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.

Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news from With Kids.

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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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JCI Glasgow Run The Edinburgh Marathon Relay For With Kids!

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival takes place on 25th/26th May 2013 and in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals of 'Ending Poverty and Hunger', and 'Imporiving Child Health', JCI Glasgow have entered a team in this year's Edinburgh Marathon Relay to raise funds for With Kids!

Our friends Neil, Tom, Lauren and Brendan from JCI Glasgow will be running the Edinburgh Marathon Relay on behalf of With Kids!

They will be running 8.4 miles, 5.4 miles, 7.6 miles and 4.6 miles respectively from Edinburgh City Centre to Gosford House in Longniddy then turning back for a Grandstand Finish at Musselburgh Race Course.

The team at With Kids would like to give them a big cheer and shout out on their behalf and we hope the weather improves in the next few weeks for the run!

If you would like to donate you can do so online by clicking HERE -

Or simply text 'JCIG76 £<enter amount>' to 70070. For example a £2 donation would be 'JCIG76 £2' (Text messages are free).

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St Patrick’s Day Charity Ball Fun!

On the 16th March 2013, the With Kids team were dressed to impress as they attended the 11th annual St Patrick’s Day Charity Ball held in the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow.

The ball takes place each year to raise vital funds for children’s charities across the Glasgow area, and we were very grateful to be chosen as one of the organisations to benefit from this year’s funds in which over £35,000 was raised. Thank you to all who helped and organised the event. Your support is invaluable to us!

A lovely dinner was enjoyed by all, and St Roch’s Ceilidh Band ensured that our feet never stopped tapping! We were thoroughly entertained by young Irish dancers from the Steward School of Dancing alongside a band called Funk Nation who definitely got us in the mood for a party!

There was even a cartoonist there to ensure that all the guests never forgot the evening by drawing very glamorous pictures! An auction was also held where some very desirable pieces of artwork were up for grabs, and there was no shortage of bids!

Everyone had a fantastic evening, and there couldn’t have been a more positive way to raise money for so many worthwhile children’s charities. Thanks again to everyone involved, and we hope you all had a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Welfare Reform Information Event

We would like to invite you along to the Welfare Reform Information Event on Wednesday 13th March in Wester Hailes Library. You can drop in any time between 3.00pm - 7.00pm.


You may already know that Welfare Benefits are changing and you need to know the facts.

This event will tell you -

• What the main changes are
• Who is likely to be affected
• What you can do
• Who you can talk to
• Where to get support

This is your chance to chat to someone from the Council, Prospect or CHAI to see how you might be affected by the changes and how Prospect Community Housing can support you.

For more information contact Prospect, CHAI or South West Neighbourhood Office.

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