Latest news with #LittleHeroes
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Win fantastic family trip to Lapland with Barnardos & The Irish Sun's annual colouring competition
ON your markers, get set . . . GO! It's Toddle time and once again The Irish Sun has teamed up with children's charity Barnardos for our Big Toddle art contest. Barnardos has 8 Download, print and colour this image to be in with the chance to win, see full details below 8 Top Thomas and her daughter Grace launch Big Toddle colouring competition Credit: Paul Sharp 8 Lap it Lapland trip is up for grabs with thanks to Sunway And to ensure all these little fundraisers are entertained afterwards, we are asking all budding artists to download and colour a pic by top illustrator Chris Judge and enter it in our Big Toddle competition. This year's Big Toddle theme is Little Heroes and radio and TV star Kathryn, who has 'Knowing that all funds raised are going directly to Barnardos Early Years Services makes this campaign all the more meaningful. READ MORE IN BARNARDOS 'Smallies from creches all over Ireland walking half a mile to raise awareness of kids their own age less fortunate than themselves is a powerful message.' Kathryn, who is also mum to seven-year-old Ellie, added: 'I'd encourage everyone where they can to support the Barnardos Big Toddle and to get involved in The Irish Sun's Big Toddle colouring competition.' Your child's colouring talent could help make it a Christmas to remember, thanks to our wonderful top prize — A family of four (two adults and two children) will win an MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Every moment is thoughtfully planned to create a stress-free, magical holiday. Speaking about The Irish Sun/Barnardos colouring comp, Sunway CEO Mary Denton said: 'We are proud to sponsor this year's competition, a celebration of creativity, imagination, and self-expression.' RTE's Louise Duffy calls for support of Barnardos Big Toddle to help raise funds for charity's great work She added: 'This is our third year doing so and we are so delighted to support the work that Barnardos do throughout Ireland. 'They work so hard and diligently to support children who are vulnerable and their families.' 'Creative competitions like this are a powerful way to engage families and spark conversations, helping to raise vital awareness of the work we do to HOW TO ENTER Download the colouring page image at the top of this article and email us your finished picture by sending a PDF or photo to features@ or post it to: The Irish Sun, Macken House, 39/40 Mayor Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C9W8. To accompany the finished picture we would like each child to send us a photo of themselves with their creation. And don't forget to include your child's name, date of birth, address and contact number. The closing date for entries is Saturday, June 7, 2025. Irish Sun Editor Fiona Wynne added: 'It's wonderful to team up with Barnardos and Sunway once again on our most popular and colourful campaign of the year.' EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC Visiting Santa in Lapland is a magical experience unlike any other and the Irish Sun and Sunway can make that happen for you and your family. A family of four - two adults and two children - will win an Enchanted Escape Sunway package and can go and visit Santa and enjoy all the magical Christmas festive fun. Nestled in a snowy wonderland of twinkling forests and cosy log cabins, Sunway brings childhood dreams to life. Lapland creates family memories that last forever. Sunway, a trusted name in Irish travel, offers carefully curated Lapland experiences that bring you right into the heart of the Arctic Circle. From the moment you arrive at Dublin Airport, you enter the magic and joy of a Christmas holiday. Sunway's trip to Lapland is more than just a holiday; it's a collection of treasured moments — a child's wonder at meeting Santa, the thrill of racing through snowy forests, and the peaceful beauty of the polar landscape. It's the perfect blend of adventure, magic, and family bonding, wrapped in the purest white of the Arctic. Sunway's Lapland holiday includes unforgettable activities such as husky sled rides, snowmobiling, and reindeer sleigh journeys through the wilderness. 8 Festive magic with Sunway at Lapland 8 On your and Grace Credit: Paul Sharp 8 Ambassador Louise Duffy and youngsters launch 2025 Big Toddle for Barnardos Credit: Patrick Bolger 8 The Barnardos Big Toddle has raised an incredible €4.84million over the years 8 Sunway's incredible Christmas experiences are available now Of course, the highlight for many is the visit to Santa Claus himself. Children's faces light up as they travel to a secret location to meet Santa in his cosy, traditional cabin, a truly magical experience they will never forget. Sunway have thought of everything from the cosy accommodation to the warm snowsuits and boots for your trip. Every moment is thoughtfully planned to create a stress-free, magical holiday. Sunway has some great Lapland trips for November and December 2025. Sunway has everything done for you – flights, accommodation and fun and you can book now and spread your payments with the Sunway payment plan. Return flights, accommodation, a 20kg baggage allowance, activities and meals as per your itinerary are all included. As are thermal suits and boots, husky, reindeer and snowmobile rides, a festive dinner, Santa's secret hideaway, a private meeting with Santa and so much more. So if you're looking for a truly magical Christmas experience, a visit to see Santa in Lapland is a must. Book now on COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS A FAMILY of four (two adults and two children 12 and under) will win an Enchanted Escape Sunway package and can go and visit Santa to enjoy all the magical Christmas festive fun. The prize includes return flights, accommodation, 20kg baggage allowance, activities as per your itinerary, thermal suit and boots, husky, reindeer and snowmobile rides, a festive dinner, Santa's secret hideaway and a private meeting with Santa. Winners will be departing from Dublin for two nights from November 23, 2025. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash or transferred to 2026. Visit Winner and guests must hold valid travel insurance for the holiday duration. Failure to attend for any reason whatsoever on the travel dates agreed and booked does not entitle the winner to an alternative prize and the prize will be deemed to have been forfeited. The promoter reserves the right to substitute prize of equal value if a prize element becomes unavailable for any reason whatsoever. Holiday is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Holiday must be booked directly with Sunway head office, Marina House, Clarence Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Any costs incurred additional to the prize package elements listed (e.g. telephone charges, excursions, spa treatments, etc.) will be at the winner's own expense. Any requested or permitted upgrades or changes to the stated holiday prize will be at the winner's own expense. Prizes are as stated and are non-exchangeable and non-transferable. There is no cash alternative to the prizes in whole or in part. The winner will be notified within 14 days after the end of the competition and they need to confirm acceptance of the prize within seven days of having been notified. Competition organisers' decisions are final. The competition is open to children aged ten and under as of June 17, 2025. Barnardos and Sunway will select the winners. By entering, you consent to The Irish Sun publishing in newspaper and online platforms any image(s) of the entrant talking about their submission, submitted in connection with that artwork. Such consent may be withdrawn by a parent or guardian (who may also request deletion of the material) using the competition contact details. Publication of the material will be used for purposes solely relating to the Barnardos Big Toddle. See Barnardos Registered Charity Number 20010027 and CHY6015. For more info on the Barnardos Big Toddle, see
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Staffordshire scheme tackling school anxiety wins pupil's praise
A scheme to boost school attendance by giving children ways to cope with anxiety is having a positive impact, a head teacher has Little Heroes campaign was introduced in Staffordshire to help pupils who might be struggling emotionally with going to school after a 2.3% drop in attendance since the Covid scheme includes teaching pupils breathing techniques and giving them books with exercises in them to help them relax their are also used to encourage pupils to come to school. The county council said more than 250 schools had signed up to the campaign."The quantity of children in our focus group attending on time, every day has improved since we started," said Louise Johnson, head teacher at Heath hayes Academy, Cannock."For us, that's exactly what we needed."Sam, seven, said he often felt nervous and sick about coming to school but the scheme had benefitted him."The book has really helped me not be worried about being at school," he eight, said finger breathing – a technique that involves taking deep breaths while touching fingers – had helped him."If you just sit in a calm area and just do it for one or two minutes it can calm you down a lot," he seven, said: "When I'm here on time I don't get sad or anything and the stickers really help me." The council said there had been a drop in absence nationally since the pandemic as pupils continued to adjust to being permanently back in authority issued 259 penalty notices to families for persistent absence from primary schools in Jonathan Price, their councillor responsible for education, said their preference was to offer help."This is about support, inclusion and making sure we have all the tools in place to help parents, because this is absolutely what we need to do," he said."We do not want to be beating parents with a stick." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
