South Lakeland
East South Lakeland & Kendal West
Newsletter | December 2013
December activities
Baby Club
A 6 week programme of activities, information and advice for parents and their babies aged 0-6 months – massage, weaning, first aid and baby play.
Twins
Fun activities and support for parents/carers and their twins/triplets.
Two Groups for children with additional needs:-
Play & Chat Group
A chance to meet other parents and children and talk to professionals from Health and Education.
and
Sparkles Sensory Group
Come and enjoy the sensory play equipment, messy play and sign and sing.
Little Explorers
Fun activities, play and information for families with children aged 0 - 5 years.
Childminder Support Group
‘Hands on’ play sessions for childminders and children. New ideas and a chance to meet other childminders.
Bump Start
A short course for expectant parents offering information and support, from bumps to babies.
The Recovery Toolkit
A 12 week programme for female survivors of domestic abuse.
Stay and Play
Art and craft, songs and stories, messy and outdoor play for under fives and their families.
Toddler Group Support
The Children’s Centre is able to offer support for Toddler Groups, sharing play ideas, developing skills etc.
Please contact us if you would like to find out more.
Advisory Group
We welcome ideas from families about what’s needed locally and how we can improve our services. We are looking for parents to join our Children’s Centre’s Advisory Group, so please contact us if you would like to find out more.
Stay Safe this Christmas
o Make sure you buy children's gifts for the correct age group and from reputable sources that comply with standards (e.g. The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011)
o Remember to buy batteries for toys that need them - that way you won’t be tempted to remove batteries from smoke alarms
o Look out for small items that could pose a choking hazard to young children, including parts that have fallen off toys or from Christmas trees, button batteries and burst balloons
o Keep decorations and cards away from fires and other heat sources such as light fittings. Don’t leave burning candles unattended, make sure you put them out before going to bed and do not put candles on Christmas trees
o If you have old Christmas lights, seriously consider buying new ones, which will meet much higher safety standards, keep the lights switched off until the Christmas tree is decorated, don’t let children play with lights (some have swallowed the bulbs), and remember to switch off the lights when going out of the house or going to bed
o Remember, Christmas novelties are not toys, even if they resemble them, and they do not have to comply with toy safety regulations. Give careful thought to where you display them, for example, place them high up on Christmas trees where they are out of the reach of young hands
o Give yourself enough time to prepare and cook Christmas dinner to avoid hot fat, boiling water and sharp knife accidents that come from rushing, and keep anyone not helping with dinner out of the kitchen. Wipe up any spills quickly
o Beware of trailing cables and wires in the rush to connect new gadgets and appliances, and always read instructions
o Falls are the most common accidents so try to keep clutter to a minimum. Make sure stairs are well-lit and free from obstacles, especially if you have guests
o Plan New Year fireworks parties well in advance and follow the Firework Safety Code
o Do not drink and drive, and plan long journeys so you won’t be driving tired.
Family Support and the Children’s Centre
At the Children’s Centre, we offer a range of services to meet the needs of children
(aged 0 -18years) and their families. Children’s wellbeing is at the heart of all our work.
Some families choose to come along to activities and groups, including holiday fun days and courses, whilst others may be looking for more individual support. Please get in touch if you think we may be able to help:
Contact us
· East South Lakeland Sure Start Children’s Centre
42a Grasmere Crescent, Kendal, LA9 6LP
01228 888 470
· Kendal West Sure Start Children’s Centre
Kendal Green, Kendal, LA9 5PP
01228 888 320
Useful telephone numbers
· Cumbria Police: 101 (non emergency)
· Health Visitors: 01539 718155
· Children and Families Information Service: 08457 125 737
· Westmorland General Hospital: 01539 732288 (Out of hours 08450 524999)
· Independent Domestic Violence Advisors: 01229 582386
· Cumbria Alcohol & Drug Advisory Service: 01539 742615
· Job Centre Plus: 01539 795000
· Inspira (formerly Connexions): 01539 730045
· Cumbria Rural Citizens Advice Bureau: 015394 46464
· Manna House: 01539 725534 (advice, signposting & support)
· Christians Against Poverty: 01274 760720
· King’s Food Bank, Kendal: please contact the Children’s Centre
· Kendal Family Drop In Centre: 07795 346632
December event details
Date / Time / Activity and contact information / Place / AgeMonday / 1.30pm- 3.00pm / Baby Club
6 week courses starting 11/11/13
& 06/01/14 / South Lakes Foyer,
Kendal, LA9 4RA / 0–6 months
2.00pm– 4.00pm / Bump Start
Courses starting 02/12/13
& 13/01/14
Bookings via Helme Chase
(01539 795375) / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
1.30pm-3.00pm / Stay & Play
Weekly until 09/12/13 / Sedbergh Children’s Centre, Settlebeck High School, Long Lane, Sedbergh, LA10 5AL / 0-5 years
Tuesday / 12.30pm- 2.30pm / Twins
1st Tuesday of the month
03/12/13 / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP / 0–5 years
1.30pm-
3.00pm / Play & Chat Group
3rd Tuesday of the month
Christmas session with Play & Chat Group on 17/12/13 / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP / 0-4 years
1.30pm-
5.00pm / Antenatal Clinic
Weekly – by appointment with the Midwife / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
9.30am -11.30am / The Recovery Toolkit / Please contact us for further details
9.15am-11.15am / Positive Parenting Programme
6 week course until 10/12/13 / Castle Park Primary School Kendal, LA9 6BE
9.30am-11am / Jump Start
Weekly until 10/12/13 / Cornerstones, Sandylands Methodist Church, Kendal,
LA9 6EU / 0-4 years
10.30am-12.00pm / Young Parent’s Baby Club
Weekly until 17/12/13 / Community Room, Kendal Fire Station, Busher Walk, Kendal, LA9 4RH
Wednesday / 9.30am-1.00pm / Antenatal Clinic
Weekly – by appointment with the Midwife / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
9.30am-11.30am
1.30pm-3.00pm / Sparkles Sensory Group
04/12/13
Christmas session with Play & Chat Group on 17/12/13 – change of venue / Kendal Family Drop-In Centre, Stricklandgate House, Kendal, LA94PU
Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
10.00am-
11.30am / Childminder Support Group
Please note change of date
18/12/13 / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
1.00pm – 2.30pm / Little Explorers
Weekly until 11/12/13 / The Ghyllside Neighbourhood Centre (next door to Ghyllside Primary School Nursery), Kendal, LA9 4JB / 0-5 years
Thursday / Morning / Speech & Language
Fortnightly - by appointment with the Speech & Language Therapist / Sedbergh Children’s Centre, Settlebeck High School, Long Lane, Sedbergh, LA10 5AL
Morning / Speech & Language
Weekly - by appointment with the Speech & Language Therapist / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
Friday / 9.15am-11.15am / Positive Parenting Programme
6 week course until 13/12/13 / Kendal West Children’s Centre, Kendal Green, LA9 5PP
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Reindeer Cupcakes
180g butter, softened
180g caster sugar
2 eggs
150g self raising flour
30g cocoa powder
250g chocolate icing
12 mini cookie biscuits
50g white fondant icing
20g black fondant icing
12 red Smarties/M&M’s
chocolate butter cream (60g soften butter, 100g icing sugar & 20g cocoa powder, dash of milk)
2 Curly Wurlys
*tip* use white icing mixed with a little water for glue
Method
1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4, 180C, 160C fan oven and line a muffin tin with brown paper cases.
2. Beat the butter with the caster sugar until light and creamy. Next, add the eggs and beat. Sift in the flour and cocoa and fold through with a spoon.
3. Carefully divide the chocolate batter between the paper cases and bake in the over nor 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack before decorating.
4. Roll the chocolate fondant out on a piece of baking paper and cut 12 circles with a cutter big enough to cover the top of the cupcake. Brush each cupcake with a little icing (see *tip*) and place the fondant on top.
5. Next, put 1 cookie at the bottom of each cupcake using a little icing to help it stick.
6. Roll the white fondant out and cut out 24 white circles with the end of a piping nozzle that is 1.5cm wide. Roll the black fondant into 24 tiny black balls for the pupils. Using a little water stick the eyes onto the cupcakes.
7. Next, using a little icing stick a red Smartie or M&M in the middle of the cookie for the red nose.
8. Next, make the chocolate butter cream by beating the butter with the icing sugar and cocoa powder and add a dash of milk. Put the butter cream into a piping bag with a star shaped nozzle and pipe around the cupcake.
9. Lastly, cut the Curly Wurly into pieces for the antlers and stick into the icing.