Welcome to St. Ninian's Stay and Play Group.

Supporting families - changing futures

About St. Ninian's Stay and Play

St Ninian's Stay and Play Family Support Group is a small charity dedicated to providing family support.
With a team of two dedicated staff members, a Family Support Worker,an Early Years Educator, who along with a cleanerand several volunteers, we work tirelessly to help families through difficult times.
Our mission is to create a nurturing environment where children can learn and grow while providing parents with the resources and support they need.
Together, we make a difference in the lives of families in our community.

Group Programme

20/10/2025 General activities/ catch up
21/10/2025 General activities/ catch up

27/10/2025 Making playdough (enhancing play at home)
28/10/2025 Making playdough (enhancing play at home)

03/11/2025 Fireworks activities Arts & craft, snacks, tea bag, breadsticks 04/11/2025 Fireworks activities Arts & craft, snacks, tea bag, breadsticks

10/11/2025 World Nursery Rhyme week & Autum activities
11/11/2025 Autum activities

17/11/2025 Parents baking with Lynne
18/11/2025 Visit from Eden Garden 11am

24/11/2025 Bring a story to life ( leaf man) plus arts & craft
25/11/2025 Bring story to life with arts and craft

01/12/2025 Calendars & cards
02/12/2025 Calendars & cards

08/12/2025 Christmas arts & craft
09/12/2025 Christmas meal & festive arts & craft

15/12/2025 Christmas arts & craft
16/12/2025 Christmas party

22/12/2025 Soup & mince pies
23/12/2025 Schools finish at 12.30

Happy Holidays Group will return on Monday 12th January 2026

Join our Family Support Network

Providing assistance when it's needed most

Our Welcome

Welcome to Stay & Play! Stay and Play Family Support Group based in St. Ninian's Scottish Episcopal Church, is for parents or carers with children aged 0 - 5 years. Please see admission criteria opposite.The Group serves the Mid Craigie,Linlathen,Douglas areas of Dundee. The church worship area is transformed each Monday into a large,well equipped playroom with a wide range of activities to suit the age and stage of development of all children. We also operate a Healthy Eating Programme . We are fully operational on Mondays and Tuesdays,10.00 - 2.00pm. The staff are available during the hours of 09.00 - 16.00 On Wednesday the Family Support worker and the Early Years Educator are available 09.00 - 12.00 for individual meetings or home visits. To contact us : E-mail stniniansstayandplay@gmail.com Telephone - 07508649538 Family Support Worker is Ms Joan McKenna Early Years' Educator is Mrs Vicki Milne

Admissions

Admissions Criteria 1.) Priority is given to families with children aged 0-4 years in the DD4 7-8/9 areas of Dundee. 2.) Families with children attending nursery school but have a younger child may also attend. 3.) Children with a five-day nursery placement are not normlly eligible for a place. 4.) Referrals from statutory support services for families out with the priority area are welcomed and supported where places are available.

Programme

Our staff prepare a varied programme for each term introducing families to new activities, ideas that can be tried at home, nutritious food, working both inside and outside and providng a free healthy lunch that is enjoyed in community together round the table.

Advocacy Services

Our staff provide a safe and confidential space for individuals and families to address their emotions, mental health, and relationship issues. They are ready to listen and offer support and guidance to help families navigate challenges and find healthy coping strategies. They also signpost families to other agencies and accompany and support parents to appointments in both statutory and voluntary sector

Working With Other Agencies

To help us to achieve our outcomes we work together with other agencies. Some agencies come to us and share information with the parents or run sessions for us. National Literacy Trust Health Visitor team Community Health Team Family Nurse Partnership NHS – child nutrition Child smile Adult Learning Team Dundee and Angus College Dundee University V and A Dundee Women’s International Centre Mini Music Makers Other support services include: Dundee Foodbank, Togs for Tots, Welfare Reform Service, Employment Support Service, Family School Development worker and Aberlour Family Support Service.

The Board of Trustees are all volunteers elected or appointed by Annual General Meeting established by constitution. It is the duty of the Board of Trustees to manage the affairs of the Group. Day to day running of the Group is delegated to the staff appointed by the Board.

Very Rev'd Kenneth Gibson

Chairperson

Vina Strachan

Secretary

Brenda Ivey

Treasurer

Rhona Armitage

Fund Raiser

Heather Stewart

Professional Adviser

Angela Blacklaw

Professional Adviser

Very Rev'd Fay Lamont

Trustee

St. Ninian's Stay and Play has been a lifeline for my family. They provided us with much-needed support during a difficult time. The staff is caring, understanding, and always ready to lend a helping hand. We are forever grateful.

"Someone is always here to listen to you and help you"

“Making friends for myself” – “I need it for the social side” - “Helps my mental health to get out and do something” – “stops them trashing the house!” – “lots of different mixed activities” – “doing stuff we should be doing in the house but don’t” - “see Joan and Vicki’s happy faces” – “we’re like one big family” – “doing stuff”
On being asked why they found the group helpful some quotes from parents were:

Email
stniniansstayandplay@gmail.com

Contact Info

+44-7508 649538 - Family Support Worker

Address

St Ninians Church, Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 7RW, UK
Mon-Tuesday - 09:00-16:00 Wednesday (Staff) - 9.00 -12.00