FAMILY SUPPORT
Our Little Baby Garden Groups meet
Mondays 10 am - 12 midday
Wednesdays 11.30am - 1.30 pm
+ once a month at weekends
For more info contact
Nuala Cook (Family Services Co-ordinator)
nuala@woodlandscommunity.org.uk
07479881651
or Visit our What’s On Page
The groups provide a safe social space for parents and their babies and young children (aged under 3) to come together on a regular basis for community, development and skill learning. The groups are free.
The Monday group first started during the pandemic. It tends to attract parents with young babies and takes place either indoors in our Community Meeting Room or outdoors on our Events Terrace.
Our Wednesday group includes slightly older children, up to 2 years old. This group has been running since the autumn of 2022. At the moment takes in premises we share with Visibility Scotland, but anticipate that it will move outdoors to our community garden in the Spring.
Our monthly weekend group currently takes place at our Meeting Room and Events Terrace and has a focus around the environment, with activities such as balance bikes and recycled play. As the weather improves some weekend activities will also take place in our Community Garden.
“It’s a real lifeline.”
”The highlight of my week.”
“It’s really friendly and welcoming.”
There is no formal structure to the Monday or Wednesday groups and our premises are safely set up to allow the babies to explore and lead their play. The lack of formal structure means the parents themselves decide how the sessions are framed, and have the time and space to share, learn and support and get to know one another in more depth than if they were attending a formal class.
The group is creating a community of parents who look out for one another and is also significantly enhancing children's physical and emotional development.
“I’ve made new friends and feel much less alone.”
”I’m much better equipped to cope with the stress of being a new parent.”
FAMILIES AND CLIMATE ACTION
Tackling Climate Anxiety Together
During 2022 we supported local people to become more confident in coping with the stress of being a parent in the face of the climate emergency; bringing families together and supporting them to take action on both climate and environmental issues. Working in partnership with local family groups we:
- undertookf survey on attitudes towards the climate emergency amongst parents with children aged under 5. Fill in the survey to add your voice to the conversation.
- gauge the level and extent to which parent’s wellbeing and their ability to take action on climate issues is being effected by 'climate anxiety'
- use the results of the survey to inform the content and priorities for a new family support programme which we delivered over the summer and autumn of 2022.
We are currently waiting on results of renewal funding for our family and climate work, and will update this page once we know if we have the funds we need for the work to continue.
To find out more or to get involved, please email nuala@woodlandscommunity.org.uk
WEE BLETHER
Our Wee Blether outdoor play group is currently taking a break for the winter.
Keep an eye on our What’s On Page for details of other family activities.