Samatha's Training Update...

Welcome to Samantha's blog, where you can find out how her training is coming along in the lead up to the Virgin Triathlon on Saturday 27th July! We've been following her closely to see how she's been getting on and below you can read the next step in her training journey...

Arghhh Clips!!!! Ok so in the crazy world of road biking, for the competitive amongst us, it becomes necessary to attach your shoes to the pedals in order to gain as much power as you can.

I have to say out of everything I have ever attached myself to (which more recently includes a windsurf sail using a hook) this is by far the strangest and most unnatural thing I've ever done! My feet are attached to the pedals! I'm attached to the bike! Attached!! Clipped in!!! Oddly these special pedals are called 'clipless pedals'?

So from now on every time I come to a stop, I have to twist my foot and pop it off the pedal so I can put my foot down on to the ground. Should I by chance forget this, or time it wrong, I will fall over attached to the bike... Attached!!! So nothing like this picture at all actually.

I researched online and decided to go with Look Keo CroMo max 2, my friend Anna works with Free Flow Bikes in Scotland and she looked after me! I also purchased quite a bit of Lycra and padded shorts. That involved a lot of research too...never thought I'd see the day where I'm googling Lycra and viewing people modelling bum padding, but life can take you in all sorts of directions and I'm secretly loving this new found passion. I'm even happy to admit to buying cream which you rub into the shorts before you put them on... It's to avoid chafing... I haven't had any issues with chafing incidentally, just FYI!!! Prevention is key!

So I planned my first 'clipless' cycle in Richmond park with my friend Sam (he has done more than a few triathlons)! It was my first outing in the clips, so I picked up the bike jumped on and had an absolute nightmare at a set of traffic lights with a double decker bus on a hill.

If you take anything from this please let it be that you try out clipping and unclipping in the safety of your home or against a wall before you ride off into the sunshine. However, I am still here to tell the tale and it now feels quite natural.

I'm no show off though and although I'm clipping in and out fairly well there are folks that keep themselves clipped in at traffic lights and bounce around to stay balanced... I think this has the potential to end in a disaster and it looks way more effort than its worth!!! I admit this takes skill so these people must have been practising it indoors for hours at a time and that's taking it all way too far... plus the clipping noise is cool!!! Just in case I do fall, I found this hilarious cartoon cycling tips website. There's a video on falling and also on how to blow your nose and spit the 'correct way'... Love it!

This weekend it was a friend's birthday, yes that meant no training. So yesterday it was back on the bike at 7am, it's day 2 and the weather has held up! Last night I did my first kinda 'brick session' running 5km straight after my cycle home. These are to get my legs used to the quick change in movement... painful! I completed it in 28mins on the treadmill at speeds 10.5kmph and 12.5kmph intervals. (Treadmills give you slower times than running outside by the way, it's an ongoing mystery?) Tomorrow morning I want to do a run straight after my cycle into work, maybe along the River Thames. I'll take pictures! x

To make a donation to Samantha and her good cause, please click on her JUST GIVE PAGE.
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And so it begins...

Last month we introduced you to one of our fantastic fundraisers, Samantha, who's taking part in the Virgin Triathlon on Saturday 27th July and all proceeds are being kindly donated to With Kids. As promised, here is an update on her progress. 

With only 12 weeks to go until her sprint triathlon begins, you can read how she's preparing for the big event below...

Hey peeps! I'm sorry for the lack of updates but now it's exactly 12 weeks until my sprint triathlon and training has properly started, so let the updates commence!

For those who are not triathlon experts (including me as this is my first one) a sprint triathlon includes a 750m outdoor swim, a 20km bike ride and then a 5km run. I was running quite a bit last year, although winter halted that and I used to swim in swimming pools when I was young but not sure thats going to help...

Cycling is quite a new discipline for me and as it's the longest part in the sprint, it's a good starting point. Work is pretty hectic so I'm trying to fit training around my busy schedule. My plan is a bit loose, I cycle lots, as quickly as I can and then go for immediate 3km runs when I get the chance. 

Down the line I'll need to find an outdoor swimming pool and hopefully get a time of under 130mins for the Virgin Active Sprint Triathlon. Maybe I shouldn't have typed out a time but I've got to have a goal otherwise what's to aim for?

I've been cycling around 36km every day, which is my daily work commute, and of course grabbing a shower each side! So its a routine of two cycles and two showers every day at the moment. I bought a second hand road bike; it's black and yellow as you can see (that's the girl in me)!

I want to get a good time in the sprint triathlon and my mountain bike wasn't going to get me there, it's too heavy and clunky. So I'm officially a road cyclist now, lycra'd up to the max. The bike is super light and I'm learning lots of stuff like my tires should be at 120... whatever that means, carbon is cool and I'm even managing to attach my chain back on when it pops off. Eh yes, need to get that checked but I'm so in love with my bike that I cant bring myself to part with it for the two days the shop would need to repair it. 

However don't be fooled by my 'jargon', I was a bit (very) shaky on it the first few times and going down hills is still not as enjoyable as I know it will be but its much smoother than the mountain bike and now I'm more stable, I'm really enjoying it.

To be honest, I am a little sad I have to practice swimming and running, but I will, of course! Well I'll have to because you can't cycle through water.

In order to get better, I thought I should note a few times so I can gauge improvements. My cycling is where I'm focussing on right now so as a starter for 10.... Once around Richmond park (11km), which is my weekend training spot, currently takes 24minutes. There is one large hill which would burn the hind legs off a Tyrannosaurus Rex but I'm hoping I'll get this down to 20minutes.

My 5km run at the moment is taking 28minutes, this is not me running immediately after a 20km bike ride and I don't have a clue what my swim time is... I'm confident?!

To make a donation to Samantha and her good cause, please click on her JUST GIVE PAGE.

Remember to keep up to date with what's going on at With Kids by following us on Facebook and Twitter. 

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Bank Holiday Activities

With the May bank holidays approaching, you might be worried about what you can do with the kids to keep them entertained without stretching your funds.

However, there's loads of fun and exciting things you can do with the family in and around Glasgow.

 We've pulled together some ideas so you won't be stuck for things to do! If you can think of any other fun and free activities that you and your family will be taking part in over the holidays then please share them with us!

Below we have listed some fun activities:

• Riverside Museum
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• The Burrell Collection, People's Palace
• Gallery of Modern Art
• Open Museum 
• Provand's Lordship
• Scotland School Museum
• St Mungo Museum of Religious Life 
• Art and Glasgow Museums Resource Centre 

Remember you don't have to spend a lot to have fun; here's a fun list of 101 things to do with your child. Let us know how far down the list you get.

We hope you have a great Bank Holiday weekend and here's hoping the sun comes out to play!

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Samantha's Sprint Triathlon for With Kids

We would like to introduce you to Samantha - who is taking part in the Virgin Triathlon on Saturday 27th July all in aid of With Kids. We feel extremely uplifted by her kind and selfless actions and will be updating you on her progress.

You can read her touching story below...

I was privileged as a child, I was lucky then I guess.

I was fed properly, I was educated, I played and most crucially I was loved. To know there is one vulnerable child living less than a mile from the successful corporate and shiny world of Glasgow city centre not receiving physical, emotional and social needs or getting enough love is more than hard to swallow. Imagining 90,000 children living in severe poverty in Scotland is impossible and tragic.

Working on the opening of citizenM Glasgow gave me the opportunity to work and be based in the city most weeks. Having lived in London for nearly 10 years it was a refreshing and positive experience to learn about the city and country I am from all over again and from a different perspective; as a visitor this time.

During a corporate dinner I was very lucky to meet a couple who talked passionately about their work with a local children’s charity, With Kids. I was taken aback and emotionally moved by the story they shared with me of the work they do. I got involved a bit by gathering some friends and helping to donate and wrap gifts for the Christmas Day Dinner which runs every year for the children and families living in and around the East End of Glasgow. This carefully organised Christmas Day that they would most definitely never have the chance to enjoy otherwise resonated with me as it seemed such a beautiful approach in what these children need at times, just to be kids just like other kids.

This year I wanted to support again, something that would challenge me physically and emotionally. I want to reinforce the belief the charity hold true to their work; that with the right input, training, facilities and most importantly love and support we can all achieve our full potential, and for a child this has to be truer. I do hope my efforts generate awareness; much needed finance and maybe crucially remind us all that we can’t determine our starting point but we can all run the race.

I will be keeping you all updated weekly on my training on a guest blog.

Any donation however small will go straight to help a child...

Thank you friends x

If you would like to make a donation to Samantha's cause you can do so by visiting her Just Giving page.

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The Amazing Bubble Man

The Glasgow Comedy Festival is in full swing and we have just the thing to keep the whole family entertained this Easter!

Join the international sensation, Louis Pearl, as he explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles. The show also combines comedy and plenty of audience participation, as well as spellbinding bubble tricks to keep every child and adult entertained!

You'll be mesmerised by his square bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, fog-filled bubbles, giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes to people inside bubbles. We're bursting with bubble excitement and the amazing bubble man is guaranteed to make you laugh and keep the whole family amazed with exciting tricks!

The Bubble Show and are offering two for one on tickets for the show. Tickets are priced at £10 each but if click HERE and enter the promotional code (BUB241) you will receive two for one tickets.

If you would like any more information about The Bubble Show - click HERE.

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A Touch Of Class Fundraising

We were absolutely delighted when we were contacted by a very talented lady, Sophie Kochanowska a few days ago, who told us that she will be holding a fundraising concert in April.

Sophie explained that she will be donating the profits of the event to With Kids which is fantastic, and has definitely put a smile on all of our faces!

Sophie is in her final undergraduate year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and will be performing solo in the fundraising concert which will take place on Saturday April 20th at 7pm in St. Mary's Cathedral on Great Western Road, Glasgow.

The first half of the programme will involve Sophie performing classical songs (soprano), followed by an interval, and then she will be joined by tenor, Christian Schneeberger, from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and mezzo-soprano, Dagmar.

The second half will consist of opera and light music arias and ensembles (including favourites such as the Barcarolle from Les contes d'Hoffman and Puccini's O mio babbino caro). After the concert, a complimentary glass of wine or a soft drink will be on offer in the Cathedral.

For tickets, send an email with your name and the number of tickets required to dsconcerts@gmail.com and a ticket will be reserved for you to be picked up and paid for on the day. Tickets are priced at £10 or £7 for concession.

This night promises to be a wonderful evening, and we are so impressed with Sophie's enthusiasm and would like to thank her very much for her support. This is an excellent and unique way of fundraising for a vital cause, and we hope that you are inspired by Sophie's efforts! We know that all of our supporters and followers are very creative people, so perhaps you could hold your own event just like Sophie?

We look forward to seeing you there, and the With Kids team might even learn a thing or two about Classical music!

You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information about With Kids.

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Benefit reforms – are they a main factor in the rise of parental depression?

At With Kids, we are passionate about working with parents from vulnerable families to improve their overall life, so when we heard about the introduction of the Universal Credit in October 2013, we couldn’t help feeling concerned.

A recent article in The Telegraph entitled ‘Benefit reforms: blatant discrimination against young parents’ highlights how this new system will not only have a detrimental financial impact, but also an emotional implication which is equally, if not more damaging.

According to the Government, the Universal Credit has been designed to “radically simplify the welfare system to make work pay and combat worklessness and poverty.” If nothing else, the new benefit reforms will have the opposing effect, especially for young, single mothers below the age of 25.

“Under Universal Credit, single parents under the age of 25 will no longer be entitled to receive the higher rate of personal allowance. Instead, they will receive the same rate as an under 25 without any children.” What is more alarming however is the Government’s lack of understanding that this will cut a much deeper wound than simply having to ease up on a few luxuries each month. The article points out how the briefing states “The Government has acknowledged that changes to personal allowances for under 25’s in Universal Credit will push 100,000 more people into poverty.”

As if that statistic isn’t shocking enough, the evident dismissal of the obvious mental health consequences is unforgivable. Not only will this increase levels of stress, it has the potential to completely unfasten young, single parents from society. With a negative reputation already carved out by the media, single parents under the age of 25 are already battling through a storm of unfair judgement where they are often perceived as only having children in order to claim benefits.

It is difficult to understand the Government’s thinking behind this, because with so much emphasis being placed upon getting people back to work and ensuring they are well educated, the Universal Credit system is a complete contradiction. Contrary to what is publicised in the media; young, single parents are no different from older, mature parents. They still want what is best for their child, and if that means returning to education to do a part time course, many are more than willing to do so.

An episode of ‘One Born Every Minute’ that was aired recently on Channel 4 documented a young, 18 year old single mother’s journey with her new baby. She explained how she was from a deprived background where her Dad was constantly in and out of prison, and how she left school at 16 with no educational qualifications. It was evident how she was determined to make a better life for her child and wanted to return to college. She saw her situation as an opportunity, not a burden.

Instead of making this easier, the introduction of the Universal Credit system will only limit this possibility by putting extra strain on young parents by causing unnecessary levels of stress. This will drive away motivation of wanting to return to education, and as a result they will feel deflated, disconnected and depressed.

What the Government fails to understand is that single parents have aspirations as well. They are tired of being negatively looked down upon, and those who actually want to make something of themselves and find a sense of belonging are being severely restricted.

With Kids understands the financial and emotional strain of raising a child independently, and working with vulnerable families in the East End of Glasgow has enlightened us to how important it is that parents are supported both financially and emotionally.

It is evident to us that the introduction of the Universal Credit system will only add to the already high levels of stress and anxiety experienced in young single parents. Arguably, it costs more to provide for a child if the parent is young because the experience is missing, and this is something that establishes itself in more mature parents.

With the introduction of benefit reforms, the work of With Kids is vitally important to ensure that vulnerable parents and families feel supported and positively encouraged. We work hard to reinforce the gap that has been created, and your support is very much appreciated.

You can keep up to date with what is happening at With Kids on Facebook and Twitter.

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