ANOTHER PRIZE FOR THE CHILDREN OF MY FIRST WORD….GROWS UP

ALICE MOIR (one of the winners) proudly displaying her certificate

The children of MY FIRST WORD GROWS UP are thrilled to have been selected as winners in the My Nursery Rhymes creative writing competition. Several of the children entered the competition and we are delighted that five of our entries were chosen to be printed in the MY NURSERY RHYMES; SOUTH EAST RHYMES BOOK which will be kept at the British Library and further libraries across the UK and Republic of Ireland providing a lasting record  of their achievement.

MY FIRST WORD GROWS UP PRE SCHOOL located in Glebe Villas, Hove, has been open since September last year. Their parent company MY FIRST WORD is located in Scott Road, Hove, (which has been running for 10 years) was last year awarded the ONE PLANET ONE VOICE Prize for their entry in the competition with a recycling song, performed by the children.

The children whose work will be printed are MARILLA CASSINOS (aged 3), FELIX LOUDON, (aged 4), ANGELO HENSLER (aged 4), HARRY BAILEY (aged 3), AND ALICE MOIR (aged 4). The children were helped with this project by staff at My First Word.

MY FIRST WORD, which now has two pre schools open (Glebe Villas, Hove, And Ditchling Road, Brighton) continues to grow from strength to strength. Director Lisa Southon says “We believe very much in promoting learning through play and our children have loved being involved in both competitions and feel very proud of their achievements".

http://www.myfirstword.co.uk

http://www.myfirstwordgrowsup.co.uk

 

Get your kids on the water...

 

Summer is fast approaching and we have some great options to keep your kids entertained during the summer holidays.

Kids Activity Weeks
Kids Activity Week is a week long course where children will experience the thrills of windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, wakeboarding, a speedboat ride and activities such as team challenges and treasure hunts.
Hove Lagoon Kids Activity Weeks are now in their 15th year of running and hugely popular with kids and parents alike. packed with sporting activities that combine fun, exciting and skillful antics both on the water and land, they are guaranteed to keep the kids out of mischief during the school holidays! Dates, time and more information.

Kids Teen Activity Week
Teen Activity Week is a thrilling week of watersports and land activities aimed at older kids.
The week Includes two days of yacht and keel boat sailing as well as powerboat driving from Brighton Marina. Plus three days of windsurfing, wakeboarding, stand up paddle boarding and a host of other fun and exciting activities at Hove Lagoon. Dates, time and more information.

Kids Courses
Throughout the summer we run numerous courses in Windsurfing, Sailing and Wakeboarding.
This is a great way to learn new skills, progress at their sport and have lots of fun in the progress.
For more information, click on the relevant link below:

Windsurfing
Kids Windsurfing Stage 1
Kids Windsurfing Stage 2
Kids Windsurfing Stage 3 & 4

Sailing
Kids Sailing Stage 1
Kids Sailing Stage 2
Kids Sailing Stage 3
Kids Sailing Stage 4

Wakeboarding
Kids Bronze Award
Kids Sliver Award

If you are not sure what watersport to choose, have a look at our Kids Watersports Guide.

Every week we hold Kids Club Sessions, this is a great way to get your child on the water regularly, progressing their skills and meeting new friends. Choose from:
Kids Watersports Club Night:
The main focus of this club is Sailing and Windsurfing. Taught by fully qualified instructors they will learn and develop new skills, race and have lots of fun. This is held every Friday at 16.30 till 18.00.
Kids Tantrums Wakeboard Club:
Our Kids Wakeboard Club is super fun. The club will combine training and fun, progressing their wakeboarding with other like minded children. This is held every Monday at 16.30 till 18.30.

See you on the water...

Everyone at Lagoon Watersports

Zoe Ball’s Personal Plea to Back the Martlets’ Midnight Walk

TV Presenter and local resident Zoe Ball has joined the team promoting this year’s Midnight Walk. Zoe is lending her voice to the campaign to encourage the ladies of Brighton & Hove to join with hundreds of other women and take to the streets, at midnight on 14th June, to raise money for the Hospice.  Now in its seventh year, the Midnight Walk is the Martlets Hospice’s biggest annual fundraising event and the organisers hope that this year’s walk brings the total sponsorship raised to over a million pounds. 

Zoe explains why she is keen to support the walk:

"I had heard about the Martlets but it was only when my dear stepfather Rick was diagnosed with MND last year that I witnessed firsthand the importance of the wonderful work done by all the staff there. Sadly Rick passed away in December and we miss him dreadfully.  I can’t express enough gratitude to all the marvellous doctors, nurses and support staff at the Martlets; their care for Rick was incredible and they provided our family with the thoughtful loving and supportive care we needed. The work they do is so important and I wouldn't hesitate to lend my wholehearted support to their fundraising to help other families in their hour of need. Thank you Martlets and let's raise as much as we can!”

Although, many women do the walk because they have a personal connection to the Hospice, others get involved to enjoy a night out with friends, or, for a personal challenge. Vera Jeffery, 67, from Newhaven, has done the walk every year and would not miss it. Attempting the walk for the first time is Imogen Smith, 14, from Rottingdean. Speaking about why she’s doing it, she said: “My Mum has walked before and I now feel old enough to do it with her to support a local charity.”  The Martlets needs to raise £8,000 per day to run its services and the sponsorship money raised will go to fund the work of the Hospice’s specialist nurses. 

In a change from previous years, this year participants can choose whether to do a 6 mile or a 13 mile walk. Walkers do not need to be super fit; they just need sensible footwear and a sense of adventure!   Both walks start at midnight from Brighton Racecourse and snake through the streets of Brighton & Hove. Marshals will be on hand around the course to ensure no one gets lost and the walk ends with a tasty breakfast. 

All walkers will be asked to raise a minimum of £25 in sponsorship and anyone who achieves over £120 in sponsorship will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a treat at the Thistle Hotel.

To enter go to www.themartletshospice.co.uk , pick up a form at any Martlets shop or call the Fundraising Department on 01273 747455.

FREE Bug Hunter's Fun Day in Hove on 9th August!

Children’s party company Cookery Doodle Doo are working in partnership with local charity, Friends of St Ann’s Well Garden and The Garden Café to bring a new unique free fun-day to Hove.

The Bug Hunter’s Fun Day will be a free afternoon of family bug-themed entertainment in St Ann’s Well Garden on Thursday 9^th August. Cookery Doodle Doo will be providing maps and equipment to encourage children to explore the local mini-beasts including butterflies, snails and woodlice.

After exploring the historic gardens, children can get creative decorating their own freshly-baked themed biscuits, making bug artwork and speaking to the Park Wardens about their exciting finds!

Katie Elfer, Founder of Cookery Doodle Doo said “It can be a challenge in the holidays to find new things to do with the family – especially if the weather is a bit unpredictable! The Garden Café is a cosy haven when it’s raining and perfectly located for a bug-hunting adventure in the beautiful gardens. Cookery Doodle Doo are excited to be working with the Garden Café and Friend’s of St Ann’s Well Garden to launch this free family fun day for local children.”

The Bug Hunter’s Fun Day will be held at The Garden Café in St Ann’s Well Garden on Thursday 9^th August from 12-4pm

More details about this free event are available at http://cookerydoodledoo.com/events/bugs/ or by phoning the organiser Katie Elfer on 07588692955.

For more information please contact event organiser Katie Elfer:
M: Katie on 07588692955
E: info@cookerydoodledoo.net
W: www.cookerydoodledoo.com
Twitter: @cookerydoodledo

Brighton parents! Free swimming extended to 12-16 year olds!

Free swimming is being made available to all 12-16 year olds in Brighton & Hove.

The initiative from Brighton & Hove City Council and NHS Brighton & Hove is set to start from this coming Saturday - June 23 2012.

The scheme will allow thousands of local children the chance to swim and keep fit every Saturday and Sunday after 2.00pm during public swimming times.

Councillor in charge of leisure Geoffrey Bowden said: “This all fits in with our keen wish to see more participation in sport and a healthy city.

“Kids love splashing about in water so it’s a great way to get them exercising.  With obesity rates among children soaring, that has to be a good thing.”

Free Swimming for 11s and under has been funded by the council and local NHS since September 2010 when the government stopped funding it. In the last financial year over 39,000 visits were made by local children to council swimming pools through the scheme.

Children can swim for free at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Swimming Complex and St Luke’s Swimming Pool, all of which are operated by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the Council.

Any child 16 and under can register on the scheme by picking up an application form at their local swimming pool or by visiting www.brighton-hove.gov.uk  Once the form has been signed by a parent or guardian the child must take some identification as proof of age to one of the pools to receive their free swimming card.  A passport or birth certificate is suitable.