NEWS MARY POPPINS OF MOBILE HAIRDRESSING
Taking the children to the hairdresser can be tricky. Trying to get them in the same place at the same time, working around after-school activities and battling Spotlight with the fact that no child actually enjoys having their hair cut, nor do we much on enjoy the tears and tantrums that go with it, means that we often put it off. So maybe it’s time to call in the one and only Kate, the ‘Mary Poppins of hairdressing world’. Kate will visit you at home where children are often more relaxed, plus you don’t have to travel anywhere so there is more time for homework. After the cut there is a treat from her special treasure bag for each child, and every princess gets a little hair bow to perfectly finish off her new look. Kate has 15 years experience cutting children’s hair around London, 5 years in Trotters on the Kings Road. Kate also has experience with autistic and special needs children. Kate 07729 395045 www.kidshaircuts.co.uk
IMPROVING LONDON’S AIR FOR OUR CHILDREN This year it took just 5 days for London to break air pollution limits, with toxic emissions from diesel vehicles a large cause of the air pollution. The government’s draft Air Quality Plan, published in May 2017, is very weak and short on detail. Thousands of people are already taking action to address air pollution, if you haven’t already done so there are several petitions you can sign from Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, local groups etc. They are calling for a new Clean Air Act, with a plan to end illegal pollution. The market must be shifted towards cleaner alternatives like electric vehicles, investment in public transport, and the encouragement of walking and cycling. Get involved! Each one of us has our part to play. Be careful with chemically-laden cleaning supplies and disinfectants, synthetic fragrances and air fresheners and get more plants indoors! Get involved!
A BIRTHDAY PARTY YOU WILL NOT FORGET Children and adults alike love Lydie’s Parties. “Lydie’s energy is boundless. I was a bit concerned that my son’s friends, being 7 and full of energy themselves, would create havoc. Not a bit of it - they were instantly drawn to her and she kept their attention for the whole 2 hours. A fantastic success.” P.W. London. Where she gets her energy from is a mystery, but Lydie’s approach is really unique. Children from 4 to 13 years olds are attracted to her—entranced by the magic world she creates in her stories and her stunning decors.
WORK UP A SWEAT The world famous Tooting Bec Lido doesn’t just offer London’s best place to cool off when the weather’s hot - it now boasts a new £900,000 fitness studio. The lido’s new pavilion offers space for workout and exercise classes, plus is available to hire. The lido is one of London’s best loved open air pools and at a colossal 91 metres long it is Europe’s second biggest outdoor freshwater swimming pool, boasting a separate pool for toddlers plus space for sunbathing and picnics. Over the past decade £1.5m has been spent improving the facilities, and it has been named as Best Outdoor Swim in London. Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road SW16 1RU, www.slsc.org.uk
FOOD BANK USE INCREASES AT THREE TIMES THE NATIONAL RATE A recent annual report by Wandsworth Foodbank shows that the number of people using foodbanks in Wandsworth rose by 16% last year—nearly three times higher than the increase recorded nationally. Foodbanks appeared for the first time in Wandsworth in 2013, food bank use in the borough has increased each year since. According to the Trussell Trust, which runs the borough’s foodbanks, the principal causes of food poverty in Wandsworth last year were delays to benefit payments (39%), low income (28%), debt, illness, mental health issues, domestic violence and homelessness. The report also showed that food poverty leads to increased mental health problems and poorer physical health. Speaking at the launch of the annual report, its author, Sarah Chapman, said: “the time we see guests cry the most is when there are parents who don’t know how they’ll feed their children”. If you’d like to contribute, there are foodbank collection bins in many places including major supermarkets. www.trusselltrust.org
To know more about Lydie's parties go to her website, or even better, talk to her, you will not regret it. 07957 296 675 www.lydieparties.com
4 Families South West
Familiesonline.co.uk