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.
Our Programme
Want to know more about our groups?
Mondays at 10am
Our mindfulness group is an opportunity for parents to explore different mindfulness techniques and exercises.
Take time for you and learn ways to protect your mental health and wellbeing.
Booking is essential, via email.
Limited creche spaces available.
Monday’s at 1pm
This group alternates venue between
Dr Bell’s & Kin Collective
Come along and join our new Wee Feeders group. This group runs in partnership with Kin Collective and is a non- judgmental, safe space and is for anyone on their feeding journey, whether that be breast feeding, formula, combination or solids.
This group will be an informal and relaxed drop-in session for families, led by a trained breastfeeding facilitator.
Hot drinks and snacks will be provided.
Suitable for families on their feeding journey with their little ones.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Meets via WhatsApp
Take & Make bag collected Mondays from 10.30am
Would you like to be part of a WhatsApp group, focussed on sharing your experiences of healthy meals by cooking the weekly take & make bags?
Pick up your bag from Dr Bell’s from 1030am on Monday each week and share what you’ve made with the others in the group chat!
A chance to stay connected and whip up a healthy cooked meal for a family of four from the comfort of your home.
Booking is essential, via email.
Tuesdays at 10am
Join us for our new perinatal group. This group is for expectant parents & those with newborn babies (up to 9 months).
Meet with other parents going through their pregnancy journey and share your experiences together. (Dads welcome too!)
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite.
Tuesday’s at 12.30pm
Join us at PEEP where we explore different activities such as getting to know your baby, musical moments, early sensory experiences, and babies on the move.
All activities look to promote the bond between you both. PEEP (Parent early education pathways) will run for 45 minutes and is suitable for 6 months up to 1 year old.
Come along and discuss and engage in topics surrounding your babies development whilst meeting other parents and carers.
Booking is essential, via email.
Wednesday’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.
Thursdays at 10am
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 is beneficial for sleep, connection & attachment, digestion and growing & teething pain.
Booking is essential, via email.
We also offer spaces by referral only.
Please email info@dbfc.org.uk to refer a family to this.
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.
Limited creche spaces available.
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 buggy fitness class for parents.
Our fitness instructor Roz is a qualified post natal fitness coach as well as being trained in delivering outdoor fitness classes.
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.
Fridays at 10am
Our Bookbug sessions meets every Friday at 10am at our centre. The group runs for roughly 45 minutes and is suitable for children ages 0-5 years along with their parent/carers.
Join us for our nurturing story, song and rhyme time in both English and Punjabi. 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 Wednesday 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.
Fridays at 1pm
Join us for our Nurture & Natter group.
Parents and carers can meet over a cuppa. You will have an opportunity to meet and chat with other families.
Other organisations may attend to share information on local services and we also offer some fun activities for all.
Suitable for families with children over the age of 10 months.
Booking is essential, via Eventbrite
How can I get involved?
If you would like to join any of our groups you can register by contacting us via email info@dbfc.org.uk or by calling the centre on 0131 553 0100.
Some groups are booked via Eventbrite. You can book here.
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