Catamaran Smile As the rope is drawn away from the anchor, As the captain concentrates and charts his course, As the coast shrinks into glassy, shaken water, As the percussion of waves evolve into an engine’s hum, As the boats wood begins to creak, As the propeller turns and bites the sea, As the golden sunset glows then sinks into orange jelly.

As autumn closes in, three Yorkshire families discover that one of Scarborough’s best days out lies beneath the waves — with a seal rescue story at its heart. With six adults, six children and ages ranging from eight to 13, finding a day out that appeals to everyone is never guaranteed.

For many children and young people, September can bring about a big emotional shift in the transition from summer to going back to school. For parents and carers, the emotional shift can be even more pronounced, as they not only support their children but also manage their own fears and anxieties about the transition from the summer period back to school and work.

When Julia* inherited a share of her late father's four-bedroom house in East London, she expected a straightforward process. What followed was a year of financial strain, family tension, a probate handled by strangers, and a mounting fear of homelessness - all while knowing money was coming to her that she couldn't yet touch.

As students prepare to start university this September, many families face new and sometimes unexpected challenges. Leaving home, losing daily structure, managing money, making friends from scratch and facing new academic standards can put a lot of pressure on a young person. Parents are often the first to notice shifts in mood, behaviour, or academic performance.

For those wanting to start a family, a positive pregnancy test is welcome news and brings with it the hope of an exciting and rewarding journey into parenthood. Starting a new chapter in life inevitably brings uncertainties but for today’s mothers-to-be the numerous controversies that surround pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood can cause confusion, apprehension, anxiety and unease.

The Hole in Wand is offering free entertainment for children in its charming outdoor space in Leeds city centre. The free family funday is being held on 29 August in its beautiful hospitality venue, The Wand and Tankard. No booking’s required - families can simply turn up via the Hole in Wand’s garden next to St John’s Park, or the main entrance in the St John’s Centre.

Playgrounds are one of the top free resources for families – children can enjoy a space to play, socialise and exercise in an environment designed just for them, while parents get the chance to kick back and relax. However, while the kids are having fun, parents could do with a little boost too.

With the summer holidays underway, many parents might find themselves juggling work, childcare commitments and will be trying to find ways to keep their children entertained. With this in mind, young people might be spending more time on gaming devices, tablets and phones.

That time of year has come round again, when students across England wait for their A Level results on Thursday 13th August 2026, followed a week later by GCSE results on Thursday 20th August. In my work as a person-centred counsellor, I have supported hundreds of young people, and many parents, through this nerve-wracking time.

Niche family law firm, Jones Myers, has been at the forefront of ongoing campaigns to overhaul outdated cohabitation laws which currently do not give couples living together legal protection or rights if they split up.

West Yorkshire charities Focus4Hope and Brodstock are joining forces to bring people together for a major fundraising event. Challenge4Hope, scheduled for 30 August 2026, is designed as an inclusive community gathering catering to everyone, from seasoned endurance athletes to individuals seeking a fresh personal challenge or simply a day out.

Few children's entertainers have enjoyed the meteoric rise of Blippi. What began as a series of educational YouTube videos has grown into a global phenomenon, amassing billions of views, spawning multiple actors in the iconic blue-and-orange outfit, expanding into spin-off shows with best friend Meekah, and becoming a staple of preschool life for families around the world.

Martin House Children’s Hospice is bringing healthcare professionals together from across the country for its first dedicated conference on children’s palliative care. The Martin House Children’s Hospice Conference 2026: Inspiring Excellence will take place at the charity’s newly redeveloped hospice in Boston Spa on Tuesday 15 September, from 10am to 4pm.

Recent independent national enquiries into maternity care in the UK have invited patients to submit accounts of their experiences via public self-reporting systems and it is clear that mothers and families mostly blame the actions or inactions of frontline workers for their plight: midwives who did not listen or take their concerns seriously; staff who pre-judged them or treated them dif…

This August, disabled or seriously ill children and their families can learn to code, animate and create their way through summer with national disability charity Family Fund’s Discover Digital summer festival.

There are very few contemporary children's characters as iconic as the Gruffalo; however, ask my 5-year-old and any others, and I am certain they would also list an array of characters created by the duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Unsurprisingly, therefore, their key characters are all celebrated in a soft play setting.