Start well, live well: wellbeing support for families in Leith
We offer a variety of holistic services to help support the parents and young families of Leith. Our programme of activities are created in partnership with our families and adapts to the changing needs of the community.
Our groups are family focused but also give parents an opportunity to meet with other parents while their precious little ones are looked after in our on site creche.
Each programme is released for a new school term, to be added to a waiting list or mailing list for future programmes please get in touch.
Family Support: Our Family Support Service aims to provide holistic support to families on a 1-1 and group work basis. We promote empowerment and support families to build capacity and resilience through developing skills, increasing engagement and inclusion, and promoting overall health and wellbeing. Please email Andrew@dbfc.org.uk to find out more.
Our Programme
Want to know more about our groups?
Monday’s at 1pm
Join our nurture and natter session where each week we will explore various activities for you to enjoy with your little one such as, exploring learning and development through play, baby dance workshops, creative craft activities and more!
Suitable from 10 months plus.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite
Monday’s at 1pm
This group alternates venue between
Dr Bell’s & Kin Collective
A weekly feeding peer support group, for all expectant parents, parents, carers and their babies, partners are welcome to join!
Join our Wee Feeders group, a non- judgemental friendly space for anyone on their feeding journey; whether that be breastfeeding, formula or combination. The group is an informal, relaxed drop-in session for families, led by a trained breastfeeding facilitator. Come with a question or for a supportive chat – you don’t need to have a feeding challenge to come along. Drinks and snacks will be provided. All sessions must be booked in advance through eventbrite only.
Please note that this group will alternate venues weekly between Dr Bell’s Family Centre and Kin Collective. We advise that you join the Whatsapp group to keep up to date with relevant information.
This group is about feeding your wee one(s) milk rather than solids, please get in touch if you would like to find out more about our Starting Solids workshop.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Tuesdays at 10am
This group is for expectant parents & those with newborn babies (up to 9 months).
A weekly group for parents to build support networks, make friends, and explore topics to suit your needs. The structure of our group is very informal, and the focus is for families to meet and socialise, you can still pop along to any session without needing to participate in the topic. You can find the weekly activities on Eventbrite. (dads welcome too!)
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Tuesday’s at 1pm
Join us at Play Together, the perfect group for exploring your littles one’s development through fun and engaging activities. Supported by the early years team you will learn about your child’s needs and how to promote positive physical, emotional and social development. You will have the opportunity to strengthen your bond with your little while gaining knowledge about the benefits of all aspects of play.
Play Together is a 5 week block, when you sign up you are expected to join each week to gain the full benefits of the sessions provided. You will have the opportunity to explore different topics that will be useful to your own little ones developmental needs as the sessions are tailored to the families attending each block. This group is suitable for children aged 6 -12 months.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Wednesday’s at 9.30am
The aim of Mindful Moments is to give parents the opportunity to experience different mindfulness techniques throughout the term. This group will enable change through a step-by-step introduction to mindfulness meditations which begins to train parents to be more aware of their minds.
Mindfulness can help you to slow things down, focus on right now and help you to not always rush around to get to the next thing. It should help you to let go of the idea that things need to be perfect or that you need to be the perfect parent.
Activities offered will support parents to feel less stressed and more relaxed, increase self-awareness, confidence and sense of wellbeing, be more resilient to life’s challenges, become more aware of their emotions and be more present and aware in everyday interactions with their children.
Booking is essential. To register your interest please complete our Wellbeing Group form
Limited creche spaces available.
Wednesday’s at 1.30pm
Join our early years team to explore local community spaces in this outdoor group. We aim to support parents and children in natural environments, free from false stimulants. We support families to try new activities as well as build confidence in nature play.
We offer sessions such as: Into the Woods at St Marks Community Woodland, Beach exploration at Wardie Bay and Nature walks along the water of Leith, along with many other exciting adventures.
This session is one hour long and is not suitable for babies under 9 months.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Thursdays at 9.30am
At our mindfulness dips we aim to support parents/carers with mental health and wellbeing through cold water swimming/dip (no previous swimming experience needed).
This group allows parents to have time to themselves and gain support from their peers as well as the staff team that run the group. Informal chats take place around a fire with a cuppa.
Equipment is provided, you would only need to bring a swimming costume.
This group takes place outdoors at Wardie Bay, Newhaven.
We can provide crèche spaces if childcare is needed (from 6months old), along with offering travel to and from our centre.
Booking is essential. To register your interest please complete our Wellbeing Group form
Limited creche spaces available.
Mondays at 11am
Our Baby Massage sessions run for a block of four weeks and costs £30 for the block.
It is suitable for babies up to crawling stage. The group is on for one hour and we provide everything you need, including mats, towels & oil however, you are welcome to bring your own.
We suggest that parent wears something comfortable.
Baby Massage promotes the bond between parent & baby and is beneficial for sleep, connection & attachment, digestion and growing & teething pain.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
We also offer spaces by referral only.
Please email info@dbfc.org.uk to refer a family to this.
Thursdays at 1pm
This art therapy group is open to infants (from birth up to 2 years old) with their mums, dads, carergivers or kinship carers – the important relationships in a wee one’s life.
Parents may want to join this group for a variety of reasons. They may be struggling with perinatal mental health difficulties. They may be feeling overwhelmed by the task of being a new parent. They may feel they are struggling to bond with their baby. They may be looking for a social support network. They may hope to gain confidence in playing and communicating with their baby.
The group will consist of about 6 to 8 pairs of parents and wee ones. Each group will be 1.5 hours, giving time to get settled, have space for art making, washing the painty babies and then some time to relax at the end. As babies have their own ideas of what they will be doing, parents can feel free to take time out for feeding, resting and changing.
Booking is essential, via email and by referral.
Thursdays at 1pm
Join us for a weekly indoor postnatal fitness class for parents (all abilities welcome)
Our class is friendly and encouraging and our fitness instructor Roz is a qualified postnatal fitness coach as well as being trained in delivering outdoor fitness classes. Roz will happily help you to achieve your goals and feel more confident in your post partum journey, working around you and your babies needs.
Suitable for families with children under 1.
To participate you must be 2 months post partum and have had your post partum check by a health care professional.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
18 months – 5 years – Friday’s 9.40am
0 – 18 months – Friday’s 10.30am
Our Bookbug sessions meets every Friday at 10am at our centre. Each group runs for roughly 45 minutes.
Join us for our nurturing story, song and rhyme time. Enjoy well loved songs, whilst enhancing the bond between you and your little ones in a fun way.
Sharing stories, songs and rhymes with babies and young children has many benefits including supporting children’s language, learning and social skills. It’s fun, free and simple, and the benefits will last their lifetime.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite
Fridays at 11.30am
Join us every Friday between 11.30am-12.30pm for our Community Lunch.
Our Community Lunch is a great opportunity to meet other families and learn more about what is on offer at Dr Bell’s.
Our community lunch is open to everyone, booking is not necessary.
Friday’s at 1pm
£5 per session
Our Messy play sessions take place at our centre on and are led by our Childcare Practitioners who aim to offer support and guidance with fun messy play/sensory activities.
This group is for little ones and their adults to attend together and we encourage parent’s involvement in children’s play.
This group is not suitable for babies under 6 months.
Together we will explore a variety of some simple, fun and low cost activities with demonstrations on how they can be adapted for at home.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Our Dad’s Group looks at offering dad’s the opportunity to participate in their child’s development through play. It’s also a chance to socialise with other dads and have access to peer support.
If you are interested in joining our dad’s community, please contact Andy on 07415 955 281, or via email; andrew@dbfc.org.uk.
Tuesday’s at 1pm
How can I get involved?
If you would like to join our mailing list to get first access to our new programme please click here to fill out a short form.
Some groups are booked via Eventbrite. You can book here.
To register interest for our wellbeing groups please click here to fill out a short form.
Due to funding we are only able to offer spaces to families who:
- live in the Leith Area, following the Neighbourhood Partnership and Community Council Boundary Map (EH6/7 postcode).
- You need to be an expectant parent or a parent of at least one child under the age of 5 who lives with you.
Looking to refer a family?
Are you working with a family that you think would benefit from accessing our service? You can complete the below referral form and send this onto our Community Development Manager Darcey at Darcey@dbfc.org.uk