Tots to Teens: Brew up for children’s ambulance

Brew for BUMBLEance takes place on Wednesday, March 12, and people across the country are invited to host coffee mornings, tea parties, and bake sales to raise money for this essential service.

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025 - 01:00

Sharon Ní Chonchúir

BUMBLEance, Ireland’s only dedicated children’s ambulance service, has announced the return of its annual spring fundraiser. Brew for BUMBLEance takes place on Wednesday, March 12, and people across the country are invited to host coffee mornings, tea parties, and bake sales to raise money for this essential service.

By doing so, you’ll raise funds for and awareness of what BUMBLEance does. This free service transports sick children and their parents from all over Ireland to appointments in Dublin’s children’s hospitals in ambulances fully medically equipped and also designed to be fun for little ones.

In 2024, BUMBLEance completed 2,289 trips, amounting to over 600,000km. Yet there were 348 trips they couldn’t cater for due to limited resources.

If you’d like to do something about this, sign up for this year’s Brew for BUMBLEance at www.bumbleance.com. You’ll be sent a free fundraising pack to get you started, and you will be set up with a personalised fundraising page that will allow you to collect donations and spread the word about your event.

Sustainable clothing

This colourful dress from Clonakilty-based children’s clothing brand Cake & Elf is perfect for spring days. It’s made to order in a choice of long or short sleeves and a range of colour options. The cost is €48.

Kate Jackson is the mother of four behind the brand. She’s passionate about combining style with comfort and sustainability — all garments are made from organic fabrics.

Jackson also designs the clothes to last by using high-quality materials and fitting them with fold-down cuffs and waistbands so that they can continue to be worn by growing children.

For more details, see www.cake-elf.ie.

Gift set for new mums

This gift set from Sugarloaf Botanics for new mums contains bath salts, nettle and peppermint tea, lemon balm, marshmallow lip balm, and calendula salve, all made from plants grown and foraged in the Wicklow Mountains.

Laura Holly is the nurse-turned-herbalist who makes these products. Using local, organic and ethically sourced ingredients, she creates a range of luxurious natural skincare and herbal products that can be used on even the most sensitive skin.

The Botanical Newborn Set costs €45 and is available from www.sugarloafbotanics.com.

Singalong to Disney tunes

Fans of classic Disney tunes who enjoy belting out ‘Let It Go’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’ are invited to a special event in Cork’s Cyprus Avenue on Saturday, February 22.

The Disney Singalong Party is on from 6pm to 8pm — everyone is welcome. Costumes are encouraged, so allow yourself and your little ones to embrace your inner Disney prince or princess for the night.

Tickets cost between €5 and €10 and are available from eventbrite.ie

Childline fundraiser

Get walking and talking to help Childline next month.

Childline is a 24-hour free support line that children and young people can contact by calling 1800-666666 or going online to www.childline.ie.

The ISPCC runs it and relies on funding from the public.

That’s where its Lap and Chat campaign comes in. Childline is calling on people in schools, clubs, and creches nationwide to walk a sponsored lap while chatting with a friend anytime in March.

The aim is to help children and teenagers open up about their worries, listen to others, and reflect on their feelings while getting out, being active, and raising money.

To find out more about how to sign up, visit exa.mn/Childline-Lap-And-Chat. You will also find details of how to view a virtual wellbeing talk and access reflection workbooks to help young people further explore their feelings and any concerns they might have.

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