FINDHORN Families IN COMMUNITY – FAM

Findhorn Families in Community (FAM) offers a broad range of experiences for children and their families at The Park such as:

• Parent and child craft group on a Monday afternoon
• Kids Club 5pm-6pm Tuesdays (term-time only)
• Friday Fireside Friends at 5.15 – 6.15pm at The Green Fire Pit for all the family
• Family gong baths
• British Sign Language classes for families
• Seasonal festivals for Easter, The Children’s Winter Gathering and Samhain puppet show and seasonal sharing circles for parents.

River and Roots Steiner Waldorf Home Education sessions run term-time only at the Youth Building:

• 10am – 3pm for 7–10-year-olds on a Tuesday and Wednesday
• Cooking and Creativity on a Thursday morning 10am-1pm for 7–14-year-olds
• Talebearers: storytelling, creative writing and performance on Tuesday mornings for 10 – 15-year-olds at the CCC Hoose.
• As well as gardening in Kinloss and English & Maths Steiner main lessons happening Monday – Friday afternoons in Forres.

History of The Youth Project  

The Youth Building (on The Green, across from The Phoenix) was built in the early 1980s with funds raised specifically by and for the youth to replace the Family House which was taken over by The Steiner School. During the 80’s and 90’s the YP Building was dedicated entirely to the Youth and provided them with a wonderful space to call their own. From 1990 to 2000 the Youth Group was around 20 teenagers, several young people from Forres joined the Youth project at that time. They organised youth exchanges with Russia as well as with Indigenous Americans. The next generation of youth was a smaller group. 

During the last few years the YP Building was taken over by The Findhorn Foundation and run by New Findhorn Directions and could be hired at an hourly rate. The YP Building was part of the Community Buy-Out under Ecovillage Findhorn Community Benefit Society and with the support of The New Findhorn Association we are restoring it to its original purpose as a hub for youth, children and families in our community.

Now the YP Building has been returned to the youth, children and families! This is an absolutely wonderful opportunity for a hot chocolate chill out space for tweens or teens or for home educating groups, crafting and pottery groups, rites of passage, a children’s choir, a family-friendly cafe… dream it in! It’s ours! All offered free to children, youth and families. Try out a new business venture: lead a baby massage class, children’s yoga session or teens painting group….

We hire out the YP Building to the wider community for £12.00 per hour to help fund the running of the children and family events.

NFA Family Co-ordinators  

Leah Findlay and Karen Grant are the NFA Family Co-ordinators, working with children and families within our community through:   

• supporting grass roots events, festivals, workshops and projects   
• organising get-togethers, meetings and family games  
• up-holding community assets for the benefit of children, families and youth  
• co-ordinating volunteers   
• representing the needs of families at community meetings   
• sign-posting families in need to relevant organisations  
• collaborating with other organisations at The Park to bring the best to our families  
• providing up-dates and information relevant to families (through the Family Handbook, Facebook and WhatsApp group and posters)  
• holding a regular space for families to share and vision the future together.  

NFA Family Co-ordinator’s contact details: 
Leah Findlay: leahfindlay@rocketmail.com 
Karen Grant: drumsiren@gmail.com 

WHatsApp Groups  

Please ask another parent to join you onto the Parent WhatsApp group known as ‘Parents Help and Info’ for events, local activities, items to give or sell, requests and offers of help…  

There is also the ‘children and families support group’ for families to request support from the wider community. Please ask another parent or Family Coordinator to join you.

FAMILY HANDBOOK

Please ask one of The Family Co-ordinators for a Family Handbook which includes the history of The Park, The Common Ground, volunteering opportunities for parents, organisations at The Park, regular events, spiritual practices, the family boutique and workshops at The Park.