January 31st, 2020 February 2020 update:
Renovations in our new home at the Pleasance are well underway!
We’ve been working hard to make our new home just as homely as our current premises at Lower Gilmore Place.
We hope that the renovations will be completed during the last two weeks of this month, so that we can start running groups from our new home late this month or early March.
In the meantime, our doors remain open to our families and community, and our groups continue to run in Lower Gilmore Place.
Stay tuned for more updates!
The crowdfunder for the renovations and furnishing of our new home closed on Friday, but we continue to welcome any help and you can still donate through the office (info@pregnancyandparents.org.uk).
 After a long search, we are delighted to confirm the PPC has found a new home!
During January 2020 we will begin renovations to 188 Pleasance, about a fifteen-twenty minute walk from Lower Gilmore Place, and hope to be running some of our classes from February 2020.
Throughout 2020, we will work with a group of enthusiastic and skilled people to complete renovations on the next door building: 192 Pleasance and it is hoped by 2021 we will have a fully operating centre which will be more than double the size of space we presently have.
The scope for more group rooms, a larger and more welcoming social space, consulting space and storage for donations is very exciting and will allow us to evolve and further support pregnant and new families in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
For those of you currently in groups at the PPC, you will automatically be kept up to date from our office staff via email. We will also share updates on FB and Twitter and we have created “notice” boards on both levels of our present centre which is a central point to see what is happening, what sort of help you could give us and how our fundraising for the move is going . As ever, our friendly office staff or your facilitator will be able to answer any questions you may have – just ask!
Can you help us?
As you can imagine with such a move, there is a lot of organising and planning needed and this requires lots of help!
- We are looking at building up a body of volunteers to help us prepare for the move and creating a lovely, welcoming space over in the Pleasance. If you feel you might be able to volunteer, please complete the form in this link. We will add you to a volunteer mailing list and drop you a note if we are looking for help. If you have the skills or time to lend a hand, we can organise that.
- We would welcome your support and donations to our Crowdfunding campaign – follow this link to the Crowdfunding page.
We would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” for supporting the PPC. We are very excited to be starting a brand new chapter.
For and on behalf of the Trustees of the Pregnancy & Parents Centre
November 2019
We can also keep you updated via email about our move. If you think this would be helpful, please follow the link here to tell us!
May 30th, 2020 A new block of our popular Thursday evening Yoga for Pregnancy classes will commence on 4th June. The block runs until 9th July on Thursdays from 7-9pm online to observe restrictions around groups meeting face to face.
The block costs £52 though we have concession rates which may help if you are feeling financially restricted, and so do ask us about them. We are always happy to discuss ways to help you come to our groups and classes.
Andrea, our Thursday evening Yoga for Pregnancy facilitator is a midwife and birth educator as well as a Yogi.
… Do you know that you are entitled to paid time off work for antenatal care, which includes pregnancy yoga classes when supported by your midwife or GP see www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights
Get in touch if you are interested in joining our group by emailing us here
May 19th, 2020 The classes provide a friendly, relaxed environment in which to learn and share yoga with other parents and babies. A range of practices are developed over the weeks so parents can gradually incorporate the fun of yoga in day to day life with their babies.
The sessions include gentle stretching for mother and baby, relaxation and is finished with tea and biscuits and the opportunity to discuss any related topics and meet other parents.
You do not need to bring anything; we provide yoga mats, pillows, blankets and blocks, but encourage you to wear comfortable clothes.
Class time:
0-8 Months (or mobile) runs on Tuesdays at 11am – 12.30pm online whilst restrictions are in place.
For a space please email info@pregnancyandparents.org.uk to book – our office telephone isn’t manned at present.
May 18th, 2020 Becoming a parent, particularly for the first time, is an emotional experience. It is a very important time for both mum and dad-to-be but expectant dads sometimes feel left out of pregnancy and not involved in the birth.
“For me the course was a lifeline. Previously I wasn’t sure even which questions to ask or where to look for a RELIABLE and informed answer.”
“The discussions of the birth, of baby blues, of crying and of our ongoing relationship was particular helpful.”
“I went to 3 pre-natal courses: the NHS one, an NCT one and this one – and found this course the best of the three. I would definitely recommend it to any dads-to-be in the area.”
Next Course Date:
Wednesday 17th June – 7 – 8.30pm &
Saturday 20th June – 10am – 4pm
If you are interested in other dates in 2020 please get in touch so we can confirm our next course dates when we have confirmed them.
A midwife-led course for expectant dads with lots of discussion, practical advice and workshop activities
This is an invaluable practical course for men who would like to build their confidence around early parenting skills. The main topics are detailed below but the sessions will involve open discussion and give plenty of time for questions to be asked.
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Baby care – handling, clothing, dressing, nappy changing, bathing.
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Life with a baby including coping with crying, sleeping, playing
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Emotional issues including postnatal depression
Handouts and resources provided.
We operate our antenatal sessions on a donation payment system because the Pregnancy and Parents Centre is a not-for-profit charity. The suggested donation is £50 for the course as this covers all our running costs and associated expenditure. However, all our classes have concessionary rates and this is the same for the donation system as we never turn anyone due to financial constraint. Please contact us about this if you need to know more.
To book a place on a course please contact the Pregnancy and Parents Centre office by email
April 20th, 2020 Our sessions and groups were suspended face to face on 17th March 2020 following guidelines from the UK and Scottish Government but fear not! We are running our groups and sessions online and whilst we can’t offer you the lovely homely atmosphere of our centre (and our renowned tea and biscuits) we can offer you a community from your own home whilst we are under present restrictions.
Here is a snap shot of our timetable. Please refer to the actual activity page on our website for more info, or simply drop us an email or FB message.
Mondays: Music (from under 12 months – right up to 5 years) / Motherspace / Yoga for Pregnancy
Tuesdays: Yoga with Babies / Yoga for Pregnancy
Wednesdays: Baby Massage
Thursdays: Music (all ages upto 5) / Yoga for Pregnancy
Saturday: Yoga for Pregnancy
On specific dates of the month, we are also running Dads to Be / Active Birth Workshops / Preparation for Breastfeeding Workshops / First Aid (due to start very soon).
To find out more, please email us on info@pregnancyandparents.org.uk to let us know of your interest in any groups. Additionally, you might want to like our facebook page and follow us on Twitter for lots of news updates.
Best wishes
The Board, staff, facilitators and practitioners of the PPC.
NHS inform
And BBC News Scotland
April 19th, 2020 Our Active Birth workshops give information and support to pregnant women and their partners in preparation for their births. Our courses run on Sundays from 10am – 4.30pm on the below dates. You can now book spaces on these full day workshops by contacting us.
The suggested donation is £85 per couple. It is possible to bring two birth partners, please enquire if this is the case.
For more details see here or contact the office to book your space.
~ 14th June & 21st June (AM only)
~ Await dates from July onwards. Please let us know of your interest in dates after June and we will be sure to share
the later dates with you when agreed.
January 22nd, 2019 We are very keen to broaden the diversity and breadth of our Board of Trustees, in order to better represent all those who use or could use our services. The Trustees are a group of volunteers who are responsible for the good governance and strategic direction of the PPC. The centre is about to undergo a period of change due to a premises relocation.
We need enthusiastic and committed individuals who understand and appreciate our aims, objectives and values, and who want to contribute to the strategic development of the PPC, be involved in some of the day-to-day decision making, and be responsible for its paid employees, facilitators and volunteers.
All applicants will be considered, however we are particularly keen to recruit people with skills in any of the below:
- Finance and Accounting, Marketing, Outreach Work, Fundraising, Law
If interested, you will be invited to:
- An informal discussion with a current trustee
- Attend three monthly board meetings prior to formal invitation to become a Trustee
- Take part in projects of interest to you and your skillset.
As an elected Trustee, you will be invited to attend our Annual General Meeting, and monthly Trustee Meetings (which typically alternate between Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons).
Babes-in-arms are welcome at meetings and there is flexibility around other commitments. Childcare expenses can be covered for director’s activities.
For more information, or to apply (including a covering letter and CV) please contact:
PPC Co-ordinator, 10 Lower Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9NY or volunteers@pregnancyandparents.org.uk
To find out a bit more about our current Trustees please follow the link here
 Ros Claase (current Trustee)  Nadine Edwards (Founding Trustee)  Daisy Dinwoodie (Trustee & Facilitator)
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