MAIRS’  CHILDREN’S  ACTIVITY  OF  FOOTBALL  EDUCATION

M.C.A.F.E. is an organisation concerned with Football Coaching Development plans for children. Classes are operated during the week and on Saturdays. Ages range from reception year onwards.(must be 5 years old)

The Coaching Programmes are a progressive teaching and learning style, which enables the children to learn and practice the techniques required for football situations that would be encountered in the future if joining a club team.

The programmes are delivered in a friendly environment without the pressure and expectation of instant results. Therefore enhancing the participants personal development at the same time as learning the skills and techniques.

All the staff are not just highly trained and qualified F.A. Coaches, but are also trained in the supervision and well being of the child. The coaches also possess an Enhanced CRB registration, Child Protection training, First Aid qualifications and Health and Safety competence.

To book a coaching programme or to make further enquiries, please contact the

M.C.A.F.E. Director of Coaching :

Matt  Mair

The F.A.’s U.E.F.A. Coaching Licence

Tel :   07870426206

Email : mcafeiow@aol.com

Really Wild FridaysIf you love hands-on nature activities one of the main events to look forward to during the summer will be Robin Hill’s Really Wild Friday’s. These happen on the 30th July and then every Friday in August and are sponsored by Wightlink. The days are packed with fun activities that anyone can join in for free once you are in the park.You can learn how to build a camp and light a fire without matches, go on a mini-beast and butterfly safari and then view your captures close up on a big screen or you can do some giant nature art on the Really Wild stage! The children will have a wonderful time and so will the grown-ups too! There will be a special bbq on these days to add extra fun, plus there is a special Red Squirrel walk through the woods in the afternoon too. See the news page of the website for further details & times www.robin-hill.com

Yarmouth’s 100th Carnival

7^th to 14^th August 2010

From 7^th to 14^th August, the people of Yarmouth will celebrate their 100^th Carnival, and would like to invite visitors and neighbours across the island to join them for the fun.

There will be the usual wide range of entertainments, competitions and sporting events for all ages. As a special attraction, on Wednesday 11^th August, there will be an Edwardian variety show.

Also capturing the flavour of the past is this year’s souvenir programme which has a section devoted to carnivals gone by, with many photographs – look out for your family members or for your younger selves in the sack race, the harbour sports or those happy crowds!

The programme also has full details of the events, competitions, treasure hunt etc It will be on  sale at the St James’s Day celebrations in The Square, Yarmouth, on 25^th July and thereafter in local shops.

KIDS GO FREE THIS AUGUST AT THE NEEDLES OLD BATTERY Looking for something fun and exciting to do in the holidays? Then look no further. During August your kids can enjoy free visits plus lots of fun activities at the National Trust’s Needles Old Battery. Follow the soldier trail, borrow a family discovery pack or dress up as a Victorian solider working with barrels of gunpowder. Explore the twisty tunnel, discover the Battery’s nooks and crannies and imagine firing the big guns on the Parade Ground. Then have a leisurely picnic on the grassy bank overlooking the Needles rocks or better still, treat yourself with a visit to our cliff top tea room before enjoying the stroll back along the cliff path with its dramatic across the Solent. It all adds up to a great day out for all the family. The Needles Old Battery is open daily 10.30am – 5pm, last admission 4.30pm For more information go to www.islandupdate.org

TinyTalk Isle of Wight was launched in 2007. Emily Pritchard, who was bought up on the Island, took over the franchise in January.  Emily is Mum to 4 year old Daisy and 2 year old Poppy. Having read about the benefits of baby signing, Emily took 6 week old Daisy to her local class in Nottingham. Having enjoyed the class immensely, she soon realised its potential  for meaningful communication between her and her baby.

From that day, she had an ambition to run her own classes and since returning back to the Island last year she was thrilled to have the opportunity to take over the running of TinyTalk Isle of Wight, and join the growing team of TinyTalk teachers around the Globe. TinyTalk Baby Signing gives pre-verbal babies and children the opportunity to communicate long before they can talk!  Signs are learnt using simple nursery rhymes and songs and is a fantastic way of being able to tune in to your baby’s world!  ”Seeing my youngest tell me she wants milk or has seen a bird or flower is just amazing!”  Classes held in Cowes, Newport and Ryde. Call 01983 612577 for more information

Become Nature Detectives

Children discovering nature at their own pace Naturezones is run at a ten acre site consisting of wildflower meadows and native woodland at Blackwater. It is a great venue for children to become Nature Detectives.

The Wildlife Education Centre was set up by Angela Hewitt and her husband three years ago with the help of Heritage Lottery funding. Numerous activities include: Tuesday Holiday Club, for 6 – 12 year olds. This includes Hide building, treasure hunts, art and craft. They offer Birthday Parties during the school holidays which include a healthy eating picnic and nature discovery activities – the parents provide the birthday cake. Parents can either stay and join in the fun or leave them in capable hands for two and a half hours. Naturezones latest project is The Green Girls Saturday Club – giving nature a helping hand. This club is for 8 – 12 year olds and is held the last Saturday of every month. The Green Girls will take part in Forest School type activities, nature investigation, help with the Meadow Makers project and even the odd excursion to other nature reserves on the Island. Naturezones supports the national curriculum in natural sciences (particularly in the understanding of wildlife habitats), geography, art and craft and social skills in all of its activities. As well as offering one free school visit for up to 30 children until July 2011. They also support the Diploma course for higher education students with work experience and citizenship skills. There is something for parents too, with their volunteer programme and workshops. www.naturezones.org.uk

Welcome …..to a rather special Summer 2010 issue. This is our first issue as The Family Directory and we are proud to announce we have been running for 5 years this summer. We have grown so much over the years and it is thanks to Island Families and Local Businesses. We would love to hear your views, ideas and your news. With your involvement and our vision to develop The Family Directory, we hope to give you even more essential local information from, leisure, schools, parties, places to visit, health and events.

This Summer issue we have two new features ‘Family cooking at its simplest with Anna’. At the end of the day as parents we want a quick, easy, healthy family meal  to cook. If you thinking of going back to work full time or part–time? See the magazine for some ideas of working around your family.

Our bumper Summer issue of The Family Directory is packed with even more things to do over the summer holidays. With more amazing competitions. Also you can sign up for the FREE Family Directory e-newsletter, to receive the latest news on events, holiday clubs, what’s on and special offers. Simply click on the newsletter button on our home page and we will do the rest.  Go to www.thefamilydirectory.co.uk

We have a calendar on our website of clubs, classes, events and lots more. All available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have an event please email it to us on info@thefamilydirectory.co.uk and we will add the event for free. Also join us on Face book and Twitter just add The Family Directory.

Whenever you use the directory, please mention you saw the advert in The Family Directory. If a friend, family members or you know someone moving to the island  would like a copy of their own please just call and we will pop one in the post to them.

FREE HOVERTRAVEL SERVICE FOR RACE FOR LIFE PARTICIPANTS

IT’S now even easier for women to share in a day of amazing moments at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events in Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight. Hovertravel, the fastest passenger service across the Solent, will be offering free travel on event day for ladies taking part at either venue. In addition, any accompanying spectators will be eligible for a 20% discount.

In order to take advantage of the free travel offer, ladies simply need to be wearing their official Race for Life running number on event day – with Portsmouth taking place on Sunday 18^th July and Isle of Wight on Sunday 25^th July. The discount for any accompanying spectators will then be applied at the same time.

Natalie Max, South Marketing and Communications Manager for Race for Life said: “We know that due to prior commitments, it is not always possible for ladies to take part in their local Race for Life, so this offer provides a fantastic incentive for them to attend a nearby event! We are very grateful for the support of Hovertravel and hope women crossing the Solent to attend our events will take up this incredibly kind offer.”

Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series where all the money raised goes to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. Women of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels are invited to come together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer.

Neil Chapman, Managing Director of Hovertravel, said: “With Hovertravel being the quickest way to travel between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, we feel it is important to offer passengers a hassle free journey to this charity event. We know that people from the Isle of Wight Race travel to Portsmouth and vice versa for the Race for Life events so we wanted to reward all the people who are helping raise money for Cancer Research UK by offering free travel for participants and discounted travel for spectators.”

Natalie added: “Race for Life is a fantastic experience, with local women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes coming together to make a positive difference to the lives of people touched by cancer.  We hope that the free ferry crossing will encourage even more women to sign up to these two events. By taking part, they will be sharing in a day full of amazing moments and helping to hit a fundraising target of over £700,000.”

When Race for Life started in 1994, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive.  But over the last 16 years, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK’s work and now the overall death rate for the disease has dropped by 15 per cent.

Natalie added: “One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.  But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before.  Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”

Women in the south can enter Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.

A GUARANTEED Summer seaside Sizzler at the Spinnaker

We all love to be beside the seaside, but how about 100 metres above the seaside?

Throughout the summer holidays (24^th July – 5th September), the 170 metre high Spinnaker Tower is celebrating the great British seaside as it fills its viewing decks with viewing deck chairs!

Regardless of the British weather Tower bosses are creating its own sunshine and with a team of Spinnaker yellow-coats and knobbly knees contests for the more adventurous visitors can’t help but roll their trousers up for holiday fun. The summer-long event sees the best of a traditional British seaside experience complete with colourful beach huts, sandcastles and even traditional ‘kiss me quick’ photo boards. Daily entertainment includes some good ol’ fashioned end of the pier fun with Punch ‘n’ Judy shows and Victorian bathers who will perform dazzling feats of dexterity and strength alongside the face painting, summertime story telling and treasure hunts.

Paul Mahy, Commercial Manager at The Spinnaker Tower, said: “The staff can’t wait to see all the knobbly knees that Portsmouth have to offer. We’ll all have ours out, so we hope people will get in the spirit of summer too!”

The Spinnaker Tower is open daily from 10am (excluding Christmas Day).

For any queries or to find out more simply call 02392 857520 or visit www.spinnakertower.co.uk