Healthy Packed Lunch ideas

Whether squeezing it in before the school run in the morning or before bed on busy midweek evenings, preparing your child's lunchbox can seem like just another thing on the list.

School meals are a great choice, but if you do make a packed lunch for your child then we've got you covered with our range of quick, easy, healthier lunchbox ideas and tips.

Please take a look at the following links from the NHS for ideas on lunchbox recipes, tips and healthy food swaps.

https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/

and some from the BBC

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-packed-lunch-recipes

RSPB - Big Garden Birdwatch 28-30th January

Be one in a million!

Sign up below to order your free pack in time for the Big garden Birdwatch. It doesn't matter if you don't have a garden, you could go to a local park or wooded area and do the survey there. Why not make a morning or afternoon of it and wrap up warm and take a flask and some snacks and look out for the birds?

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/birdwatch-take-part/

Children's Mental Health Awareness week 7th-13th February

The theme of this year's Children's Mental Health Week is  Growing Together.
Growing Together is about growing emotionally and finding ways to help each other grow. Challenges and setbacks can help us to grow and adapt and trying new things can help us to move beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential. However, emotional growth is often a gradual process that happens over time, and sometimes we might feel a bit 'stuck'.

The Options+ Leisure Discount Scheme

Options+ is a concessionary leisure discount scheme making leisure activities in Dudley affordable for everyone. It offers significant savings to residents and non residents.

What do I get? If you fit into one of the listed concessionary groups, the following activities at Crystal Leisure Centre, Halesowen Leisure Centre and Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre (from Monday 24 January) are half price:

Public swimming and swimming lessons

Lifestyles gyms including induction

Fitness classes (facility run)

Badminton, squash, table tennis and racketball

Coaching courses

Four day advance booking for selected activities

Using the running track at the Dell Stadium Plus much more!

New Dudley Leisure Centre  

The new Dudley leisure centre opened on Monday 24 January 2022. The new centre includes a 25 metre, 8-lane swimming pool and a teaching pool with spectator provision, sauna, gym, immersive spin studio, four court sports hall, wellness suite, two large fitness studios offering group exercise programmes, including Les Mills and much more. For families with younger children there is a soft play area with catering facilities and a party room. A café is also open to all users of the centre. 

Free swimming

Free swimming is available during Dudley borough school holidays for residents aged 16 and under. It will re-commence February half term on Saturday 19 February and run until Sunday 27 February 2022 inclusive. Registration is required.

Please visit https://www.freeswimindudley.co.uk/home

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/

Stevens Park Junior parkrun

What is Stevens Park junior parkrun?
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds).

When is it?
It is held every Sunday at 9:00am.

Where is it?
The event takes place at Stevens Park, Wollescote Road, Stourbridge, DY9 7JG.

What does it cost to join in?
Nothing - it's free! Please register before you first come along. Only ever register with parkrun once and don't forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode. If you forget it, you won't get a time.

How fast do I have to be?
The aim is to have fun. Please come along and join in whatever your pace! Junior parkrun offers an opportunity for all the family to get involved and parents are very welcome to run or walk with their children

To register and find out more information please visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stevenspark-juniors/

Free, fun and educational games for KS1. Games can be accessed online or download the app. https://www.teachyourmonster.org/