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 - January to March 2026

Tuesday 12.01.26 General Activities& Catch Up
13.01.26 Activities& Catch Up
19.01.26 Winnie the Pooh Day
20.01.26 Big Box play
26.01.26 Burns celebrations Tasting & arts & craft
27.01.26 Burns celebrations Tasting & arts & craft
02.02.26 National story telling week( Bringing books to life)
03.02.26 National story telling week( Bringing books to life) 09.02.26 Winter theme art -explore the season
10.02.26 Winter theme art -explore the season
16.02.26 Holiday
17.02.26 Holiday
23.02.26 Baking with Lynne
24.02.26 Baking
02.03.26 Making bird feeders using a variety of materials. What do birds enjoy eating ?
03.03.26 Making bird feeders using a variety of materials . What do birds enjoy eating ? 09.03.26 Art attack – lets get messy
10.03.26 Art attack – lets get messy
16.03.26 Garden clean up
17.03.26 Swimming(Olympia) then back to Group for lunch
23.03.26 Sensory bottles – what mixture will you put in the bottle 24.03.26 Sensory bottles – what mixture will you put in the bottle
30.03.26 Mud , sand and water play outside
31.03.26 Monty’s Play Centre

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 Aberlour Family Support Service. Scrap Antics Monty stay and play Newton Farm for a Spring vist Eden's Garden

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

Mrs Vina Strachan

Secretary

Mrs Brenda Ivey

Treasurer

Mrs Rhona Armitage

Fund Raiser

Mrs Heather Stewart

Professional Adviser

Mrs Angela Blacklaw

Professional Adviser

Very Rev'd Fay Lamont

Trustee

Mrs Susan Rowe

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