7

Football Training 5:00 - 6:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 8+ yrs

Hebden Royd Out-OfSchools Club 7:45 - 9:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Upper Rooms, St James’ Church, Hebden Royd 01422 842821 4 - 11 yrs

Todmorden Tennis Club 4:00 - 5:00 May - September Burnt House Lane, Hallroyd Road, Todmorden.

Andrew Bentham 01706 815265 4 - 10 yrs

Swimming (level 2 and above) 5:00 - 5:30, 6:30 - 7:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Calder Valley Karate 6:00 - 7:30 The Girl’s Gym, Calder High School, Mytholmroyd Andrew Nightingale 01422 847877 8+ yrs

Todmorden Swimming Club - Widths 7:00 - 8:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 817559

The Fun Track Out of School 7:45 - 9:00 & 3:00 - 6:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Caldene Ave. Mytholmroyd 01422 882226 3-11 yrs

Dancing - Various classes 4:00 - 7:30 Fielden House, Fielden Square, Todmorden Sarah Hitchon 07929 576785 10 + yrs

Campaigners - Kids Zone 5:45 - 7:15 Lumbutts Church, Lumbutts, Todmorden Les or Pat 01706 814754 6 - 10 yrs

Todmorden Community Brass Training Band 6:30 - 7:30 The Bandroom, Wellington Road, Todmorden Maurice 01706 816588

Football Training 8:30 - 12:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Creative Dance 9:15 - 1:15 Dance 4 All, Riverside School, Hebden Bridge Penny Alexander 01422 884634 5+ yrs

Swimming (level 2 and above) 9:30 - 12:15, 4:00 - 6:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Swimming (level 1/2) 10:00 - 10:30, 12:45 - 1:15 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Calderdale Dyslexia Hebden Bridge Saints Friendship & Support Group Saturday Soccer Club 10:00 - 12:00 First Saturday of the 11:00 - 12:00 month only Luddenden Dene School, Upper Rooms, St James Dene View, Luddendenfoot.

Church, Mytholm, HB Nick Farrar 01422 882378 June 01422 842190 5 - 8 yrs

Border Gymnastics 9:00 onwards Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden Paul 01706 816755 5+ yrs

Ballet & Tap 9:15 - 5:00 Fielden House, Fielden Square, Todmorden Sarah Hitchon 07929 576785 3 + yrs

Junior Badminton 9:30 - 10:30 Calder High School, Brier Hey Lane, Mytholmroyd Mary Smith 07970 734639 6 - 11 yrs

Judo Excellence 10:00 - 11:00 Above Purdy Pine, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge Tony - 07932 081793 5 - 7 yrs

1st Colden Rainbows 10:00 - 12:00 Alternate Saturdays Colden School Portacabin, Colden, Hebden Bridge Sandra McNeill 01706 812291 5 - 7 yrs

Junior Musical Theatre 11:00 - 11:30 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

20th Pennine Calder Beavers 9:00 - 12:00 (first Sat of Month) Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden Rowena Goldthorpe 01706 810821 6 - 8 yrs

Gymnastics Club 9:30 - 12:30 Burnley Road School, Mytholmroyd Tim Wild 01422 372321/07931 337487 5+ yrs

Rugby League Training 9:45 - 11:15 Littleborough Community Campus School, Calderbrook Road Carol Locket 01706 378348 7 - 9 yrs

Todmorden Judo Club 10:00 - 12:30 Todmorden Cricket Club, Burnley Road, Todmorden Sean Nuttall 07812 187270 5+ yrs

Foundation Ballet & Tap 10:00 - 11:00 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113 5 - 6 yrs

Judo Excellence 11:00 - 12:00 Above Purdy Pine, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge Tony - 07932 081793 8+ yrs

MONDAY

School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 4 - 7 yrs Space 2 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 8 - 14 yrs Space 1 at The Ark (Out of

WEDNESDAY

TUESDAY

School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 4 - 7 yrs Space 2 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 8 - 14 yrs Space 1 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 4 - 7 yrs Space 2 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 8 - 14 yrs

THURSDAY

Space 1 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 4 - 7 yrs Space 2 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 8 - 14 yrs Space 1 at The Ark (Out of

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

School & Holiday Club)

14

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 4 - 7 yrs Space 2 at The Ark (Out of School & Holiday Club)

7:00 - 6:30 The Ark Nursery, Cragg Vale, Mytholmroyd 01422 882010 8 - 14 yrs

cookery etc. for girls)

Hebden Bridge Chess Club 6:00 - 7:15 Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge John Kerrane 01422 842426

Swimming (Beginners) 6:30 - 7:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

Luddendenfoot Boys Brigade Anchors & Juniors 6:45 - 8:00 Luddendenfoot Civic Institute, Station Road Heather - 01422 885542 5 - 11 yrs

Todmorden Swimming Club - Lengths 7:00 - 8:00, 8:00 - 9:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 817559 For strong swimmers

Judo Excellence 6:00 - 7:00 Above Purdy Pine, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge Tony - 07932 081793 5 - 7 yrs

Todmorden Tai Kwon Do 6:30 - 7:30 Ferney Lee School, Todmorden Keith Raistrick 07789 074198 6+ yrs

Monday Club 6:30 - 8:00 Mount Zion Baptist Chapel, Slack Top, Heptonstall 7 to 11yrs, Elva Hulme 01422 842726

Judo Excellence 7:00 - 8:00 Above Purdy Pine, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge Tony - 07932 081793 8+ yrs

Hippodrome Youth Theatre 7:30 - 9:30 Hippodrome Theatre, Halifax Road, Todmorden Helen 01706 839424 10+ yrs Entry by Audition ONLY

Tod Harriers Junior Training 5:00 - 6:15 Todmorden High School, Ewood Land, Todmorden Ben Crowther 07810 501959 6+ yrs

Junior Ballroom & Latin 5:30 - 6:30 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Calder Valley Fell Runners - Junior 5:45 - 6:45 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Mytholmroyd Alastair 07812 593660 8+ yrs

Swimming (level 1/2) 6:00 - 6:30 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090 5+ yrs

20th Pennine Calder Cubs 6:30 - 8:00 Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden Anya 01706 839871 8 to 10½ yrs

Helen O'Grady Drama Academy 5:00 - 6:00 Central Methodist Church Hall, Union Street, Todmorden Wendy 01706 810164 5 to 11 yrs

Hebden Bridge Handball Club 5.30 - 7.00 Calder High School, Mytholmroyd Nic 01422 649291 7+ yrs

Todmorden Community Brass - 5-Note Beginners Band 6:00 - 6:45 The Bandroom, Wellington Road, Todmorden David White 01706 815820

1st Old Town Brownies 6:15 - 7:15 Hope Baptist Church, New Road, Hebden Bridge Dinah Newsome 01422 843202 7 - 10 yrs

Todmorden Judo Club 7:30 - 9:00 Todmorden Cricket Club, Burnley Road, Todmorden Sean Nuttall 07812 187270 5+ yrs

GLEE Club 5:30 - 6:30 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Dance Club 5:45 - 6:30 Abi’s Dance Steps, Bailey’s Gyn, Walsden, Todmorden Abi - 01706 816135 5+ Yrs

1st Walsden Brownies 6:00 - 7:15 Walsden Junior School, Walsden Donna Scholfield 01706 839042 7 - 10 yrs

18th Hebden Bridge Beavers 6:15 - 7:15 Top Floor, Salem Mill, Hebden Bridge Nicola Leese 01422 846094 6 - 8 yrs

18th Hebden Bridge Cubs 6:15 - 7:45 Top Floor, Salem Mill, Hebden Bridge Jan Bottomley 01422 846379 8 - 10½ yrs

2nd Mytholmroyd Brownies 6:30 - 8:00 Mytholmroyd Methodist Church, Scout Road, Mytholmroyd Angela Trowell 01422 885378 7 - 10 yrs

Calderdale Schools Music Service Choir 5:30 - 6:30 Riverside School, Hebden Bridge Music Service 01422 366456 5+ yrs

7th Todmorden Brownies 6:00 - 7:15 Roomfield Baptist Church, Todmorden Jennifer Jackson 01706 815342 7 - 10 yrs

Tai Kwon Do 6:00 - 7:00 Mytholmroyd Community Centre, Mytholmroyd Helen 07901833249 6 - 14 yrs

2nd Todmorden Brownies 6:15 - 7:30 St Joseph's School, Wellington Road, Todmorden Fiona Monaghan 01706 819703 7 - 10 yrs

Todmorden Tai Kwon Do 6:30 - 7:30 Ferney Lee School, Todmorden Keith Raistrick 07789 074198 6+ yrs

Todmorden Swimming Club - Widths 7:00 - 8:00 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 817559

8th/26th Calder Valley Beavers 5:30 - 6:30 Central Methodist Church, off Bramsche Square, Todmorden Dave Payne 01706 816568 6 - 8 yrs

1st Mytholmroyd Rainbows 5:30 - 6:30 St Michaels Church Hall, Mytholmroyd Lisa Thwaite 01422 886274 5 - 7 yrs

2nd Hebden Bridge Brownies 6:00 - 7:15 Hope Baptist Church Hall, Cheetham St. Entrance, Hebden Bridge Christine 01422 843725 7 - 10 yrs

Woodcraft Folk (Elfin & Pioneers) 6:30 - 7:45 Salem Mill (Top Floor) Salem Street, Hebden Bridge Julie 01422 846214 6+ yrs

8th/26th Calder Valley Cubs 6:30 - 7:30 Central Methodist Church, off Bramsche Square, Todmorden Dave Payne 01706 816568 8 - 10 yrs

6th Todmorden Rainbows 5:30 - 6:30 Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden Tammy Frankland 01706 559493 5 - 7 yrs

Ballet & Tap 6.00 - 7.30 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

6th Todmorden Brownies 6:15 - 7:30 Ferney Lee School, Ferney Lee Road, Todmorden Rowena Goldthorpe 01706 810821 7 - 10 yrs

1st Heptonstall Brownies 6:30 - 7:30 Heptonstall Junior School, Heptonstall Sandra McNeill 01706 812291 7 - 10 yrs

Slack Top Gaming Club 7:00 - 9:00 Last Thurs in the month Mount Zion Baptist Chapel, Slack Top, Heptonstall Wargaming etc. for age10+ yrs Jason Hulme 01422 846749

Ballet & Tap 11:30 - 1:00 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Limbering & Gymnastic Dance 2:30 - 3:00 Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Jazz, Disco, Cheer & Street 1:00 - 2:30 (various classes) Todmorden Dawn 01706 839113

Hebden Bridge Saints Team Trials Please phone for times and venue details Graeme 01422 884527

Fun Swim 1:30 - 2:45 Todmorden Sports Centre, Ewood Lane, Todmorden 01706 839090

SUNDAY

Tod Harriers Junior Training 5:30 - 6:30 Todmorden High School, Ewood Land, Todmorden Eileen Miles 07738 634625 8+ yrs

Junior Hippodrome Youth Theatre Alternate Sundays 10:00 - 12:00 Hippodrome Theatre, Halifax Road, Todmorden Emma 01706 817518 8 -10 yrs Entry by Audition Mini Rugby 10:30 - 12:00 Littleborough RUFC Rakewood, Hollingworth Lake Harry Hanson 0161 624 7880 6+ yrs

15

page header focus on: Breaking Free from Domestic Abuse

I

t’s staggering to know that police in West Yorkshire deal with three incidents of domestic abuse every hour – that’s 80 offences each day.

For the victims, living with domestic abuse can be nothing short of a nightmare.

Superintendent Ged McManus, of

West Yorkshire Police’s Local Policing Department, said: “Domestic abuse is a terrible crime which affects many people. And it’s not just the victims but their children, family and friends.

“We want victims to be confident that if they do report incidents to police we will take action and that we will pursue the perpetrators and a prosecution.”

The Victim Living with domestic violence is like a nightmare. Day in, day out, I was scared to go to sleep because I just didn’t know what the next morning was going to bring.

It started off with little things at first – just a push here, nothing really major and then as the years progressed it just got worse and worse.

I used to think my heart was going to stop. He found it funny, that I’d be sat watching TV and he’d throw something towards me – not even at me. He was emotionally controlling me and that’s what I think it was all about, that control.

He made me feel like I was doing something wrong and that I’d been punished for something I’d done wrong.

It was affecting my health as well, I was on anti depressants, and I’d lost my hair, was losing weight and always felt tired. Not only did it affect me emotionally but it was affecting me physically too.

I used to look in the mirror and not like the person I was because I wanted to be another person. I wanted to be the person that he would love.

As the years went on, it got worse and worse. It went from a slap, to a punch, to eventually threatening me with knives.

16

At the time I couldn’t see anyway out of it, and I just lived in hope that he would change.

There were loads of times that I thought he was really going to hurt me and that this was the way I was going to die.

When I eventually reported it to my parents and the Police, I wished I’d done it so much sooner, because I wasn’t aware of the help that was available at the time and the support they could have given me, which would have all been anonymous. If I’d have done this I’d have had another 10 years of my life back.

After my parents realised what was going on, they decided we would just get up and leave, but we had to be really careful how we did it. We packed all my things into a black bag and left overnight. It was so quick but I felt free, I do believe I was running for my life.

My advice to victims of domestic abuse is that you don’t need to take it, don’t just think that this is it for you and that life always going to be like this.

There is help available, you just need the courage to pick up the phone or contact an agency or the police and they will give you all the support you need.

Domestic abuse covers psychological, emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members. Men and women are affected including those in same sex relationships.

Here, we focus on real life accounts from those living with domestic abuse:

The Offender Through the probation domestic violence programme, I have recognised how destructive my behaviour was and that I am responsible for my own actions. At first there was denial, but watching similar behaviour by people in the videos we were shown and listening to the people in the room was an eye-opener.

You have to put in as much as you can and take out as much as possible. I hadn’t realised how much abuse goes on – there were things I hadn’t even considered to be abusive, like language and actions. I didn’t realise I was using power in the controlling, threatening side of a relationship, using financial control and saying “you wouldn’t be anywhere without me”.

Age doesn’t come into it, though the longer we behave this way the more it becomes usual, so it’s better to change while you are young. My life would have been different if I had realised that – my marriage might have survived. I have so much remorse and sadness for the harm I caused.

My message to other men is “Get on with it - the more you put in, the more you will get out - a better future life for both male and females. You have to deal with your tremendous shame and guilt.”

page header

The Police Our first priority is to make sure that you and any children are safe. Police officers will come to your home, or wherever the incident has taken place, and will take whatever action is needed to make you safe. If necessary, officers have the power to force entry into your home to protect you. We will make an arrest when an offence has been committed or is suspected.

Domestic abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances and it is a crime that the police takes seriously.

We are committed to protecting the lives of both adult and child victims of

domestic abuse. We will investigate all reports of domestic abuse effectively, to bring offenders to justice and hold them accountable for their actions. We work closely with our partner agencies to prevent and reduce domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse is a crime that cuts across all social, cultural and religious boundaries. It has devastating and far reaching consequences for victims, their families and the wider community. It can affect anybody regardless of their gender, age, race, sexuality or social background.

You may be feeling frightened, isolated and ashamed. Remember, you are not to blame for what is happening and above all you do not have to suffer in silence.

Help is available.

Domestic abuse will affect one in four women and one in six men in their lifetime.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are in immediate danger phone 999.

The Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the Government Department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales.

Sally Sharp, CPS West Yorkshire’s domestic violence specialist, said: “Our aim is clear; we want to end domestic violence.

“The effects can last a lifetime and can have a profound impact on the victims, and also their family and friends.

The consequences of violence can carry on for many years.

“We must ensure that victims are supported throughout the prosecution process so that offenders can be brought to justice.

“Domestic violence is unacceptable and has no place in our communities.”

Who can help?

You should report any incidents of domestic abuse to the police by calling 08456 060606. Or for further information visit the West Yorkshire Police website www.westyorkshire. police.uk. In an emergency always dial 999.

You can also call or email your local Police Safeguarding Unit to discuss any concerns or questions you have with

specialist staff: fa.safeguarding@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

/ 01422 337041 There are also several other agencies who you can call for help or support:  24hr National Domestic Violence helpline - 0808 2000 247  National helpline for men wanting to change - 0845 122 8609 / www. respectphoneline.org.uk



 

Broken Rainbow - support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experiencing domestic violence - 08452 60 44 60 / www. broken-rainbow.org.uk Calderdale Women Centre - 01422 323339 / www.womencentre.org.uk Doorways – for help with housing 01422 392460

17

Registered Charity Number- 511619

Saturday 14th April Centre Vale Park, Todmorden Bring your Teddy along to Centre Vale Park from 11.30am for a stroll around the park while taking part in our Teddy quiz.

Registration: ÂŁ2 before the day ÂŁ3 on the day

Children will receive a free goodie bag!

All proceeds go to Overgate Hospice

To register collect a registration form from Todmorden Overgate Charity Shop or alternatively contact fundraising on 01422 387122 or email: bethany.kaminski@overgatehospice.nhs.uk

18

literacy Usborne Illustrated Story Collections These books look lovely enough to make wonderful gifts for any special occasion. They are sturdy padded hardbacks, well illustrated, and have a mix of classic and new tales. They are just the thing for shared story time, and great books to have on a child’s bookshelf.

Titles to choose from include Adventure Stories, Fairy–tales which is a good selection of the classics, Animal Stories and Stories from around the World, which features tales from China, India and Russia.

All Information kindly Supplied by:

The Book Case,

29 Market Street, Hebden Bridge 01422 845353

Children’s Best-sellers War Horse - Michael Morpurgo £5.99 The classic children’s book riding high on the back of the recent film. In 1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front.

Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins £6.99 Another book whose sales have been helped by a movie release. This the first in the edge-of-the-seat trilogy suitable for teenagers.

Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle £5.99 The simple story, colourful collage artwork, and the satisfying holes in the pages make this a much loved classic, and one every toddler should own.

My name is Mina – David Almond £6.99 A prequel to the classic children’s novel Skellig, it is written in the style of the journal kept by Mina, the creative, solitary girl first we met in Skellig.

Costa Children’s Prize 2012 Blood Red Road – Moira Young £7.99 This is the recent Costa children’s winner, and has a big buzz around it at the moment. Set in a postapocalyptic future, when Saba’s twin is stolen she must undertake an epic journey through the lawless Dustlands to find him. Written in a fast paced phonetic dialogue, it will appeal to teenage fans of The Hunger Games and Patrick Ness.

Stick Man – Julia Donaldson £6.99 It’s dangerous being a Stick Man. A dog wants to play with him, a swan builds her nest with him. He even ends up on a fire!

Will he ever get back to the family tree?

Slightly Invisible – Lauren Child 6.99 This is the latest adventure for the everpopular Charlie and Lola

19

family health Do you have a Spring in your step??

S

pring is just around the corner. It should bring with it a new wave of energy and motivation to get moving once again and out of hibernation mode! With Mother’s Day approaching, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look at some of the most popular health & fitness questions we get asked, mostly by mums, and give you our top tips!

“You are never too old to start looking younger!”

By Rachel Parkinson Q “Every time in the past when I have lost some weight, I have ended up putting more back on. Why is this and how can I avoid it?”

The chances are that your previous attempts at weight loss put an unreasonable strain on your lifestyle.

It may have been that the training was unsustainable and you may have eaten too little to maintain a healthy metabolism, so your body could have gone into ‘shock’ and stored fat instead of shedding it! Avoid any drastic ‘diets’, seek help with your nutrition if you don’t know where to start making changes and introduce a small amount of regular exercise to your weekly routine. Any new plan should be sustainable, enjoyable and not feel like punishment or deprivation! That way, you are more likely to stick with the changes.

20

Q “I seem to obsess about what the weighing scales are telling me, which I find de-motivating and frustrating. Then I lose my mojo and my training suffers.

How can I avoid this trap?”

Muscle is more dense than fat and so exactly the same volume of muscle weighs more than fat! This is a fact, and needs to be understood in the context of any training you may do. Two people can be the same height and have the same measurements but the person who has more fat (and less tone to their body shape) will weigh LESS than the person with more muscle! This is why I am a big fan of the old-fashioned tape measure as opposed to the scales.

Leave the weighing scales alone for a period of at least 6 weeks whilst focusing on your fitness, nutrition and shape. You will soon see that the real benefits to training are far greater than some misleading information from your bathroom scales!

Q: “Why do my muscles ache so much after certain training sessions, but not all of them? If I don’t ache does that mean I haven’t worked hard enough?”

When you first begin a new training routine or a fitness plan, your body is likely to react quite strongly at first.

This is because it is not used to the exercises or the muscles working in such a specific and targeted manner.

To put it simply, every time you train you put strain on your muscles which causes tiny tears in the muscle fibres.

The muscles then repair and become stronger (and more toned!) in the process. It completely depends on the type of training you have done as to how much strain your muscles will have been put under. For example, a highly cardio-based training session will focus less on muscle strength and more on increasing your heart rate, so you may feel very little by way of aching the next day! Both these types of training are essential and are as important as each other, so don’t be concerned if you don’t walk like John Wayne after every session. If you’re not sure about how best to train and what it will achieve for you, get some professional advice!

Treats

Mother’s Day

18th March 2012

A

ll you mums, grandmas and other carers deserve a treat occasionally.

To celebrate Mother Day this year have a treat on us with our exclusive Money Off Vouchers. Flowers to brighten up your home or a bit of extra special pampering, we hope you all find something you will enjoy.

Happy Mother’s day to you all!

��������������� ���������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ��� ����������

���������������� ������������������ ��������������

21

feature

C

the risks of carbon monoxide

arbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are generally safe to use; it is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced.

When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from taking oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

Keep you and your family safe: Carbon Monoxide can be produced by any combustion appliance, including all those that burn fossil fuels e.g. oil, wood and coal. If you have one of these appliances (boiler, cooker, etc) you should make sure that it is serviced and maintained regularly by a competent person and the chimney is regularly swept.

Signs that you should look out for on and around all your gas/oil combustion appliances that could indicate incomplete combustion is occurring (that may result in the production of CO); • Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (except fuel effect fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame) • Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances • Pilot lights that frequently blow out • Increased condensation inside windows

According to the department of health around 4,000 people attend A&E every year diagnosed with CO poisoning. Above certain levels CO can kill quickly and without warning. At levels that do not kill, it can cause serious harm if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases this can include paralysis and brain damage.

Increasing public understanding of the risks of CO poisoning If you think your appliance may be spilling carbon monoxide; and taking sensible precautions could dramatically reduce • Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 this risk.

• Switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve • Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room • Seek medical attention and make him/her aware that you believe you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide

Heating Engineer Josephine Thomson

Install - Service - Repairs - Upgrades Landlord’s Certificates

Have your boiler serviced and I will fit a Carbon Monoxide Detector All for just £70.00! ( Exclusive to scally mag readers only ) CALL NOW

07792 900089 British Gas Trained

An audible carbon monoxide alarm is a good way to ensure you’re immediately alerted to any carbon monoxide in your home (though it is no substitute for being aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide or having appliances correctly installed and regularly serviced by a registered engineer). Alarms can be purchased from most DIY outlets and shops. Read the instructions carefully, particularly concerning where to place the alarm, and take a note of the date it was activated. Most alarms have a 5-7 year life and need to be discarded after this date.

Alarms should be European Standards EN50291

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Early symptoms of CO poisoning can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with viral infections, food poisoning, flu or simple tiredness. Symptoms to look out for include: • tiredness headaches or dizziness • pains in the chest or stomach breathlessness • erratic behaviour nausea • visual problems loss of consciousness If you or your family experience any of the above symptoms and believe you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide, you should seek urgent medical advice from either your GP or an A&E department.

• • • •

Further information can be found at www.co-gassafety.co.uk

22

family health

My midwife has suggested I try Craniosacral Therapy to help prepare me for my baby’s birth. What are the benefits and will it affect my unborn baby?

Craniosacral Therapy in pregnancy is treatment for the mother not the baby. The therapist takes care to focus the treatment on the mother alone.

During pregnancy, the mother’s body is undergoing enormous physical and physiological changes. Craniosacral Therapy has a rebalancing effect on the whole body and helps the body adjust to these changes.

Structurally, Craniosacral Therapy can rebalance the spine and pelvis during these changes.

This helps reduce back pain and discomfort for the mother to be.

Also, by realigning the pelvic

structures, it helps to optimise the uterine space that the baby lives in. This helps prepare the uterus and pelvic structures to create better conditions for an easier birth.

During pregnancy, especially in the 3rd trimester, fluid retention can occur, caused by increased pressure in the veins of the legs and by pressure from the growing baby on the big veins in the groin.

Realignment and optimising space in the pelvis can help to alleviate this discomfort.

Craniosacral Therapy can also help retune the hormones that are subject to change during pregnancy and birth. For example progesterone can kick in too early,

They have a wide range of specialists including Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Nutritionist, Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, Clinical Psychologist, Homeopath and other Therapists to answer your questions.

sometimes making pregnancy difficult to carry to full term.

In my own experience of administering treatment, these symptoms were reduced.

Hypertension can also arise in pregnancy, sometimes in association with pre-eclampsia.

Craniosacral Therapy has a stimulating effect upon the parasympathetic nervous system and creates relaxing, calming effects which can be a favourable influence on lowering blood pressure.

I have heard about treating babies who have had difficult births with Craniosacral Therapy but can it be used on all babies and at what age is it safe to begin the treatment?

Even in a ‘normal’, and apparently ‘problem – free’ birth, babies undergo extreme compression. During contractions and passage through the pelvis and the birth canal they get very compressed and this can displace things in their bodies. The relatively “soft bones of the head move during birth but don’t always return to an optimal position”.

Discernable problems can arise from Caesarean births and those involving forceps or ventouse delivery. Sometimes these may be immediately obvious, as in visible trauma to the head, but sometimes they are less obvious and may not develop until later on.

It is safe to treat babies quite soon after birth, especially before the structures begin to solidify and set. I have treated babies from 2 days old as well as tiny premature babies. The treatment is extremely gentle and non invasive, and babies seem to like it. They often fall asleep during treatment.

Birth is a powerful physical and emotional experience for both mother and baby. Each one’s experience is shared by the other.

It is such a close relationship that, for the baby, it may be unable to differentiate mother’s emotions from its own.

Although babies can’t speak, parents often understand a baby’s non-verbal communication. “The therapist’s appreciation of what things are like for babies plays a big part in the treatment”.

“What happens at birth can be a factor in some adult physical and psychological conditions.

Treatment of young children and adolescents, as well as babies may be helpful preventively”.

(Some of wording of this section of the article is influenced by the words of Mij Ferrett for CSTA 2004-2010)

Is Craniosacral Therapy also useful to treat new mothers?

The trauma of even a ‘normal’ birth has a big impact on the mother’s body. Uterus, pelvis and spine all have to seek a new alignment after the disturbance of birth. There is a new weight distribution to adapt to and further shifts in the hormone balance of the mother’s body.

Craniosacral Therapy has a rebalancing effect on the whole body and can help the new mother re-adjust to a post partum state.

Given the powerful physical and emotional relationship between mother and baby, treating the new mother has benefits for both. Helping mother get her body and energy back on track is a powerfully positive influence on her new baby as well as herself and ensures that she is healthy and capable of taking care of her newborn.

Barbara Shepard BA, MA, PGCE, ITEC, RCST - Member of the register of CranioSacral Therapy

Photos © Graham Kennedy

Physio & Therapies in Todmorden offers treatments for a wide range of family health issues. If you have any questions, queries or concerns you would like to ask an expert about please get in touch by any of the methods shown on page 3.

23