Destination decider

A new‘Destination Decider’ has been released for parents running out of ideas on how to entertain their kids during the summer holidays.

ScotRail have released the new service, available to download, which is packed with things to do.

The rail operator created their‘Destination Decider’, packed with exciting attractions that can be reached for free by train and entered at a discounted rate, thanks to ScotRail Offers.

Up to two kids aged 5-15 can travel for free with a paying adult and additional discounts on entry are on offer at 25 attractions, simply by showing your train ticket from that day.

Navigating the minefield of a relationship breakdown is difficult when you are an adult.

But for children, trying to make sense of the emotional rollercoaster of such a split can be hard when the adults involved are at odds. Help, however, is at hand. Stirling-based organisation Family Mediation Central Scotland supports families who are struggling with separation and divorce to maintain contact with their children.

A member of Relationships Scotland, the organisation gives families the chance to attend a programme called Parenting Apart, resolve difficult issues and conversations via mediation and protect the children from conflict by supervised or supported contact at the centre. The service was set up in 1984 as a mediation service for people who were divorcing but it has expanded over the years to meet the changing needs in society.

Service manager Kathleen Frew said: “Relationship breakdown is no respecter of any particular type of person. Everyone knows someone who has that particular type of experience.

“There’s no such thing any more as the standard family with 2.4 children. Families come in all different shapes and sizes now and there is no ‘norm.’

“We still have people who are divorcing but also some who have never been married but cohabited. We also have the ‘never togethers’ – brief liaisons that have resulted in a child.

“The child contact centre evolved in the 1990s when it was recognised there was a need for places where contact could take place, allowing the non-resident parent to have time with the child in a safe and neutral space.

“The majority of referrals for supervised contact still come form the court but we will accept referrals from people themselves, from social work, solicitors, GPs, health visitors etc or anyone who wants to refer themselves. While it may be a big step, it is often more empowering for people if they pick up the phone themselves.

“If they are not quite ready for what we have to offer we can also signpost them to other organisations who can support them.”

The service helps parents to answer those difficult questions their children will inevitably ask.

But, says Kathleen, what children usually want to be reasonably confident of is that their mum and their dad are okay - and that means working with the adults involved to help them convey that to