That's Christmas: Christmas without the kids: Co-op Legal Services p...

That's Christmas: Christmas without the kids: Co-op Legal Services p...: As Christmas nears, Co-op Legal Services anticipates a peak in child arrangement enquiries from parents who are separated as they face the p...

That's Christmas: Jingles the Christmas Elf and Midnight the Kitten

That's Christmas: Jingles the Christmas Elf and Midnight the Kitten: Once upon a time, in the enchanting North Pole village, there lived a little Christmas Elf named Jingles. Jingles was a particularly small a...

Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone Partner to Combat Parental Loneliness Through a Free Safe Space

Parenthood, while rewarding, often comes with its own set of challenges. One of the significant hurdles parents face is the feeling of isolation and loneliness, particularly during the early years of raising a child. 

Recognising this struggle, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone have joined forces to create a unique partnership aimed at alleviating parental loneliness by offering a free safe space for parents and their children aged 0-5 years old.

Legacy is an OnSide Youth Zone which has youth centres all up and down the UK. Legacy is a multi-purpose facility in Croydon, where young people have the opportunity to discover their full potential through a range of activities in a safe and inclusive environment.

Parenting can be an isolating experience, especially for those who are navigating the journey for the first time. The demands of caring for a young child can limit opportunities for social interaction, leaving parents feeling disconnected from their communities. The partnership between Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone seeks to address this issue by providing a supportive environment where parents can come together, share experiences, and form lasting connections.

Legacy Youth Zone, known for its commitment to supporting the well-being of young people, has collaborated with Babyzone, an organisation specialising in early childhood development, to create a safe haven for parents and their little ones. The initiative offers a physical space where parents can bring their children, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

Understanding the financial strain that often accompanies parenthood, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone have made it a priority to provide free access to resources. From parenting workshops to early childhood development classes, parents can benefit from a range of informative sessions aimed at enhancing their skills and confidence.

Babyzone, with its expertise in early childhood development, recognises the crucial role that socialisation plays in a child's early years. The partnership emphasises the importance of creating opportunities for children to interact with their peers, laying the foundation for healthy social and emotional development. Simultaneously, parents can engage in meaningful conversations with others facing similar challenges, forming a supportive network.

Myke Catterall, COO of Legacy Youth Zone says “Here at Legacy, we are really proud to be working with Babyzone to provide the community with somewhere to go to combat the feeling of isolation. We understand that there is a need for somewhere like this in the community as the cost of living crisis is limiting these social interactions even more so than before. We will continue to help as much as we possibly can.”

To further strengthen the sense of community, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone deliver spaces for children to play, run and read. They have a range of free classes which run throughout the day for babies and toddlers where you can dance and sing and chat together. They provide support and advice for local services within each of their locations.

By addressing parental loneliness, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone hope to create a positive ripple effect within the community. Stronger, more connected families contribute to a healthier and happier community overall. The partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between organizations with a shared vision for supporting families and fostering a sense of belonging.

Jessica Barnaschone, Head of Babyzone Croydon says “Babyzone has played a crucial role in preventing loneliness in the boroughs in which we operate. One of which we are very proud of is Croydon. Over 200 families visit their local Babyzone each week in which 55% of these families are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Which is what makes our work so important in giving families opportunities they might not be able to access otherwise.”

The Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone partnership is a beacon of hope for parents grappling with the challenges of loneliness during the early years of raising children. By providing a free safe space, access to resources, and community-building events, this collaboration is making a significant impact on the well-being of parents and their children. In doing so, it sets an inspiring example of how communities can come together to create supportive environments for families, ensuring that no parent feels alone on their journey through parenthood.

If you would like to attend a Babyzone session for free then check out their website here https://legacyyouthzone.org

That's Food and Drink: Great news for Halloween fans – pumpkins will be e...

That's Food and Drink: Great news for Halloween fans – pumpkins will be e...: And the reason why pumpkins will be larger this year? It’s a result of Britain’s unpredictable weather over the summer. While many Brits may...

That's Food and Drink: Tesco is first UK supermarket to give kinship care...

That's Food and Drink: Tesco is first UK supermarket to give kinship care...: Tesco, the UK’s largest private-sector employer, has granted colleagues who have a Special Guardianship Order to care for relatives’ childre...

That's Food and Drink: Rude Health is good health!

That's Food and Drink: Rude Health is good health!: Rude Health, who are real full-on pioneers in healthy, natural and delicious food and drink have just launched a new Apple & Cinnamon fl...

That's Christmas: Want to give someone the Gift of Baby Weaning Joy ...

That's Christmas: Want to give someone the Gift of Baby Weaning Joy ...: What is Chomp, exactly? Chomp is a joyful, fun and eminently practical (and award-winning!) children’s tableware brand that will bring a smi...

That's Green: Young people take action to tackle coastal environ...

That's Green: Young people take action to tackle coastal environ...: Coastlines, estuaries and rivers. They are all facing challenges from pollution, loss of biodiversity and climate change. Now a new scheme h...

That's Food and Drink: Children In Need and Asda work together to combat ...

That's Food and Drink: Children In Need and Asda work together to combat ...: BBC Children in Need & George at Asda have announced their second collaboration with world famous children’s author and illustrator Liz ...

That's Christmas: STABILO has your gifting Christmas covered

That's Christmas: STABILO has your gifting Christmas covered: This Christmas, STABILO has stocking fillers all wrapped up! With STABILO you can gift your loved ones a wide range of STABILO products to h...

The best ways to protect your children from cell phone dangers

With more people focussed on privacy than ever, experts are issuing warnings to protect children and youngsters from security threats, health dangers and sensitive material when using their phones. 

Research from phone experts at SellCell reveals over 40% of children spend over four hours per day on a cell phone, which leaves them vulnerable to multiple security threats and inappropriate contents. 

Experts warn with 12% of children first getting their hands on mobile phones between the ages of one and two years old, it's vital to have safety features in place to avoid accidental data breaches. 

Although 68% of parents view cell phones as having a positive impact on their child’s physical or mental development, experts are urging parents to ensure they're clued up on security features for their kid’s devices and phones. 

With each iOS update, Apple expands their security and privacy measures. The launch of the new iPhone 15 this month will come alongside the unveiling of iOS 17. 

iOS 17 will include a feature designed to tackle an ongoing health issue among children by keeping screen distance in check. 

Due to increased screen time and children holding devices so near to their eyes, the risk of Myopia is growing. 

The screen distance feature warns users when it detects the device is being held too close to their eyes, to deter children from staring too closely at the screen for extended lengths of time. 

The new iOS will also offer parents with a feature to detect sensitive photos sent in messages on a child’s device.

Sarah McConomy, COO of SellCell said: “With children receiving cell phones so much earlier in life, and having access to siblings or parents phones, it's more important than ever before to protect them. 

“Security threats and access to sensitive material are naturally of concern for many parents, but there are measures in place to protect children.

“With the launch of the new iPhone and unveiling of iOS 17, Apple users can make use of enhanced safety features.

“Once new software is available to cell phone users, it's vital to update as soon as you can on your own devices and those of your children, if they have their own phone or tablet. Make sure to go into the settings and turn on all appropriate features to have peace of mind.”

Here are SellCell’s tips on keeping your kids safe whilst they are using devices: 

Update software

Apple software updates usually come with a new range of privacy and security advancements to meet concerns of the users. Ensure to complete all software updates and go into your child's settings to turn on all appropriate features. 

Passwords 

Avoid security breaches and data leaks by ensuring your children’s passwords aren't vulnerabe. Ensure you keep a note of all passwords and make them different from one another. Although streamlining passwords across accounts is more straightforward, it can put a whole number of accounts at risk. 

App monitoring 

Malicious spyware can be found in a number of apps and games which your child may download onto their device. Engaging with ads or pop ups within apps can give them access to invade your data and private information. Make sure to monitor your child’s apps. 

Content and privacy restrictions

In screen time settings, you can block or limit certain apps and features on your child’s device. Parents concerned with their children spending money on apps or being vulnerable to explicit content can also restrict their access to explicit content, downloads, purchases and privacy. 

Ask to buy

You can turn on the ‘ask to buy’ feature, meaning a child’s device will require permission before making purchases, downloading apps or signing up for any subscriptions. 

Messages check in

iOS 17 will unveil a privacy add-on designed to ensure safety for family and friends by automatically notifying contacts when they arrive at their destination. 

Enable family sharing 

Apple’s family sharing service enables your loved ones to access a shared pool of content. Through this, you can set up content restrictions, ask to buy, downtime and communication limits. You can also share your child’s location with all members of the family sharing group. 

https://www.sellcell.com/mobile-phone-statistics/#mobile-phones-child-usage-and-parental-attitudes

(Image courtesy of Ulrike Mai from Pixabay)

That's Food and Drink: Aldi cuts prices of fruit and veg

That's Food and Drink: Aldi cuts prices of fruit and veg: Already the UKs cheapest supermarket, Aldi has cut the prices on a range of fruit and veg products. This week, shoppers can enjoy even cheap...

That's Food and Drink: Back to school: Tasty lunchbox fillers for under £2

That's Food and Drink: Back to school: Tasty lunchbox fillers for under £2: Making the back-to-school shop more affordable, Asda has lunchbox filler options for under £2. From tasty sandwich fillings to snackable lig...

That's Food and Drink: Dangerous TikTok trends warning to parents

That's Food and Drink: Dangerous TikTok trends warning to parents: Parents of young children and teenagers are being warned of the most dangerous trends going around on TikTok and are advised to keep track o...

That's Food and Drink: New deal for parents from Asda

That's Food and Drink: New deal for parents from Asda: With just a week to go before most kids head back to school, Asda has introduced a new ‘Back to School bonus’ on its Rewards app. Customers ...