Play Talk Read campaign promotes ‘good old fashioned fun’ over the festive season.

New Minister for Children & Young People encourages parents to make the most of simple activities.

This festive season, the Scottish Government’s Play Talk Read campaign is encouraging mums and dads to have some ‘good old fashioned fun’ with their little one’s by revisiting games and past-times from their own childhood.

Newly appointed Minister for Children & Young People, Aileen Campbell is reminding parents that despite the wish list of dream toys on the Christmas list this year, it doesn’t have to be about expensive gifts or costly days out – it’s simple time and attention that really counts.

The Play Talk Read campaign champions positive interaction with under threes from day one through simple inexpensive activities – playing, talking and reading. It provides parents with the tools to stimulate their little ones and put in place the building blocks for future use by equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to engage in meaningful play.

Research underpinning the campaign shows that brain development is most rapid from 0-3 and that investing in quality time doing simple activities during this period will have positive repercussions for their long-term development. Imaginative play is therefore a vital source of physical, emotional and intellectual stimulus for them.

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People said: “Christmas time can leave parents feeling worried they have to splash out on lots of expensive toys. It’s important for mums and dads to know it’s the simple things that have a big impact such as playing with their kids more, or just spending time talking or reading with them. All of which costs nothing and can bring huge benefits for family life and a child’s positive development.

“The holiday season is a great opportunity to have some fun together as a family and revisit some of the old classic games from our own childhood such as hopscotch, skipping or head shoulders knees and toes. Overall, its quality time and attention that makes all the difference – simply playing, talking and reading with little ones and having good old fashion fun.”

For further information, please see: www.playtalkread.org

Police are seeking witnesses to a dog attack on an 80 year old woman as she walked out of the car park at Barn Raws in Dumfries at around 1550 hours on Friday 23 December 2011. At that time the following described two boys were with a Jack Russell type dog when it attacked the woman and bit her. The boys ran off with the dog after the attack. The woman attended Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where she was treated for wounds caused by the bite to her arm. The two boys are described as 1) white, 5’ 4” tall, aged 14/15 years, wearing dark clothing and a black woollen hat with white flecks on it. (2) White, in his late teens, 5’ 9” tall, wearing a light coloured top. Both spoke with local accents.

Find out where Santa Claus is as he travels the globe today!! http.www.noradsanta.org/en/

Twenty nine primary 5 pupils at St Michael’s School in Dumfries and their teacher Ciara Crilly donated an amazing 113 coats for Age Scotland this week! That’s a fantastic achievement.

The Donate A Coat Appeal is in partnership between Age Scotland and Age UK. The funds raised from the donations of coats go towards providing older people with the advice and information they need to help stay warm over winter.

The pupils, aged 8 and 9 years, rounded up over a hundred coats and on Friday 16 December took them on a walk (singing all the way) to the Age Scotland charity shop in Dumfries, to be donated to help raise funds for older people in Scotland. Some of the pupils even donated coat hangers in case the shop didn’t have enough!

Morag Halliday, the Age Scotland development officer for the area, visited the pupils at their school to say thank you personally and explain how their hard work would benefit older people in their community.

She also gave them a Hot Tips calendar and talked about the importance of looking out for older people in the winter months. The children plan to give the calendars to older neighbours and family so they have advice and information on how best to deal with colder temperatures.

Morag said: “I’m overwhelmed at the efforts of the primary 5 students, and really enjoyed my afternoon with them and their teacher, who has gone the extra mile to assist her pupils to fulfil their wishes to donate to this cause.”

Police are warning of a scam which appears to have happened a few times now in Dumfries and Galloway, the latest one involving the purchase of a cat through an internet site. The victim started off by agreeing the price of £250, however charges for insurance and shipping costs then inflated the price to nearly £1000. As the delivery time drew near a call was received demanding more money before the cat would be delivered. The victim in this case has lost a substantial amount of money and did not receive the cat.

Anyone with any information on this or similar incidents is asked to contact police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer. Information can also be left with the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court. Crime prevention advice can be found on our police website www.dg.police.uk

This Christmas should be a time of great joy for everyone, sadly however it will be a time of fear for some.

Domestic abuse can be: physical, sexual, financial, or emotional So, if someone is: hurting you; putting you down; calling you names; checking where you go or who you see or talk to; putting pressure on you; keeping all the money or making all the important financial decisions themselves; threatening you; forcing you to have sex in ways you’re not comfortable with; refusing to use contraception; stopping you from seeing family or friends…

 …ask for help now… Police 0845 600 5701

National Domestic abuse Helpline 0800 027 1234

Domestic Abuse…NO excuse…

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership – Working Together with Alive Radio 107.3

The article below is featuring in the local press.

 StandardEmotionalAbuse2011

As it says if you are suffering from Abuse or know someone who is, call the Police on 0845 600 5701 or the National domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234 (24hr).

If you are in this situation or know someone who is, there is hope and a way out.

What follows is a brief interview with a survivor of domestic abuse.

Hello, you lived with domestic abuse for several years, would you mind telling us about it?

The first thing I’d like to say is that during my marriage I didn’t realise I was a victim of domestic abuse. I was under the assumption this included physical abuse and that wasn’t my experience, mine was emotional abuse. My husband appeared the perfect man from the outside, but he was controlling, I was completely isolated. He didn’t approve of my family or friends, constantly wanting me to stop contact with them; he put me down and made me feel completely inferior to him. It felt I was a prisoner in my own home.

Did you think at first that your relationship was normal?

Absolutely, yes. That’s what I really struggled with as I couldn’t believe I had fallen for this man. But thanks to Women’s Aid I realised this is common in victims or abuse. He was incredibly charming, romantic and came across as very caring. This persona stayed in front of other people which made it so difficult as sadly it was the opposite when it was the 2 of us.

When did you realise that you were in an abusive relationship?

Shortly after our wedding, he started talking down to me, I was surprised by how his attitude towards me was changing and when I questioned this, he actually said that now he had me he didn’t have to try anymore and I was stupid not to have realised that. Sadly with domestic abuse, it just gets worse, the more the woman puts up with, the more abusive the man becomes, until it feels like suddenly you are in a relationship where, for example you’re even scared to hang a picture on the wall because of the repercussions.

We know that people stay for a variety of reasons, what were your reasons?

I had got married; I didn’t want to admit that it was going so badly and felt I had to put up with his disgraceful behaviour. And I was told his behaviour was my fault which I did believe at the time. Form the outside it appeared the perfect marriage, so it was also very difficult to admit it was not.

How did you get help?

I had a baby, believing this would “mellow” him a little. Unbelievably he was even worse, which I didn’t think possible. My child actually gave me the courage to leave as I couldn’t have her growing up in an atmosphere like that. It was my Health Visitor that recognised the signs of domestic abuse, which I am so grateful for. She got in touch with Women’s Aid who were absolutely wonderful and they helped build my confidence back and to be my own person again.

How are things now?

Absolutely fantastic. I am the person I was before my marriage. And I would recommend, any woman out there, if they recognise any of what I’ve said, or think that a friend needs help, please get in touch with a support organisation like Women’s Aid, you can talk honestly and they’ll believe you; and most of all, feel like you are not alone.

Thank you.

If you are suffering from Emotional Abuse or know someone who is, call the Police on 0845 600 5701 or the National domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234 (24hr).

Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership – Working Together with Alive Radio 107.3

Want to see a talking dog, discuss food?? Voila

What a voice!

A bit of Dolly and Kenny to put you in the Christmas spirit.