In the lead up to Bonfire Night 2026, the Children’s Burns Trust have released data showing a 63% rise in firework related injuries to children between 2024 and 2025. This increase is seen in the serious burns to children that need admission to a Specialist Burns Unit and doesn’t even include the thousands seen and discharged from A&E each year.
It is also predicted that this year 500 children and their families will join the growing number of people who will remember bonfire night for the wrong reasons. They will have been injured as a result of an accident with fireworks.
- The vast majority of injuries are to the eyes, head or hands – so children will have visible scars for life;
- Most injuries happen at private or family displays;
- Rocket, air bomb and sparkler incidents are the most common;
- Many more boys than girls are injured by fireworks – especially boys aged 12 to 15 years.
Sparklers are often seen as a relatively harmless way of allowing very young children to participate in the thrill of fireworks night – THIS IS NOT TRUE – a sparkler can reach temperatures of 20 times the boiling point of water.
Never give sparklers to children under the age of five. Make sure that older children wear gloves, hold the sparkler at arm’s length and ALWAYS have a bucket of water nearby to put the used sparklers in – hot end down.
The best way to enjoy fireworks is at an organised display. The fireworks will be bigger, you’re not responsible for safety and you’ll be part of the crowd.
 
The British Red Cross First Aid training apps equip you with simple first aid skills to use during emergencies.
Their first aid apps are available for free to download on Android and Apple mobile devices. They provide life-saving advice on first aid scenarios, such as choking, heart attack, seizures, and burns. They have a general first aid app as well as a first aid app specifically for baby and child first aid.
Did you know you know you can get free health advice for your child via text?
If your child is 0-5 years old text Shropshire Health Visiting on 07520 635212, or if you live in the Telford area text 07520 619053
If your child is 5-19 years old (or 25 if they have special educational needs or disabilities SEND). Text Shropshire School Nursing Service on 07507 330346, or if you live in the Telford area text 07520 619051
 Peep Learning Together for 0-2 year olds is a fantastic new free baby group starting soon at The Lantern in Harlescott, Shrewsbury.
Fun, expert-led sessions will help your child develop communication, social and learning skills. The sessions are also a great chance to meet other parents and children, get tips on supporting your child’s learning and take away fun activities to try at home.
The group starts on Tuesday 10 November, 10am-11.30am and runs until Tuesday 8 December.
You can get free information, advice and support on all aspects of family life, at our Family Drop-Ins. Come along for a coffee and a chat, and find out how we can help you with things like:
- Family life
- Parenting support
- Domestic abuse support
- Money worries
- Housing support, and much more
Our sessions in Shrewsbury, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Bridgnorth also include a free Stay and Play for your children.
Is it too early to mention the C word? We know Christmas can be a really expensive time of year so here are our top tips for keeping the costs down.
- Are you receiving everything you are entitled to? Turn2Us is a charity who believes everyone in the UK should have financial security so they can thrive. They offer a free benefits calculator and grants search on their website. It only takes a few minutes to check if you are missing out on something you could be entitled to. https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
- Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations that provide savings, loans and a range of services to their members. In Shropshire we have Just Credit Union who offer Christmas savings accounts and affordable loans.
- You can get support with housing, energy and food costs through Shropshire Council’s Cost of Living website. You can be referred to the foodbank by a professional who knows you, such as your housing association, GP, support worker or school. They can also refer you for a Christmas Food and Gift Hamper and schemes such as Santa’s Little Stars who provide wrapped age-appropriate Christmas presents to children all over the county
- Our Family Information Directory will have lots of free or low cost activities and events to make Christmas fun. We are beginning to add events now and normally have over 100 listings by December.
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