family go live may june 2015

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EDITORIAL: Sarah Carlin ADVERTISING SALES: Clare Vaughan / Jo Benmayor / Rebecca ParryDIRECTOR: Denise Harris ADDRESS: SK Events, The Old Bank 382 Aigburth Road Liverpool L19 3QD TELEPHONE: 0151 432 5651 EMAIL: [email protected]

Hoorah! Summer is finally here and it’s time for the May/June edition of Family Go Live. As ever, we’re bringing you the usual mix of parenting insights, fab competitions, discount vouchers and of course our invaluable what’s on listings. In this edition, we’re taking a look at whether Gina Ford routines could help new mums regain their sanity and their sleep.

We also look at whether summer babies lag behind their classmates and what can be done to help them, and at why so many mums these days are just feeling thoroughly frazzled!

So grab a chilled glass of pinot, kick back in the garden and get the lowdown on what you need to do to kickstart your summer.

Going up

> The number of emails you’re getting: The average British worker receives 1728 pointless emails in a typical year a study has found. Time to make friends with the ‘block’ function, we think.

> Kim Kardashian: Well, she’s certainly going up in our estimation if she’s going to Glastonbury to support hubby Kanye. We’re eagerly awaiting those portaloo Instagrams > Lie ins: There’s not one, but two bank holidays in May *air punch*

Going down

< Marmite: It may have made a marketing ploy out of its ability to divide opinion, but a survey from a London ad agency showed it’s among the UK’s most-hated brands. Sorry guys! < Proper childhoods: 80% of parents say that their kids are growing up too quickly.

Welcome to...The Essential Directory for Organised Parents

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Bambis Breastfeeding Support0151 702 [email protected]

NHS 111 Helpline111www.nhs.uk

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust0151 708 9988www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk

PSS Post Natal Support0151 702 5555www.psspeople.com

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital0151 228 4811www.alderhey.nhs.uk

National Childbirth Trust0300 330 0700www.nct.org.uk

UK Birth Centres0800 3800 579www.ukbirthcentres.com

One to One Midwives0330 330 9121www.onetoonemidwives.org

Allergy UK Helpline01322 619 898www.allergyuk.org

National Breastfeeding Helpline0300 100 212www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Bumps & Babies directory of useful numbers

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It was announced last month that all nursery staff will be trained in life-saving first aid skills within three years. The measures come after the tragic death of toddler Millie Thompson, who choked to death in a nursery in 2012.

As part of these plans, all new staff will need to have level two and three first aid training if they want to work in a nursery. And nurseries who boast 100% first aid staff will be able to display a new kitemark-type certificate, dubbed ‘Millie’s Mark’.

While this is undoubtedly good news for youngsters and parents, it throws into frank relief the number of parents who would be unable to help their child should something happen while they are in their care.

Research from parenting event The Baby Show has shown that while one in four UK parents said that their child had had an emergency before the age of four, a third of parents wouldn’t know what to do if it happened again. While a respectable 71% said they’d know how to help a choking baby, nearly half (43%) said that they wouldn’t know how to resuscitate a baby, and another 46% wouldn’t know what to do if their baby was scalded.

Nursery staffknow firstaid…but doyou?

However, help is at hand. There are a range of health and safety courses available, and attending a reputable first aid one can be really beneficial for parents. The first few seconds after an accident are critical, and having the right knowledge and skills can literally make the difference between life and death. No matter how good our NHS is, no ambulance is going to be there within the first few minutes and that’s why parents need to know what action to take to help their child.

It’s not all about life and death situations either. A good first aid course will help you understand what to do with situations like sprains, knocks and broken bones too.

Of course, we all hope that children will stay safe and we’ll never need to use the knowledge you can learn on these courses - but it’s so reassuring to know that if the worst happens - you have the skills you need to save a life.

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Summer BabiesSummer BabiesSummer Babies

SwimFin RRP: £21.99 www.swimfi n.co.uk

Baby percussion matRRP: £20.00 www.elc.co.uk

Luxury Changing Mattress RRP: £32.50 www.mamasandpapas.com

Printed Multi Bird T-Shirt Dress RRP: £23.99 www.tobytiger.co.uk

Maddy Mouse Moses BasketRRP: £31.99 www.argos.co.uk

Mono Changing Bag RRP: £50 www.momymoo.co.uk/

smarTrike 5 in 1 Explorer RRP: £130 from Smyths

and TRU.

NHJPao Papoose ™RRP: £89.99 www.wemademe.com

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There are few greater tests for human sanity than a fractious baby. While perhaps the majority of parents simply accept that the fi rst two or three years of their child’s life, they’ll be living in a sleep-deprived haze, completely in thrall to someone who is no more than 40 inches tall, other parent’s advocate a different type of parenting - one where mum and dad call the shots.

Perhaps the most famous proponents of this method is bestselling author Gina Ford. In 1999, the former nursery nurse released The Contented Little Baby Book, which advocates that parents should set their baby’s schedule, rather than letting little ones wake, sleep, feed and play when they want to. It quickly became a bestseller.

Gina, dubbed the ‘Queen of Routine’ by many, argues that parents need to set a routine and stick to it, saying that deviating from the routine by even half an hour “can have a knock-on effect which disrupts the rest of your day and, possibly, your night.”

For example, she suggests that the baby should be woken up by 7am, and then fed every four hours, and only in their own nursery, until the last feed at 6.15pm. The Ford method means parents are less inclined

Gina Ford:The Queen ofRoutine

to interpret crying as the baby asking to be fed, something she says can lead to almost-constant feeding, which can be exhausting for breastfeeding mothers.

Some of her methods are more controversial. For example, she argues that during the last feed of the day, parents should not make eye contact with their baby so as not to excite them before their bedtime. She also advises parents should leave their baby to cry for up to an hour at a time, so they learn that they won’t always be picked up and learn to comfort themselves.

While some people, notably Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow rave about Ford’s methods, she has many critics. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg lambasted her routines as “absolute nonsense” while popular parenting guru Sheila Kitzinger said that Gina’s methods ‘treat the baby as if they are the enemy, as if they are feral wild animals who have to be civilised.’

Whatever your opinions on the Gina Ford method, when you’re up in the night for the 15th time in a week, you’ll probably try anything.

Luxury Changing Mattress RRP: £32.50 www.mamasandpapas.com

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Ofsted0300 123 1231www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

Kumon Aigburth0151 792 6569www.kumon.co.uk

Schools Admissions Appeals0151 233 3006liverpool.gov.uk

Learn Direct0800 101 901www.learndirect.com

BBC Bitesizewww.bbc.co.uk/education

D of E North0151 228 2533www.dofe.org/go/north

Laser Schoolwear0151 709 0701www.laserschoolwear.net

First Tutorswww.fi rsttutors.com

City of Liverpool College0151 252 3000www.liv-coll.ac.uk

Educationdirectory of useful numbers

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Many parents have long suspected it, but recent research seems to prove that children born in the summer months trail behind their autumn-born peers.

Data from the Department for Education shows that two-thirds of those born between May and August fail to meet minimum expected levels in areas such as reading, writing, maths and listening.

Some experts argue that aside from the obvious advantages a reception class child who has just turned five in early September will have over her classmate who may have only turned four at the end of August, the age gap also has a cumulative effect.

So what’s the answer? Guidance from the Department of Education allows parents to delay their child’s schooling until the September after their fifth birthday. In practice, most parents prefer their child to start in reception once their fifth birthday has passed, but many schools will only allow that child to start in year one, rather than allow them to join mid-way through the year in reception. This in itself can cause problems.

According to new research from the University of Warwick, holding them back a year is not beneficial. Their research showed that a later start to school does not improve academic performance, and could actually make results worse. One of the authors of the research, professor Dieter Wolke, from the Department of Psychology and Warwick

Medical School at the University of Warwick says in a statement: “Our study shows that delaying school entry has no effect on Year 1 teacher ratings of academic performance, but it is associated with poorer performance in age-standardised tests of reading, writing, mathematics and attention as the children get older.”

It seems like the problem of levelling the playing field for summer babies is a problem that will be troubling educationalists for years to come.

Levelling theplaying fieldfor summerbabies

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While exam angst used to be exclusively the domain of teenagers and university students, new research shows that primary school pupils are also feeling the pressure.

And as well as leaving children stressed at a time when they should be at their most carefree, it also means that the quality of children’s overall education is being affected, say education experts. Research commissioned by the union showed that three-quarters (76%) of those working in primaries, said

that they have seen the youngsters they teach develop stress-related illnesses around the time of SATs and other public exams, and nine in 10 of the 8,000 teachers polled said that pupils are often being asked to learn things that they are simply not ready for.

Discussing the research, NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “What gets lost for those who matter most - the pupils - is the rounded education that we all wish to see and the emotional and pastoral support that children and young people also need from their teachers.”

Primary schoolkids crippledby exam stress,say teachers

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Clubs & Classes

Weekly Kids Clubs @ Airborn AcademyWhat? Some action-packed fun classes and clubs at Airborn Academy. Including trampolining, freerunning, cheerleading and more.Where? Unit 3, 105 Boundary Street, Liverpool, L5 9YJwww.airbornacademy.com

Young Warriors @ LFC FoundationWhat? Young Warriors Club with Liverpool Football Club Foundation. Weekly training sessions for children aged 4-6. Linking talented young players to the LFC academy structure.Where? Various locations including Kirkby, Broadgreen, Kensington and Halewood.foundation.liverpoolfc.com

Sporting Land Holiday Programme @ Ian Robinson SportsWhat? Sports holiday programme that is open to all children aged 4-11 years of age. A range of recognised sports and activities within indoor sports hall/dance studio, outside on the tennis courts/grass pitches and in the private swimming pool. May half term (Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th) Where? Merchant Taylors, Liverpool Road, Crosby, L23 0QPwww.merchanttaylors.com/ian-robinson

Private & group music tuition @ Jamm StudiosWhat? A new development providing one-to-one/group music tuition, master classes, workshops, rehearsal space and recording studio facilities for drums, guitar, bass, DJ, piano and more.Where? 22 Volunteer Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 2AY www.jammstudios.co.uk

Art & Craft Classes @ Artventurers What? Colourful, creative (often messy!) art classes and creative events, parties and workshops for babies, toddlers and children of all ages!Where? Various locations across the citywww.artventurers.co.uk/our-classes/fi nd-a-class-near-you/liverpool

Swimming lessons @ ABC Swim SchoolWhat? Beginners and Improvers swimming lessons for autistic and disabled children on Tuesday evenings from 5-6 pm. Also, Friday nights for a parent led group of family swim sessions.Where? St Vincents Blind School & Broadgreen International School www.facebook.com/AbcSwimmingSchool

Half term programme @ Childwall Sports CentreWhat? Classes offering a range of sports activities for children aged 5-16 years such as football, trampolining, dance, multi sports, cheerleading and gymnastics.May half term - Tuesday 26th to Friday 29thWhere? Childwall Sports Centre, Queens Drive, Liverpool, L15 6XZwww.childwallsportscentre.co.uk

Activities for children who like to get more out of life!

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Topaz dance classesWhat? Classes from 18 months to adults, including ballet, tap, baby disco, glee club, street dance, jazz, modern, and many more!Where? Heald House, Heald Street, Liverpool, L19 2LYwww.topazdancentre.com

Toddler Thursdays @ Martin MereWhat? Entertain the little ones by coming along to story time, every Thursday during term time at 10.30am and 1.30pm in the Wigeon Room at Martin Mere. All the Gosling Gang activities are included in the standard admission price/free to members.Where? Fish Lane, Burscough, Lancashire L40 0TAwww.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere

Adventure activities @ Otterspool Adventure CentreWhat? A range of activities including climbing, abseiling, adventure maze, obstacle course, team building, and high ropes. Indoor play centre also on site.Where? 37 Otterspool Drive, L17 5ALwww.otterspooladventurecentre.co.uk

May Half Term @ Liverpool CathedralWhat? Free half term family fun. Create your own stained glass window. Join the team for arts, crafts, stories and trails.- Wednesday 27th May - 11am to 3pmWhere? Liverpool Cathedral, St James Mt, Liverpool L1 7AZwww.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

Children’s Yoga @ Big You Little YouWhat? Through a combination of games, stories and play the children are gently introduced to basic yoga postures, breath awareness, relaxation and quiet sitting.Where? 75 Garston Old Road, Liverpool, L19 9ADwww.bigyoulittleyou.co.uk

Art Village @ Lever Art GalleryWhat? Join in to look at buildings large and small. Three days of exciting craft activities and a gallery trail. 26 – 28 May. What? Lever Art Gallerywww.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Little Angels Kids Club @ Awesome WallsWhat? Little Angels Kids Club is held every Monday and Friday evening between 6.00 and 8.00pm and every Saturday and Sunday morning between 10am and 12 noon. 2 hours rock climbing for the little ones with an experienced instructor and an opportunity to meet new friends.Where? St Albans Church, Athol Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L5 9TN www.awesomewalls.co.uk

GCSE & SATS Exam preparation What? It’s exam season! Tutors will provide an individual action plan in a variety of subjects. Please contact Active TT for details. Support ranges from examination preparation, essay structure and writing skills, subject resources and time management programs written.www.activett.co.uk

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WIN! A pair of tickets Liverpool Hope University

International Tennis Tournament!!

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WIN! A pair of tickets Liverpool Hope University

International Tennis Tournament!!

To enter, visit www.familygolive.com/competitions

Tennis trickster Mansour Bahrami will headline this year’s Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament and Family Go Live has a pair of tickets to give away.

For the second year the event will take place at Liverpool Cricket Club in Aigburth from June 18-21, and will play host to the skilful Bahrami - who has been compared to football’s Lionel Messi - plus a host of legends and rising young stars.

Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament is one of the best competitions in the UK,” said Iranian Bahrami. “It combines everything that tennis has to offer, pitting up and coming WTA and ATP players against true legends of the game.

Tickets and hospitality packages are still available but are selling fast. Visit www.liverpool tennis.co.uk for more details.

WIN

It’s tennis season! Come late June, the whole country will be hooked on the excitement of Wimbledon, (and locally at the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament) - but why should the professionals hog all the fun? We take a look at why tennis is a great form of exercise for the whole family.

Keep fi tTennis gives players a great anaerobic, calorie-burning workout. In fact, it’s been calculated that an hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men, and 420 for women.

Improved co-ordinationTennis is a great way to improve your co-ordination, whatever your age. It will help you improve your bodily control as you make sure you’re always in the right position to catch that serve.

You can play it as a familyUnlike many sports, where you need an entire team to get going, you can play tennis with only two of you (singles) or four of you (doubles)!

It doesn’t need to cost the earth Of course, while you can pay to use the tennis courts of your local sports centre, if this isn’t an option, then as long as you have a reasonable sized back garden, there’s no reason you can’t play tennis at home. You can buy all the equipment you need without breaking the bank.

Anyone fortennis?

The winner will be selected at random. The deadline for entries is 31 June and winners will be notifi ed by email. Winners will be able to collect their tickets from the box offi ce on the day. Gates open at noon.

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Parent Review

Ever wondered if your child could be the next Stevie G or Daniel Sturridge? Steve Connolly, dad to Adam (aged 5) tells us why he felt the LFC Foundation’s Young Warriors programme was a defi nite score… “We’re avid Liverpool fans so when I heard about the LFC Foundation’s schemes for young people, I knew it would be the right place for Adam to receive his fi rst taste of football training. “The Young Warriors club runs weekly training sessions during school term time for children aged between four and six years old. It’s a safe, fun environment in which youngsters can learn and, if you’re good enough, the scheme can provide a direct link with the club’s pre-Academy, and opportunities for kids to play at the club’s Kirkby Academy base. It’s really good for them to get a taster for the sport!

“It provides a great grounding in football for little ones. They learn everything from how to warm up properly, to dribbling and taking penalties. What’s really great about the scheme is that you know your son or daughter

is learning from coaches who are at the top of their game themselves. Whether you just want your child to be able to be confi dent at a kick-about or you dream they’ll be lifting the world cup themselves one day, they really couldn’t be learning in a better environment! It’s really good fun for the kids too, and a fantastic way for them to play sport outside of school, and of course, make new friends.

“Since playing football at Young Warriors, Adam has really come on, not just with his football skills and confi dence but with his understanding of how to play football in general.

“At his age (5-6), I wouldn’t really know how or where to start him off, but he really loves football and with the great coaching at Liverpool FC Foundation Young Warriors program - I’ve no doubt it will set him on his way to playing football in the future. So thank you again to the team at LFC Foundation Young Warriors and keep up the good work.”

To fi nd out more about the clubs and classes that LFC Foundation offer, including school holiday and summer camps, visit foundation.liverpoolfc.com.

The Young Warriors club

Visit: foundation.liverpoolfc.com

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FAMILY FREERUNNING

ADVERTORIAL

Airborn Academy is home to some of the UK’s most talented individuals. Its facility caters for an exciting array of activities such as freerunning, tumbling, cheerleading, trampolining, aerial silks and many more.

A recent success has been the launch of their ‘family freerunning’ classes, a chance for the whole family to enjoy the sport together. The coaches focus on teamwork, fitness and building relationships through freerunning. Some of the parents have enjoyed it so much they have signed up for the adult classes, proving that age really is just number.

Freerunning classes are held on Saturdays, 12pm - 1:30pm, for ages 5+ and cost £7.

Visit www.airbornacademy.com

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Rushing from work to the school gates. Making a home-cooked tea before you’re the French tutor comes round. Spending Saturday mornings at dance school. Sound familiar?

Then you could be one of the new breed of middle class mums who are being left exhausted by the litany of after-school activities your kids are taking part of. New research from Loughborough University shows that 42% of middle class children did more than five extra-curricular activities a week, compared to 6 % in working class children.

In addition to this parents are also expected to help children with their homework, keep up with the house work, and of course hold down the demanding careers that allow them to pay for all these enrichment activities for their children.

While they are happy to do it, they are also ending up exhausted, says Professor Sarah Holloway, who conducted the research. She explained: “Increasing numbers of middle-class mums are in paid employment. They are under pressure to deliver at work, they have to keep their own employment skills up-to-date, they still do more of the domestic labour than men, and they’re now under extra pressure to ensure their children have an enjoyable childhood and develop in appropriate ways.”

However, parents aren’t diarising all these extra-curricular activities just to help their children in the short term, they’re also hoping that experiencing so many different things at a young age will help

their children when they get out into the world of work. Professor Holloway continues: “Parents want children to do after-school activities because they are fun, but there is more to it than this.

“It’s about ensuring their children’s physical, cultural and social development alongside educational achievement. Mums do feel pressured, but it’s the nature of good mothering, wanting to do the right thing for your child.”

Being amiddle classmum: It’s a fulltime job!

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According to the Amateur Swimming Association, almost half (45%) of all children in the UK are unable to swim the length of a 25 metre pool by the time they leave primary school. With the number of children able to swim at a record low and schools struggling to meet the curriculum, it’s easy to see why parents are once again investing in private lessons.

Leading swimming programme for 0-10 year olds, Puddle Ducks, teaches thousands of young children across the North West how to swim every year. Liverpool Franchise owner Kerry Parr commented: “Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the potential danger that water brings, they understand that teaching children how to swim at an early age can save lives.

“Our classes and activities are designed to let children learn while they are having fun; with games, rhymes and repetition. This means that, without even realising it, they are actually learning to swim, developing an essential life-saving skill and increasing their confidence in the water.”

Get SwimmingSafely ThisSummer WithYour Child…

How to choose a swimming school for your child: top tips

1.) A structured programme is key: look for classes with plenty of variety and a clear progression path. While simply splashing around in a pool for half an hour may not do your child harm, they are far less likely to develop into strong, confident swimmers.

2.) Ensure your teacher / provider uses a nurturing and tailored approach – as with any new skill, children should be allowed to develop at their own rate and respond best to gentle encouragement and reassurance. Find a provider who will tailor the lesson for each individual child, according to age, ability and confidence levels.

3.) Make sure the pool is warm enough – babies and young children won’t be happy in water that’s too cold, so check the temperatures and make sure it’s at least 29 degrees.

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WIN

WIN!! A host of fabulous

prizes with Liverpool

Cathedral’s Photography

competition ...Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a David Bailey? If so, you could be in with a chance of winning some fab prizes this summer by entering Liverpool Cathedral’s photography competition. Prizes include a Martin Birchall photography workshop, overnight stay for 2 with breakfast at Hope St Hotel, a Spa day including lunch at Blackburne House, Philharmonic Concert tickets, Everyman theatre tickets, Unity Theatre Panto Tickets, Meals for 2 in several restaurants in the city centre and on Hope Street, family tickets for Liverpool Visitor attractions including The Beatles Story, Mersey Ferries river cruise, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral and fi nally your winning image made into a professionally produced canvas.

To enter, just select a favourite image taken in either the Hope Street area or wider city centre, print it in A4 format, fi ll out the simple application form and send it to Liverpool Cathedral.

The competition is now open for entries and will run until Monday 31st August 2015. Download an entry form and full competition rules from the cathedral’s website: www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk. Details are also at www.familygolive.com.

For T&C’s and to enter, visit

www.familygolive.com/competitions

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Fresh from the brand new spring festival, which attracted more than 30,000 visitors over the Easter weekend, the team at Liverpool Food and Drink Festival is already underway with plans for the annual autumn foodie feast, returning to Sefton Park 19th and 20th September. April’s more family focussed event was a hive of local produce and interactive fun with a thriving market place which offered everything from sweets and treats to breads and olives.

The chocolate workshops, animal petting farm and Mad Hatter’s tea party kept plenty of little ones entertained, while the live entertainment, pop-up afternoon teas and buzzing street food zone left the adults spoilt for choice.

The September event, now in its eighth year and regularly attracting over 45,000 visitors, will bring the usual extensive selection of local restaurants, bars, cafes and producers to the park. The line-up includes old favourites such as Bem Brasil and Bistro Qui, along with many more up-and-coming new local restaurants added to the mix.

Liverpool Food

And Drink

Festival: Spring

Success And

September Plans

Visitors will get to browse the festival tasting an eclectic range of cuisines from around the world, with areas dedicated to producers, street food, restaurants, cafés, chocolate and children’s activities. Denise Harris, Director at Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout at our spring festival. It was great to do something different with the festival and see so many families enjoying the food, entertainment and activities on offer.” “It’s our 8th festival this year and we want to make it the best one yet so we’re planning lots of new and exciting interactive workshops and competitions to get visitors more involved. Liverpool’s food scene has grown dramatically over the past 12 months and we want to celebrate that by opening up our restaurant area to provide a platform for even more local eateries to showcase their food offering, which will also give our visitors more choice than they’ve ever had before.” Also on the menu will be cookery demonstrations with local and celebrity chefs, to be announced shortly, who will take to the stage and showcase some of their signature dishes, as well as live music and entertainment over the two days. Tickets for Liverpool Food and Drink Festival will be available soon. For more information visit www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk or follow @LivFoodDrink on Twitter.

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Out & AboutMay

Family Fun Day @ The AtkinsonWhat? The Atkinson are hosting a family fun day with a whole host of activities, including story time, family trail, dressing up fun, face painting and arts & crafts activities. When? 9 May (11.30am – 2pm)Where? The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DBwww.theatkinson.co.uk

S Club 7 @ Echo ArenaWhat? Pop powerhouse S Club 7 have confi rmed their hotly-anticipated return to the music scene with their 2015 ‘Bring It All Back’ arena tour, their fi rst in over 10 years, including a visit to Echo Arena on Wednesday 13 May 2015.When? 13 May Where? Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool, L3 4FPwww.echoarena.com

The Cat In The Hat @ PlayhouseWhat? Based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging fi rst theatre experience for young children aged 3+. Expect towering hats, mischief and an imagination recharge!When? 14 -16 MayWhere? Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1ELwww.everymanplayhouse.com

LightNight LiverpoolWhat? LightNight, Liverpool’s one-night arts and culture festival returns to illuminate the city for a sixth year on Friday 15 May from 4pm until late as part of One Magnifi cent City.When? 15 May 4pm- lateWhere? Various city centre venues, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 8ENwww.lightnightliverpool.co.uk

The Ugly Duckling @ Speke HallWhat? Bring the family for this child-friendly outdoor theatre performance. The poor little ugly duckling feels like she doesn’t fi t in, just because she looks different to the other characters around her. Come and show her that it’s ok to be different and join in waddling and quacking on her search for her true family.When? 24 & 25 MayWhere? Speke Hall, The Walk, Speke, Liverpool, L24 1XDwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall

Cunard Line’s Three QueensWhat? Liverpool will welcome the Three Cunard Queens; Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria who will meet in the River Mersey for the fi rst time in an event that will make maritime history.When? 25 MayWhere? Liverpool Cruise Terminal, Pier Head, Liverpool, Merseyside

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Cunard activities @ Maritime MuseumWhat? The Cunard Line is a world famous Liverpool shipping company. Find out more about their history and some of their well known ships, such as Lusitania – a hands on and family friendly activity.When? 24 & 25 May Where? Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 4AQwww.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime

The Istanbul Reunion NightWhat? Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the greatest night in Liverpool Football Club’s history with the men that made it happen.When? 25 MayWhere? Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool, L3 4FPwww.echoarena.com/

Elves & The ShoemakerWhat? Northern Ballet presents their latest ballet for children, Elves & the Shoemaker.Retelling the famous Brothers Grimm story.When? 30 MayWhere? Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EL www.everymanplayhouse.com

Liverpool Sound CityWhat? The largest international music, digital and fi lm festival and conference in the UK, taking pride every year in bringing some of the most exciting breakthrough artists to the city.When? 21 – 24 MayWhere? Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 0APwww.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/

Planetarium Shows @ World MuseumWhat? The fun and informative shows take a look at the myths and constellations of the night sky. Lively and interactive for the young and young at heart!When? Various days throughout the weekWhere? William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 8ENwww.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/

Danny, Champion Of The World @ St Helens TheatreWhat? London Contemporary Theatre comes to St Helens as they present one of Roald Dahl’s best loved books live on stage. Suitable for ages 5+When? 20-21 MayWhere? St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St.Helens, WA10 1LQwww.sthelenstheatreroyal.com/

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S Club 7 @ Echo Arena

5 Seconds of summer @ Echo Arena

Farm Feast

The Tiger Who Came To Tea @ Epstein

Horrible Histories @ Floral Pavilion

Liverpool International Tennis Tournament


Lightnight Liverpool

Family Fun Day @ The Atkinson

Caterpillars Go @ The Atkinson

Monkey! Children’s Theatre @ The Atkinson

Liverpool Sound City

Cunard’s Three Queens


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S Club 7 @ Echo Arena

5 Seconds of summer @ Echo Arena

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The Tiger Who Came To Tea @ Epstein

Horrible Histories @ Floral Pavilion



Lightnight Liverpool

Family Fun Day @ The Atkinson

Caterpillars Go @ The Atkinson

Monkey! Children’s Theatre @ The Atkinson


Cunard’s Three Queens


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Out & AboutJune

Caterpillars Go @ The AtkinsonWhat? Follow an inquisitive Caterpillar into a beautiful and tactile garden where together we’ll explore life, growth, wonder and loss through live music and playful movement in this fun and visually striking show.When? 6 JuneWhere? The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB Smiffer & Smugglebuster What? Go and say hello to the big cheeky sniffer dog and his patient handler as they search around the ‘Seized! The Border and Customs uncovered’ gallery at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Sniffer and Smuggle Buster will be sniffi ng out friendly visitors and entertaining families with tales of smuggling.When? 6 & 7 JuneWhere? Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 4AQwww.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime

5 Seconds Of Summer @ Echo ArenaWhat? The 5SOS boys spent last year playing stadiums around the UK & Europe with One Direction. 2015 will see them play to over 240k fans in their biggest run of headline shows to date.When? 10 JuneWhere? Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, L3 4FPwww.echoarena.com

Liverpool International Tennis TournamentWhat? The tournament has been running as a warmup event to Wimbledon since 2002. Over the years the event has attracted players such as Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer and Caroline Wozniacki.When? 18-21 JuneWhere? Liverpool Cricket Club, Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L19 3QF

Africa Oye FestivalWhat? The Africa Oyé Festival is set to feature performances from some of the most talented artists Africa has to offer with live performances, songs and dance spanning across the continent.When? 20 & 21 June Where? Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 1AF Farm Feast 2015What? A wide range of different activities going on at Farm Feast this year, available for all age groups to get involved inWhen? 13 & 14 JuneWhere? Claremont Farm, Old Clatterbridge Road, Wirral, CH63 4JB Sing-a-long-a Frozen @ Empire TheatreWhat? A full fi lm screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along during the fi lm. When? 13 JuneWhere? Lime Street, Merseyside L1 1JEwww.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

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BSL Messy Church @ Liverpool CathedralWhat? Join in for Messy Church with craft, food and celebration around a biblical theme - but with a twist! Messy Church will be conducted in British Sign Language as well as spoken English and it will be aimed at families who use BSL.When? 13 JuneWhere? Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 7AZ The Tiger Who Came To Tea @ Epstein TheatreWhat? The tea-guzzling tiger is back on the road in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos!When? 9-14 JuneWhere? Epstein Theatre, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool L1 3DZwww.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

Horrible Histories – Groovy GeeksWhat? From savage Sparta to angry Athens, discover the truth about growing up in Greece. take on the Trojans! Pummel the Persians! Compete in the fi rst ever Olympic Games and appear in the very fi rst play! When? 17 – 21 JuneWhere? Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 2JSwww.fl oralpavilion.com

2015 Race For Life What? Join in by taking part in the Race for Life 5k, an achievable distance for all ages and abilities. You can run, walk or even dance your way around the course. You and friends can join the fi ght by volunteering.When? 21 JuneWhere? Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool, L9 5ASraceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org

Meet reptiles @ Martin MereWhat? The North West Reptile Club come along to Martin Mere for their monthly meetings and give visitors the opportunity to ‘meet & greet’ the reptiles from 12noon until 3pm in the Lecture Theatre.When? 21 JuneWhere? Fish Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk L40 OTAwww.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere

Monkey! Children’s Theatre @ The AtkinsonWhat? The adventures of a comical, fantastical superhero.Watch Monkey as he learns magic, makes mayhem, fl ies on a cloud, plays tricks, defeats a dragon, dodges death, and eats lots, and lots, and lots of peaches… all in search of a Great Secret!When? 27 JuneWhere? Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB

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Never one to do things by halves, this summer Liverpool will be hosting not one, not two but three queens. From May to July, the city’s waterfront will host One Magnificent City, a series of must-visit events to celebrate 175 years of transatlantic travel.

The seven week programme will include everything from a ‘ballet’ from three Cunard ships to vintage shopping and a food festival. Highlights include: The seven week period will include the land mark arrival of the Three Cunard Queens (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria) on the 25 May. A once in a lifetime spectacular, the three ocean liners will converge on the River Mersey in a salute to their spiritual home. Liverpool is only the fourth place on the globe where the trio of ships has ever met.

Other highlights include Transatlantic 175, a special two day programme of events curated by British designer Wayne Hemmingway. The weekend will mark the cultural connections between Liverpool and America.

Very Big Catwalk - Saturday 4 July will see a Guinness World Record attempt at the most people on a catwalk, sponsored by Very.co.uk. Watch as a record-breaking 5000 people take to the catwalk, from dance troops to twins, from pensioners to the police, from couture to cadets, it’s time to step up, participate in, and watch, The Very Big Catwalk.

And as if that’s not enough of strutting your stuff, in the evening it’s time to hit the dancefloor for the Very Big After Party, a musical extravaganza on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront. The event will be hosted by legendary 80s DJ Greg Wilson.

There’s also a treat for fans of all things retro with Vintage on the Dock (Saturday 4 - Sunday 5 July), which will celebrate the cultural and musical past of Liverpool and America with a free vintage spectacle which will include everything from pop-up dancing (get practising that Charleston) and shopping galore. For rumbling tummies, there’s ‘Eat the Atlantic’ (Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 July) on Mann Island, with a selection of food from the North West alongside delicious international dishes.

The festivities will conclude with the departure of Queen Mary 2 on Sunday 5 July as she sets sail for America from the Liverpool cruise terminal, echoing the first ever Cunard transatlantic passenger sailing of RMS Britannia which took place from Liverpool back in 1840. www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk

See theThree Queens OneMagnificentCity

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RestaurantReview

We’d heard so many good reviews about Fazenda in Exchange Flags, and so we were expecting great things… we weren’t disappointed!

My sister and I visited on a Thursday evening, and even though it was midweek, it was still full and with a great atmosphere.

When we fi rst arrived, we were greeted by our lovely waitress and shown to our table. She explained the way the restaurant works:

You are able to choose a selection from the extensive salad bar as you wish, and then you are given a choice of 15 freshly carved meats.The salad bar had everything from traditional greens and vegetables to spicy potatoes and salami, and it was delicious!

After ordering a couple of glasses of Malbec from the wine list to accompany the meal, we awaited the meat that was being showcased.

When you’re ready, you just show a green card to instruct the passador to keep bringing over different skewers of meats, each perfectly cooked over a traditional gaucho grill. To

take a break, you simply fl ip the card over to display the red side and fl ip it back to green again to resume service.

We had rump steak to begin with, followed by bacon wrapped chicken breast, gammon, pork belly in a honey sauce, and traditional South American sausage. Every skewer of meat had its own different fl avour and they were all cooked to perfection.

We just about had enough room to share a desert, and again, it didn’t disappoint. We chose “Marquise de chocolate”, a rich chocolate cake served with toffee and ice cream.

Overall, we had a lovely evening with some delicious food and even better service, the staff were really friendly and accommodating. We’d defi nitely recommend it, and can’t wait to return already!

Fazenda

Visit: www.fazenda.co.uk

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WIN!! Family packages to

Speke Hall


Fancy getting out and about this summer? Speke Hall is a rare Tudor timber-framed manor house in a most unusual setting on the banks of the River Mersey. Its surrounding estate provides a real oasis from the hurly burly of modern life, with beautiful restored gardens and activities to keep the kids occupied; woodland trails, children’s play areas, family tracker packs, this list goes on…

Speke Hall are offering our readers the chance to go and take a family trip out to the idyllic surroundings for free!

You could win a family package, which includes free entry plus a meal in the restaurant (2 adults & 2 kids), as well as 5 sets of family tickets for runners up.

WIN

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24 Hour Plumber07738 71 09 92www.plumber24hours.co.uk/plumber-liverpool.html

Rated People www.ratedpeople.com

Job Centre Plus0345 606 0234 www.gov.uk/jobsearch

Dial-A-Handyman0800 046 1806www.dial-a-handyman.co.uk

Merseyside & Halton Recycling0151 255 1444www.recycleformerseyside.com

Liverpool Emergency Vets07699 737 243www.liverpoolemergencyvets.co.uk

Davy Liver Taxis0151 708 7080www.davylivertaxis.co.uk

Aigburth Guttering Specialists0151 427 8062www.gutteringliverpool.info

Utility Warehouse 0800 131 3000www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk

Sitters08447 367 367www.sitters.co.uk

WIN!! An 8” sponge creation by Studio8Cakes!

WIN

Studio8cakes is the top choice for statement cakes for any occasion, striving to create bespoke works of edible art and tailored to your requirements!

And now you have the chance to try it for yourself! Studio8Cakes are giving away an 8” sponge creation which can be personalised to your taste…



Local Services directory of useful numbers

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Sick of being treated like a taxi driver by your kids? Then maybe it’s time to call in the professionals. For over 30 years Davy Liver have carried out contract work on behalf of a variety of customers including the NHS and Local Authority. As part of these contracts, their drivers have gained extensive experience in meeting the sometimes complex needs of children in general, and those of children with Special Educational Needs.

Say goodbye to mum

and dad’s taxi ...

And with more and more parents finding fitting the school run into their busy working day a challenge too far, their drivers are also doing more and more school and college drop-offs too. Paula Herbert, Managing Director at Davy Liver said: “More and more parents are coming to us to help them with the school run. It needn’t cost much more than the school bus, and we can give parents peace of mind that their children will get to the school gates, or their after school clubs or activities, on time! “We always aim to allocate a dedicated driver to our school runs in order to ensure that parents and carers and children become familiar with their regular driver. A professional service is guaranteed. All our drivers hold an enhanced DBS (CRB) check and are fully licenced by the council. Working with us could be a great way to say goodbye to those stressful mornings!”

ADVERTORIAL

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All relationships go through stress, whether it’s the day-to-day niggles that come with managing busy lives or just occasional flare-ups caused by not putting the toilet the seat down.

However, if you’re finding that the arguments are outweighing the happy times in your relationship, you’re not alone. A survey by Relate and Relationships Scotland, which interviewed more than 5,000 people in order to gain an accurate understanding of the nation’s relationships, found that a quarter of people (24%) are dissatisfied with their love lives, and one in five people (19%) never or rarely felt loved in the two weeks before the survey.

And the things that were causing problems in relationships were familiar. Money worries were top of the pile with three-fifths of people (62%) citing it as one of the three biggest strains on relationships. Maintaining a work-life balance or working long hours came second (40%), infidelity came third (36%), followed in fourth place by not understanding each other and communication problems (34%).

Luckily, however, help is at hand. Relate offers support to couples and families in crisis - providing impartial and non-judgemental support for people at all ages and all stages

Does yourrelationshipneed someTLC?

of couple, family and social relationships. The services offered include relationship counselling, family counselling, counselling for young people, sex therapy and informal courses (e.g. for separated parents), all offered through a network of around 1,700 counsellors across the country.

To find your nearest Relate service visit http://www.relate-cheshire-merseyside.org.uk/

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Urgent Care 24 (Out of hours service)0151 220 3685www.urgentcare24.com

Pharmacy Service Searchwww.nhs.uk/service-search

St Paul’s Eye Hospital0151 706 3222www.rlbuht.nhs.uk

Liverpool University Dental Hospital0151 706 5253www.rlbuht.nhs.uk

Liverpool Community Health Trust0151 295 3000www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk

Sport England (This Girl Can)08458 508 508www.sportengland.org

Broadgreen Hospital0151 282 6000

The Physiotherapy Centre0151 724 2060www.thephysiotherapycentre.com

Slimming World0844 897 8000www.slimmingworld.com

WIN!! FREE gym membership for a whole year!

WIN

Want to get that summer body in shape? Xercise 4 Less clubs offers members of all ages the opportunity to exercise and live a healthy lifestlyle, with top of the range equipment Joining the trend of the new “budget gym”, Xercise 4 Less now has a second Liverpool club in Speke, just minutes away from John Lennon airport. The gym itself is broken down into four key areas; the Cardio Zone, a functional training zone, a Personal Training Zone, and a combat zone, as well as a separate ladies only gym.

They’re offering a years worth of free gym membership for you to work towards your fi tness goals, so get involved!

Don’t forget to check out @Xercise4Less using the hashtag #InShape4Summer to see what others have been getting up to.Contact Belle Vale club on 0151 556 7111Contact Hunts cross on 0151 559 1915



Health & Beautydirectory of useful numbers

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Get fit for summer!Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s starting to get warmer (if that’s even possible in Britain…), days out, beach holidays… the fun starts here!

But one of the best things in summer is getting out and about, so wouldn’t you love to be fit for the adventurous activities you’ve got in store? There are lots of different types of gyms out there for you to try out with varying classes for whichever part of your body you wish to tackle and tone up.

Xercise4Less is a fighting fit budget gym chain that has taken the North West by storm, with over £6million pounds worth of investment and 12,000 members, even starting to be known as ‘The People’s Gym’ to the masses.

With several sites in and around the area, the fitness centres boast over 40 free classes a week, so whether you’re wanting to get your groove on at zumba or take the hardcore route with body attack, they’ll make sure you’re kept well entertained.

Memberships start from £9.99 per month and with over 400 pieces of state of the art equipment in each site giving you that motivation to get fit! Whatever your fitness goal for summer, you can start with having fun with exercise – it doesn’t always have to be a chore, you know!

ADVERTORIAL

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LIVERPOOL women are being urged to get active for good causes with new government campaigns and Cancer Research charity races.

The city has been chosen to host one of just three Race for Life Pretty Muddy in aid of Cancer Research UK, with events taking place in the North West this summer.

Pretty Muddy is a women-only, non-competitive 5k obstacle course – with added mud. It will take place for the first time in the city at Liverpool’s Sefton Park on Saturday, July 4.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life family of events also includes the 5k and 10k courses, which thousands of women will take on at Sefton Park on Sunday, July 5 to raise money for life-saving research.

Every hour, more than four people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West, and that’s why Cancer Research UK is calling on Liverpool women to fight back against this devastating disease by choosing their challenge - Pretty Muddy, 5k or 10k - and signing up now.

Jennifer Ward, Cancer Research UK’s Liverpool Event Manager, said: “We’re so excited about launching Race for Life Pretty Muddy in Liverpool. The event is taking place in the city for the first time and we’re calling on

LIVERPOOLwomen ... Get active!

local ladies to sign up now. We’ve no doubt that they’ve got the fighting spirit to get down and dirty in the bid to beat cancer sooner.”

Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across the North West, and you can enter Race For Life today by visiting www.raceforlife.org.

Sports England’s This Girl Can campaign has also been making waves recently. Launched with the aim of getting more women and girls active whatever their age, shape or ability, their adverts feature real women - cellulite and all – getting stuck in the various types of exercise.

The campaign was launched after research by Sport England revealed that fewer women than men play sport regularly – two million fewer 14-40 year olds in total. Despite this, 75% say they want to be more active. Further research into what’s stopping women turning their ambitions into reality found that a fear of judgement. The campaign aims to help women to shed these inhibitions, empower women, and encourage them to get more active.

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Parties & Playtime directory of useful numbers

Studio 8 Cakes07917 115798www.studio8cakes.co.uk

Yellow Sub0844 412 0850www.yellowsub.co.uk

Just The Cupcake07765 228009www.justthecupcake.co.uk

Otterspool Adventure Centre0151 494 3044www.otterspooladventurecentre.co.uk

Sam Mitchell Nails & Beauty Parties0151 722 3386

Big Red Party Bus07824 872 159www.bigredpartybus-liverpool.co.uk

Find A Caterer0121 603 2524www.ncass.org.uk

Party accessories0151 345 3817www.partyzoneliverpool.co.uk

Venue hire01460 259056www.chooseyourvenue.com

Fun Town Liverpool0151 427 2369www.funtownliverpool.co.uk

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PartyFact File

We spoke to Otterspool Adventure Centre about what makes their parties so special…

What Makes an Otterspool Adventure Centre Party so special?Otterspool Adventure Centre parties cater for all ages – we really do have something for everyone. We have everything from bouncy village and our soft play centre parties aimed at the under 10s to our outdoor ‘adventure pi’ and survival bushcraft parties suitable for children of six and above. We also have our high ropes course suitable for 10 years plus. We really can cater for everyone!

What Happens at an Otterspool Adventure Centre Party?Otterspool Adventure Centre listens to the requirements of our clients and then we prepare the party according to your wants and needs. Our fully trained instructors take care of everything ‘outdoorsy’ while our dedicated party hosts ensure the soft play fun runs smoothly!

What sort of themes do you have available?As well as our outdoor adventure and survival parties we also offer themed parties inside our soft play centre – you can choose from princess, pirate or superhero themes and we even have our own

resident minion and Queen Elsa who can appear at your party to make it extra special! We are also famous for our Halloween and Christmas Parties!

Where do the parties take place?In our Adventure Park and inside our huge soft play centre marquee!

What age group are your parties suitable for and how many children?We can cater for all ages from toddlers to teens and even provide adventure challenges for adults too. We even do stag and hen parties!

What is the duration of the party?The parties normally are 90 minutes of fun activities followed by 30 minutes for food. This can be fl exible for some parties so we’re happy to listen to our client’s suggestions

What is included with the cost of the party?Our soft play parties include balloons, decorations, hats, invitations, play time, dedicated party host a hot/cold meal, ice-cream and juice! Our outdoor adventure parties can be arranged with or without food packages and all our activities take place under the watchful supervision of our highly trained instructors. It’s a great way to celebrate!

Otterspool Adventure Centre Party

w: www.otterspooladventurecentre.co.uk

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WIN!! A FREE ASTRO GAMERS LASER TAG

PARTY AT YELLOW SUB WORTH UP

TO £250!


If you’re looking for ‘the’ exclusive party for your child, look no further that Yellow Sub’s exciting Laser Tag parties. Teams of partygoers battle it out in the play frame, to the backdrop of lasers and music, before heading to their own private party room. And thanks to Yellow Sub’s great food menu, they’ll get to replenish all that energy they’ve burned off too. Teams of Laser Tag soldiers can enjoy a

Terms & Conditions: Competition closing date 30th June 2015.Party booking is subject to availability. Party prize is for the value of £250.00

only. Any further additions will be charged at the standard rate. Private hire is not included. Party must be held before 31st December

2015.Party must be booked in a designated party slot of 6.30pm.Party booking is for a minimum of 15 children. Normal Yellow Sub Terms

& Conditions apply.

choice of two 12” pizzas (cheese and tomato, pepperoni, veggie or chicken) basket of fries, fruit shoot and a tub of ice cream.

So enter now for your chance to win this fantastic party!

WIN

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Food can make or break a party. It doesn’t matter how good your table settings are, or how cool your playlist is, if all that’s on offer at the buffet table are a couple of curly ham sandwiches, a crusty-looking dip and some plain breadsticks, people aren’t going to have a good time.

Unless you’re Nigella Lawson or Mary Berry, catering for a party is hard work, not least because of the very real challenge of catering for 25 people with only one oven, a hotplate and a toaster. So we say, it’s time to put your feet up, and call in the experts.

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. You wouldn’t, say, dress up as a clown rather than get in a professional to do kids entertainment, and you probably wouldn’t brush off the trumpet you haven’t played since 1999 rather than hiring a professional band. So why should providing food be any different? Here’s our lowdown on the benefits working with outside caterers.

Less stressThere are a hundred and one things to do when throwing a party, and it’s pretty hard to do them if you’re elbows deep in a mixing bowl. Knowing that the food is taken care of

Let’s gooutside…

means that you can devote your attention to the bits of party planning you really enjoy or just kick back with a glass of merlot and wait for your guests to arrive.

The experts know bestYou may well have a ‘vision’ for the sort of food you’d like, but it may actually be impractical, or just not a good idea. Outside catering companies will know what foods can withstand the heat of the disco lights, what goes down well and what is likely to be still sitting on its serving platter looking forlorn when last orders is called. They’ll often be able to give advice on presentation too!

More choiceWhile if you do the catering, you’ll be limited both by your own capability, and your oven space. By choosing to work with an outside caterer, you will be able to provide pretty much any food you want!

It’s not as expensive as you thinkEven if you were to do the catering yourself, you’d still have to buy all the ingredients, heat the oven etc and devote a great deal of time and energy into creating the food and washing up afterwards. When you take all of this into account, working with an outside catering company doesn’t seem that expensive after all!

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PartyTestimonial

We decided to have my eight year old daughter’s birthday party at Samantha Mitchell’s Nails & Beauty Clinic and chose a pamper package. It was new and different from the usual parties she had in previous years. My little girl loves make up, getting her hair styled and having her nails painted, and so when I heard about the pamper party packages, we knew it would be perfect for her!

When I booked the party, we were provided with personalised invites for my daughter to hand out to all her friends at school, a nice touch. We were asked to choose from a selection of themed cupcakes as a little gift for the children for after the party - and obviously she chose the Frozen themed cupcakes which they loved!

When we arrived at the salon, the team of girls were great with the children, and they had the place looking great. It was all decorated with banners, bunting and music playing in the background. The kids were fascinated with the popcorn machine and cones that we were welcomed with. They then all took it in turns to have their nails painted, with hair in different styles, and gems, glitter tattoos and makeup applied. They could also help themselves to drinks and snacks.

I brought my own birthday cake, and the salon staff conducted a lovely chorus of “Happy Birthday”, even fi nding time to have a dance and play musical statues. As the guests were collected by their parents, they were all gifted with a sweet cone fi lled with lots of different treats!

My daughter has done nothing but talk about her party since, and I would most defi nitely recommend the venue to others. The team made her feel really special, particularly when she received a birthday present at the end of the celebrations.

I felt like I didn’t have to organise a thing, and the whole package was excellent value for money… so much so that I have also booked my elder daughter in for a pampering session before her prom!

Samantha Mitchell

nails & beauty clinic

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Vouchers can be downloaded and shared on familygolive.com

VO

UC

HE

RTiger that Came to Tea - The Epstein

Tiger who Came to Tea at the Epstein Theatre (9-14 June) Code TIGER15 www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk Subject to availability. Must show voucher at box office or enter code online.

£10 tickets for the 1.30pm weekday performances

VO

UC

HE

RToni and Guy - Allerton Road

Tel 0151 734 3300. 86 Allerton road, Liverpool L18 1LW. www.toniandguy.com T&Cs: Valid until 30 June 2015

20% off cut and/ or colour at Allerton Road salon

VO

UC

HE

RJamm Studios Ltd

(22 Volunteer Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 2AY). www.jammstudios.co.uk. T&Cs: Valid until 1 Sep 2015. Redeemable on purchase of one block of music lessons, this does not affect your ability to book a free intro lesson, must book in advance.

One free music lesson with Jamm Studios

VO

UC

HE

RFarm Feast

Wirral’s Claremont Farm on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2015. Use “FGLFF15” voucher code at www.farmfeast.co.uk Valid until 8 June 2015

Discounted family ticket (10% off) for Farm Feast food, drink and music festival

VO

UC

HE

RXercise4less Belle Vale or Speke

Belle Vale or Speke. Call 0151 559 1915 for Speke or 0151 556 7111 for Belle vale.www.xercise4less.co.uk T&Cs: Not available in conjunction with any other other. Offer only available with this voucher. Valid until 31 June 2015

Buy one day pass, get one free at “The People’s Gym” Xercise4less

VO

UC

HE

RAwesome Walls Climbing Centre

On all party bookings or opt for 10% off your total party price.www.awesomewalls.co.uk. Valid until 31 June 2015

Use this voucher to claim FREE certificates and unlimited juice

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