East Staffordshire Family Hub

12/09/2026

Spectrum Youth Theatre (SYT) is a puppetry focused youth theatre for neurodivergent young people, (aged 11-18), run by multi-award winning puppetry and visual theatre company Smoking Apples (Kinder, Buzz & Three)

A chance to make, create and meet new friends, SYT uses boundless imagination to create fantastic shows about the things that matter to them.

Together, we will design and build puppets, devise stories and create everything from scratch, in a week-long workshop. The theme is Desert Island, letting our imaginations run wild with all the creatures that have washed up on its shores and made the island their home.

The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

October half-term, 26th – 30th October 2026

Places are FREE, but spaces are limited.

“Without this wonderful thing in my life I wouldn’t have the passions, perseverance, or happiness that I have today.”
“I made friends”
“I enjoyed meeting everyone new and making puppets”
(Previous Participants)

To find out more or to sign up, please get in touch with Charlie via [email protected].

Visit Smoking Apples Theatre’s website to see videos and images from previous residencies: smokingapplestheatre.com/workshop/spectrum-youth-theatre/

11/09/2026

10/09/2026

📢 New Resource for Parents: Healthy Parental Relationships Padlet 💙



Did you know that children benefit when parents and caregivers have healthy, respectful relationships, whether they live together or apart?



We've created a new Healthy Parental Relationships Padlet packed with information, practical tips, support services, and resources to help parents strengthen communication, manage conflict positively, and build stronger family relationships.



🌟 Explore topics including: ✅ Positive communication ✅ Managing disagreements constructively ✅ Co-parenting support ✅ Relationship wellbeing ✅ Resources and local support



Take a look and discover helpful tools to support you and your family:



👉 https://padlet.com/reducingparentalconflict/healthy-parental-relationships-s02361xk9z2ep9kpxqrj



Please feel free to share with other parents and carers who may find it useful.



💙

Made with Padlet

10/09/2026

As a parent, so much of your focus and energy goes towards looking after your child. Here are some realistic tips for how to look after your own wellbeing while parenting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/z486dnb?at_mid=slE9cHwoX0&at_campaign=CBeebies_Parenting&at_medium=social&at_campaign_type=owned&at_product=cbeebies&at_brand=CBeebies_Parenting&at_ptr_name=facebook&at_objective=conversion&at_link_title=Looking_after_yourself_facebook&at_bbc_team=ps&fbclid=IwY2xjawULp1twZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7NDgdtzWqT59aYDvnEcKYP9ZdPyteIpoccpa3NvG6M4d6YyEfnKPJsmdINBQ_aem_8T0oGEy8Y-OCiDdi_yWdiw

Discussing realistic ways to look after yourself as a new parent

08/09/2026

Whether a show is calm and gentle or bright and energetic, the key thing is how you engage with your child while they watch. Talking, laughing and interacting together matters most. We spoke to child psychologist, Linda Blair, to find out more about ‘low-stimulation’ and ‘high-stimulation’ TV shows.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/z3np239?at_mid=fj4Z8KSsAH&at_campaign=CBeebies_Parenting&at_medium=social&at_campaign_type=owned&at_audience_id=WF&at_product=cbeebies&at_brand=p00p14lj&at_ptr_name=facebook&at_format=image&at_objective=action&at_link_title=Low-stimulation_TV_shows&at_bbc_team=ps&fbclid=IwY2xjawULpxZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7es5cYWSdyY2zr7-ZmxNiHbblcXS_86tUkwom6VXX_C42vGdm0EpjV7xEd0w_aem_hu1qoltmt_L7HWY_-ydtXA

What is a 'low-stim' video or TV show? And are they better for your child than high-stimulation content? CBeebies Parenting spoke to child psychologist Linda Blair to find out more.

03/09/2026