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Children and young people are helping to shape Medway |
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Welcome to our January edition of the Child-Friendly Medway newsletter
Filled with news of our recent events and details of what we have coming soon
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Child-Friendly Medway City Hall #6: Private Screening of Wonka!
A family attending our 6th Child-Friendly Medway City Hall: Private Screening of Wonka, holding their free copies of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator'.
Excitement filled the air as 261 children, young people and parents/carers arrived for our Child-Friendly Medway sixth City Hall at the Odeon Chatham for a free screening of Wonka – our biggest City Hall yet!
Our partner for the event, Medway Adult Education (running the Multiply programme) also ran two Wonka-themed competitions, where three winners were chosen, winning Amazon vouchers and an entire jar of sweet treats!
That’s not all – children and young people also left with their own copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator as part of our For the Love of Reading initiative.
Children, young people and their families enjoyed spotting themselves on our Child-Friendly Medway photo montage of different activities and events that we have hosted throughout the year (who else felt like a Hollywood star when they spotted themselves on the big screen?!)
And this was only the beginning of the event! Children and young people had the opportunity to ask questions directly to Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Chief Executive Richard Hicks about Medway and offer suggestions about how to make Medway even more child-friendly.
Child-friendly Medway even got a special mention from one young resident who was keen to hear that we will continue to provide even more free events and activities for children and young people.
Before the film started, there was one more surprise…audience members searched under their seats for a golden ticket! Five lucky winners left with a golden ticket worth two free cinema showings at Odeon cinemas.
As the lights dimmed and the cinema was filled with the sound of shuffling guests getting comfy in their seats, the ‘Wonka’ film started.
As the film came to an end and families made their way to the exit, we received many heart-warming comments about how much they enjoyed the event. One parent shared that ‘It was such a lovely experience and really helped get us in the Christmas spirit. We’ve attended all the city hall meetings so far and I think they’re wonderful for our young people to be involved with. It’s certainly opened up discussions about the place we call home and got us thinking about how it can be improved to make it the best place for our young people to grow up in.’
To stay up-to-date with our upcoming events and activities, visit the Child-Friendly Medway webpage or our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
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Parent & Baby and Toddler & Parent Pilates
Parents/Carers taking part in Pilates with their baby.
Child-Friendly Medway’s free Parent & Baby and Toddler & Parent Pilates sessions with professional instructor Andrea are back for 2024!
Pilates has many health benefits, including increased flexibility and core strength, as well as mindfulness and stress reduction.
We know that as a parent/carer it can be difficult to find time to exercise, that’s why we teamed up with Andrea to provide these free and fun sessions to take part with your little one by your side and with a professional instructor guiding you through a low-impact and mindful session.
We also provide a Parent/Carer & Baby corner - which is a relaxing space for parents/carers to change or feed their little ones before, throughout or after the session, as well as a space to socialise with other parents and carers. We understand that becoming a parent/carer can sometimes be isolating and lonely, which is why it is so important to take care of yourself socially. Developing a support network that you can connect with, share experiences and provide mental and social stimulation can make a big difference to those ‘long days’.
We are back at the Pentagon Shopping Centre, ME4 4HY (on the ground floor, next to Sainsburys) on Wednesday, 24 January.
Session times are:
Parent and Baby (0-1 years old) from 1.30-2.30pm.
Toddler and Parent (1-3 years old) from 2.20-3pm.
For these sessions, it is advised that:
- all new mums have had their six-week post-natal check-up and have been given the ‘all clear’ to resume exercise
- parents/carers bring a yoga mat or similar (if they have one)
- parents/carer bring a blanket to keep the little one warm when lying down
- socks are worn (no shoes during the class)
- wear stretchy comfortable clothing
- bring a bottle of water to hydrate after the class
Start the new year with a healthy habit and a new hobby - New Year, same fantastic you – just with Pilates now!
These sessions are supported by the Start for Life programme, which is an initiative focusing on the health of babies and children, from pregnancy up to the age of two.
To book your FREE space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk
To stay up-to-date with our upcoming events and activities, visit the Child-Friendly Medway webpage or our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
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Magical Creatures in Medway!
 Illustrations of some of the Magical Creatures!
Medway make way! Magical creatures are here and we need Medway’s best creature spotters to find them!
Have you ever seen a Picklepidge? Do you know what an Ancient Avemwitter eats? Or where a Burralo likes to hang out? Join us on Monday,12 February at The Pentagon Shopping Centre and Chatham Highstreet from 11am-3pm to find out. (Please note, in order to experience the creature trail fully, please arrive no later than 2.15pm, as you will need time to complete the trail).
The Medway Magical Creature Trail is a family friendly, free and fun event taking place across Medway, so come along and see if you can spot Magic Alley Prop Shop’s whimsical Creatures in shop windows and community spaces!
We are also running creative, creature-themed workshops alongside the trail – these are bookable by emailing childfriendly@medway.gov.uk. Please keep an eye on our social media and webpage for when the workshop times are shared.
Visit the Child-Friendly Medway webpage to keep up to date with our upcoming programming or visit our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
Drop-in Football Returns!
Drop-in Football Social Media Tile
Weekly Drop-In Football is back for 2024!
Join us at Strood Sports Centre, Watling St, Rochester ME2 3JQ for free football with Medway Sport and coaches every Friday.
Session from 5-6pm for ages 7-10 years old (please note, parents/carers must stay for this session).
Session from 6-7pm for ages 11-12 years old and 7-8pm for ages 13-14 years old (please note, parents/carers do not have to stay for this session, however we will need parent/carer contact details for unaccompanied young people).
So, if you would like to have a kick-about, meet friends and learn some new skills, then come along! Drop-In Football is a great way to unwind from a week of school and start the weekend refreshed.
Visit the Child-Friendly Medway webpage to keep up to date with our upcoming programming or visit our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
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Upcoming events
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Women and Girls Creative Workshops
Creative workshops as part of our Women and Girls Programme with Safer Streets 5.
These sessions are for girls age 12+ to attend with an accompanying female adult.
Join us at Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham, ME4 4BP for:
Fimo Modelling on Wednesday, 24 January, 6-8pm.
Journal Making on Wednesday, 31 January, 6-8pm.
Painting Night on Wednesday, 7 February, 6-8pm.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Doodle 'N' Draw
Join artist Nick Ashton for fun and flexible drawing workshops, for ages 12-18 year olds.
Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm at Chatham Library.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Junior Doodle 'N' Draw
Join artist Nick Ashton for a fun and creative drawing session, for 7-11 year olds.
Every Saturday, 10am to 1pm at Chatham Library.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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For the Love of Reading Soft Play and Story Corner
Join us for our free soft play and story corner sessions for under 5’s in The Pentagon Shopping Centre (next to Wilko).
Sessions run between 10:00am-11:00am and 11:00am-12:00pm; upcoming dates are Wednesdays, 24 January and 7 February.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Free Pilates
Join us and Andrea from Elastixs for FREE Pilates at The Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham.
Parent and Baby, 1.30-2.10pm:
Pilates session for Parents/Carers to attend with their baby (0-1 year old).
Toddler and Parent, 2.20-3.00pm:
Pilates session for Toddlers (1-3 years old) and Parents/Carers to participate together.
Next session date: Wednesdays, 24 January and 7 February
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Free Stage and Social Sundays
Join Dis-Ability Dance Co for free and inclusive drop-in dance, singing and drama sessions for children and young people, delivered by SEN and wheelchair specialist teachers.
Next session is Sunday, 28 January, 1.00pm-2.30pm at Woodlands Arts Centre.
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Family Fun Fri-YAY!
FREE drop-in sports activities for the whole family at Medway Park, between 4.30pm -6.30pm.
Taking place monthly, next session is Friday, 2 February.
Our aim is to be inclusive, for accessibility information, please email medwaysport@medway.gov.uk
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