Splashtastic events for little swimmers
The first-ever National Baby Swimming Week organised by Water Babies will run from next Monday, October 31. The goal is to encouraging mums and dads across Ireland to take their little ones to their nearest swimming pool or swimming class for some fun family time, while gaining a host of health benefits along the way.
Recent research conducted by Water Babies in Ireland, shows that those who start learning swimming from an early age have benefited in many ways. “Over the years we have seen countless babies and parents reap huge benefits from taking swimming classes with our highly qualified teachers,” said Carol McNally, Water Babies Ireland. “Sadly though, far too many young children are missing out on all the positive benefits that come with swimming simply because they have never learned this potentially life-saving skill.”
Making Dublin more playful
A Playful City is a project exploring and responding to the need for more inclusive, child-friendly and playful spaces in Dublin city. This week the project held a ‘Design Meets Play’ International Conference and Hackathon, a consultation event that will ultimately lead to more playful installations and interventions in the spaces between spaces of Dublin city.
A partnership between Connect the Dots and Upon a Tree, the aim of the project is to carve out areas in public spaces where people of all age and abilities can engage and interact.
“Children need to be consulted and planned for, not tucked away into corners of parks behind fences,” says Aaron Copeland, co-founder of Upon a Tree. “They represent a necessary starting point to designing spaces. Once you design for a child, it becomes safe and accessible for everyone.”
Cups against cancer coffee mornings
The Irish Cancer Society is calling on all women to become aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer during this breast cancer awareness month.
The five year survival rate for breast cancer patients in Ireland is currently at 85% and the society says early detection of the disease is a key factor in this. As part of its Cups against Cancer fundraising campaign, the society is urging members of the public to host a fundraising coffee morning during the month of October, donations from which will help fund lifesaving research and free services to support the 2,900 people who will get a breast cancer diagnosis this year. They are also encouraging people to use these events to talk about signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
All women aged 50 to 69 are invited to have a free mammogram every two years, see www.breastcheck.ie for more information.