The Kirkbymoorside Surgery

04/08/2026

Summer Stress for Parents

The summer holidays can be a stressful time for parents. Trying to find childcare or activities can be time consuming and expensive, and some parents feel guilty at not being able to give their children ‘the best summer ever’. So what can you do to make your summer less stressful?

Avoid expensive theme parks and attractions. Why not consider:
Small, local animal sanctuaries and attractions that may have much cheaper entry
Free play parks, water play areas, woodland, beaches and riversides
Local cafes, which sometimes have a free play area
Paddling pools, sand pits and garden sports
Cooking or gardening together
Arts and crafts
Play dates, picnics, meet-ups in parks with family and friends
When you need to work, look for cheap local activities being run by schools, churches and youth groups. A lot of camps can be paid for with your Tax-Free Childcare account, so you can get up to 20% off the cost.

If you are struggling with stress, or any other mental health difficulties, the charity Mind has lots of resources specifically aimed at parents. To get ideas, reassurance, help and support, visit https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campai...es/supporting-parents-during-school-holidays/.

03/08/2026

Staying Safe in the Sun

This year we are experiencing a very hot summer in the UK. Heat and UV rays can have a significant impact on all our health, causing short-term illness and discomfort, long-term health problems and diseases, and, where care is not taken, or in at-risk groups, death.

Excessive heat can cause heatstroke. Get immediate medical help if someone has the symptoms of heatstroke. You can see the symptoms and what you can do to help and avoid heatstroke at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/.

To stay safe in the sun, follow these handy tips:

Use plenty of 4-star, 30+SPF sunscreen, even if you have dark skin
Remember to reapply sunscreen when you have been swimming
Stay in the shade, particularly between 11am and 3pm
Wear UV-protective sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, and loose, long-sleeved clothes to protect your skin and eyes and stay cool
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Learn more about sunscreen and staying safe, and take a fun quiz to find out how much you know at https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48609398.

01/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, 1st–7th August

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) aims to empower parents by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Breastfeeding saves the lives of both babies and mothers, and also supports nutrition, development and lifelong health. Breastmilk is a low-cost, locally available nutrition, so it also encourages equality.

This awareness week, everyone is invited to understand and share what is working in countries that are reporting good breastfeeding progress, to help promote a more equal and sustainable start in life for babies worldwide, and a reduction in poverty and better food security for them and their families.

Find out more, and learn about the hashtags you can use to increase awareness on social media at:

will focus on tracking progress and evaluating breastfeeding impact on nutrition, food security and poverty reduction with highlights of successful implementation and lessons learnt. In 2026, the WBW-SDG campaign will enter its third cycle and will focus on tracking progress in Thematic Are...

31/07/2026

24/07/2026

Awareness Day 24/7 / , 24th July

Samaritans is a charity that prevents su***de through the power of human connection, and Samaritans Awareness Day takes place on the 24th of July to highlight the fact that they are available to listen 24/7 and to raise awareness and funds.

You can help by donating or fundraising to help keep their call centres open and staffed by highly-trained volunteers. There are lots of fundraising ideas and resources on their website, https://www.samaritans.org/support-...your-own-fundraising/fundraising-inspiration/.

Or you can visit their volunteering page, https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/volunteer/, to get involved as a regular fundraiser, support the work of Samaritans in other ways, or even become a volunteer listener yourself.

11/07/2026

World Population Day, 11th July

The UN’s World Population Day shines a light on issues affecting the world’s population levels. This year’s theme will draw on The World Populations Highlights 2026: Youth research publication, which shows that:

More than half of the world’s youth live in lower-income countries
The declining youth population in higher-income countries need to be heard
Good migration can empower; better lives at home can reduce the need to migrate
Adopting healthy habits from a young age leads to longer life and greater well-being
Young men are disproportionately impacted by fatal injuries and violence. Creating environments where they are able to thrive can improve lives
Inadequate maternity care is among the leading causes of death for young women
About 1 in 5 young women globally marry before age 18. Increasing the legal age of marriage can have many positive repercussions for women
Girls are entitled to all their human rights, but this is still not the case everywhere
Find out more at https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-population-day.

06/07/2026

Alcohol Awareness Week, 6th–12th July

Alcohol is the cause of many major health problems, and the effects of alcohol on our brain can also lead to difficulties in our relationships, work and finances.

It often feels like an inevitable part of our lives, but this Alcohol Awareness Week’s theme, ‘Alcohol and me’, asks how alcohol might truly be impacting our lives and what we can we do about it.

Alcohol Change UK have:
Tools to help you learn more about how alcohol might be affecting your health and wellbeing and what – if anything – you’d like to do next
Top tips for cutting down
Stories of change
Visit https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/alcohol-awareness-week-1 to find out more, share your story and discover how you might make a change for the better.