In our last issue we reported onthe Department of Culture Media

and Sport Play Review takingplace across the UK. The DCMS ismaking £200 million available(probably from 2005) through theNew Opportunities Fund to createand improve play opportunities forchildren and young people (0-16years) across the UK. This reviewwill provide direction as to how themoney is spent.

Soon after Play for Wales went to print, theWelsh Assembly Government decided that inthe light of its new Play Policy and the Stateof Play review that took place in Wales in2000, it would conduct its own consultationthat would feed into the DCMS Review. TheAssembly will have influence over the way themoney is distributed in Wales, and will alsouse the consultation to inform its forthcomingPlay Strategy.

Play professionals across Wales now have anopportunity to influence the way play isfunded in the country and to prioritise hithertoneglected areas. So please get out your penand make your views known. The responseto the consultation has to be returned by 31March, and the results of the Review will bepublished later this Spring.

In the meantime, here is a brief version ofPlay Wales’ response to the consultation asguidance for others and food for thought;

This funding programme should contributeto the delivery of a national strategy toensure the Assembly Government PlayPolicy moves from being an aspiration to areality.

A Definition of Play and PlayProvision:The Welsh Assembly Government hasadopted a play policy whose definition of playdiffers from the definition used by the DCMS.Play Wales would like to see the WelshAssembly Government restate its commitmentto its own definition.

Play provision is any space or facility, staffedor un-staffed, that provides children with playopportunities. It should also provide themwith the freedom of opportunity to play bythemselves or with others. When using playprovision, children should be free to decidefor themselves what they want to do, whythey are doing it and how they go about it.

Quality play provision offers children a richstimulating environment, free frominappropriate risk, and full of challenge,providing them with the opportunity toexplore themselves and the world throughfreely chosen play. Play provision caninclude shared public spaces: streets; parks;

pedestrian areas; doorstep play areas;community playhouses; fixed equipment playareas; adventure playgrounds; holiday playschemes; play centres and mobile facilities -both public and voluntary sector funded.

Prioritising Projects The types of project that should be prioritisedunder the scheme are unsupervised outdoorplay/leisure facilities and supervised "openaccess" play provision (see definition page4). While improving play opportunities in pre-school education, schools and childcaresettings is extremely important, theseprojects already have access to their ownlottery funding stream, or funding from othersources. It is hoped that the findings of thereview will go some way in developingawareness raising, professional developmentand training on play for staff in these settings.

Allocating Funding£200 million for play appears at first glanceto be a huge investment, however, it will haveto be spread thinly to cover play projectsthroughout the UK. Including schools, earlyyears settings, fixed equipment playgroundsetc in the remit means an even thinnerspread. Continued on page 8 & 9.

PPllaayy ffoorr WWaalleessI s s u e 9 S p r i n g 2 0 0 3

Play Review Consultation EventPlay Review Consultation EventOver 90 delegates from across Wales

braved an early start to contribute to anevent held in Llandrindod Wells on 3rd March.

Marianne Mannello, Play Wales’ South WalesDevelopment Officer reports:

The event aimed to gatherviews from across sectors and geographical areas tocontribute to the UK wide PlayReview. Using the questionsfeatured in the consultationquestionnaire, dynamix (theSwansea training co-operative)facilitated lively and creativeactivities to gather information,and participants referred to theWelsh Assembly GovernmentPlay Policy in discussing issuesraised.

A feature of the programme here in Wales is theproposal for Children and Young PeopleFramework Partnerships to distribute thefunding. An interesting workshop described thepros and cons of this suggestion with veryhonest input. It is clear that there is stilldiscrepancy across Wales regarding the fundingof open access play opportunities – which is

cause for concern. This is due to a general lackof understanding amongst partners as to a truedefinition of open access play [see page 4 for adefinition of open access] and the reality thatfew partnerships are able to boast a play

development worker amongstits membership.

The half-hearted approach toconsulting children and youngpeople in Wales was also a hotissue. Welsh children are ableto register their views on a BBCwebsite http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/h i /uk /news id_2 7 9 7 0 0 0 / 2 7 9 7 4 4 9 . s t m .Delegates felt that betterguidance for consultation withchildren could have been

circulated to playworkers and other communityworkers working with children and families.

It was clear that delegates wish to see theemergence of a universal programme to meetthe play needs of all children and young people.There is a growing awareness of the benefitsthat open access play opportunities can bring tochildren and communities. This event wentsome way in promoting that awareness.

HAVE A SAY ON PLAY IN WALESHAVE A SAY ON PLAY IN WALESPLAY NEWS & BRIEFING FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR PLAY

The Children and Young People’sAssembly for Wales was launched in

November 2002. Funky Dragon isintended to provide information on themain issues, policy proposals and plansof the Assembly, local government andhealth services in Wales, and to ensurethat the needs and voices of childrenacross Wales are taken into accountacross the range of policy making.

Funky Dragon has published a free set ofgood practice guidelines for children’sparticipation called Breathing Fire intoParticipation, which can be ordered from theaddress below.

Funky Dragon, 35 Heathfield, MountPleasant, Swansea, SA1 6EJ

Telephone 01792 450000, or visit www.funkydragon.org

It is facile and time-wasting to indulgenostalgia, but the truth is that child

fitness was much less of an issue indecades gone by when children had awider range of play opportunities, morefreedom to roam and more free time.

Research confirms that young human beingsare born with the urge to play – it is abiological imperative. This is the natural wayof developing and maintaining a child'shealthy body and mind. The solution is toincrease children's opportunity to play. Sowhy are we dreaming up and recommendingsuch things as video and gym-based fitnessand exercise regimes? A cynic might arguethat it has more to do with fashion, the trendtowards conspicuous consumption, and theneeds of adults for a convenient and quiet

life, than the needs of children.

Here are some alternative, but lesscomfortable and convenient, suggestions toinclude exercise in a child's daily life:

• Allow children to play out. In reality thedanger of them being abducted ormolested by malicious adults is extremelyslim.

• Support home zone initiatives (see page6). Cars now dominate areas that used tobe available for informal sport and streetgames that keep children fit.

• Children are not fashion accessories, norare they frail and fragile. Allow them toclimb, scramble, leap from heights, andlift and drag heavy or unwieldy objects.Sometimes they may wreck their clothes,

get dirty or get hurt as a consequence,but this is all part of learning and growingup.

• Allow children time to play. Out of schoolactivities and sports coaching are all verywell in moderation, and some of themcontribute to child fitness, but we only getone childhood - lets not fill it up with adultpriorities and pre-occupations.

It isn't rocket science - it's fundamentalchildrearing tested and practised overmillennia. It doesn't cost a lot of money ortake a great deal of effort, but it is imperativethat we all start to prioritise children and theirplay needs. If we don't, we put the long-term survival of our race in jeopardy.Alternatively we could just ferry our childrento another session at the gym, or stay in ourcocoon, slot in a fitness video, and press thebutton.

Gill Evans, Information Officer

EDITORIALEDITORIALPlay Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

The Welsh AssemblyGovernment wishes to

see Integrated Children’sCentres (providing openaccess play, childcare,early years education, andtraining and communitydevelopment) establishedin every County. AlthoughI welcome this initiativeand the accompanyingNew Opportunities Fundfunding scheme, I amdeeply concerned at theabsence of planning forthe allocation of suchfunds - particularly if thegoal is to provide access

to quality open-access play opportunities.[See a feature on open access play later inthis newsletter.]

The inclusion of open access play looks to besomething that should be whole-heartedlyembraced, and I certainly welcome it. Thereare, however, a significant number of aspectsthat need careful and sensitive consideration,all of which contain too many implications tocover fully in these short notes. I stronglysuggest that the following questons need tobe fully considered alongside other issues:

• Would the four core elements berepresented equally in the management ofthe Centres?

• Is there a full understanding of freelychosen play and open access playprovision? The NOF guide notes are nothelpful, and might cause confusion at theleast.

• Is there a conflict of interest in the deliveryof open access play alongside childcare?Would compromise affect the quality ofservices to children?

• Is there a full appreciation of the long termfunding implications of open access playprovision, taking account of the cost ofemploying playworkers after school, atweekends and during school holidays?

• Do the Children and Youth PartnershipPanels, the body charged with establishingChildren’s Integrated Centres, includepeople who have an understanding of, andexperience in, open access play andplaywork?

The recent increase in the level of political andfinancial support for children’s play is to bevery warmly welcomed, but play developmentworkers with a knowledge of open access playand playwork must be represented in thedecision making process. Playwork should begiven every opportunity and encouragement tostrengthen its position within Local Authorities.

Tony Chilton, Senior DevelopmentOfficer, Play Wales

TONY’S SOAPBOX

2

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Play Wales. We reserve the right to edit for publication.

Designed and printed by Carrick Business Services Ltd. Tel: 029 2074 1150. E-mail: sales@carrickbusiness.co.ukCartoon illustrations by Les Evans

Play for Wales

Play for Walesis published by Play Wales. All correspondence and enquiries should be addressed to the Editor at:

Play Wales, Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff CF10 5FH Telephone: 029 2048 6050 Fax: 029 2048 9359 E-mail: mail@playwales.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1068926

Funky DDrraaggoonn• Editorial P 2• Tony’s Soapbox P 2• Funky Dragon P 2• Toy Libraries Association P 3• Play Information Resource P 3• Play Right Award P 3• Play and Sports Success P 3• Open Access Play P 4• A Model Venture P 5• Providing Play P 5• Jumping for Joy P 5• Home Zones P 6• Playday P 7• I Can’t Believe You Made It P 7• Play in Wales Continued P 8• Play Development Workers in Wales P 9• Play Wales Website P 10• Events P 10• Books and Periodicals P 10

WHAT’S INSIDE

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

3

Thanks to three year funding from the WalesAssembly Government, the National

Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries hasopened a contact centre in Brecon. This is thefirst time this national charity has had a basein Wales.

Development Worker, Janet Matthews, islooking forward to meeting toy librarypractitioners and Sure Start Co-ordinators ineach of the 22 local authorities in Wales. Shehopes to see toy libraries included in plans forchildren’s services in all 22 local authorities.

"It is vitally important to develop anappropriate national profile for NATLL given

the Assembly’s "Framework for Partnership"and other strategic initiatives for children’sservices in Wales".

NATLL also helps with the training of childcarestaff and volunteers on the criteria for selectingthe very best toys, and how you can attractfamilies to join their local toy library byemphasising the importance of play in childdevelopment. It also runs a member’s helpline.

Contact Janet Matthews on 01874 623268or natllwales@tiscali.co.uk

NATLL Wales Office, Steeple House,Steeple Lane, Brecon, Powys LD3 7DJ

The 3G’s Development Trust is community ownedand community led. We work across thecommunities of Gurnos, Galon Uchaf andPenydarren in the Merthyr Tydfil area, to improvethe quality of life for local people. We are the leadorganisation for the delivery of the CommunitiesFirst Programme for the area, and our board ofdirectors is made up of representatives of the localTenants and Residents Board, individual membersof the community and key officers from our partnerorganisations.

Over 18 months ago members of the community gottogether to form a Sports Association and submitted asuccessful application to the Sports Council for WalesSports Lot Programme. The application for Sports Lotgrant aid will total over £760,000 and will provide two allweather sports areas sited in the community, along witha substantial development programme at Pen-y-DreHigh School campus. Both these developments willopen up facilities, meet local needs, identify new sports,and develop existing sports and coaching opportunities.

Another element of the Play and Sports Strategy is a planfor the development of Safe Space Play Areas to belocated on green spaces across the communities ofGurnos, Galon Uchaf and Penydarren. The decision toinclude Play Areas came from the response to atremendous amount of community consultation. So aspart of the Play and Sports Strategy we are tying in safechildren's play areas with the multi sport areas that arebeing funded by Sports Lot. The play and sport areasare to be sited out in the community and will bridge thegap between toddlers and teenagers.

A really innovative approach to finding out people’s viewsand opinions was organised as the launch of ourCommunities First Programme. Our Big BusConsultation Event was a huge success and it was anexcellent opportunity for local people to tell us what theywould like in the community to make it a better place tolive. We designed a Wishing Wizard with his magicwand, and gave all the young people who came onto thebus a magic star - with that star they could make onewish for their community. The wishing wizard went downa treat and was a very successful approach toconsultation. This was complemented by communitymapping and a graffiti wall. Alongside the Big Bus we rana poetry and drawing competition involving all the localschools and youth groups. The competition theme wasthe young people's aspirations for the future and wereceived an excellent response.

"Communities First is a really exciting programme andwe are all working hard listening to local people andacting (where we can) on their wishes. Local people havebeen asking for Safe Areas for their children to play andwe are enthusiastic that through effective partnershipworking we will be able to deliver good qualitysustainable recreation, sport and play facilities".

Chris Davies, Community Development Worker, 3G’sDevelopment Trust.Contact on: Telephone 01685 350888

Tucked away in a corner of the Enterprisezone in Swansea is the children’s charity

Play Right . . .

The Play Resource Centre team at Play Rightrecently bagged The Wales EnvironmentCommunity Award. We were delighted, andwere not in the least perturbed by local presscoverage that headlined ‘Charity Waste BagCollectors Facing The Sack’! Unfortunately thearticle focused on the funding crisis the Projecthas been facing, rather than our recentunexpected success. Nevertheless, the verysame local paper’s business section hasadopted the Play Resource Centre as theircharity for 2003, so they are forgiven! (Lets justhope we are open long enough to give them thestories!!)

Play Right exists to support the play,recreational and educational needs of childrenand young people across what was formerlyknown as West Glamorgan (Swansea andNeath and Port Talbot) although memberstravel from much further afield to access PlayResource Centre (PRC) goodies.

But the main reason we won our award was ourScrap Store. In our scrap store we makeavailable non-toxic waste materials donated bylocal business and industry that can be reusedby children for arts and crafts instead of goingto landfill. We have a huge selection ofmaterials available - plastics, twines, paper,card, trays, in fact all manner of things - weeven have doors, DIY goods and yes, theclassic kitchen sink!

Play Resource Centres and Scrap Stores havea huge role to play in the community. Not onlydo we proivde low or no cost play and creativeresources but we also have a positive impacton the environment. Last year alone wepotentially diverted 5,600 black bags worth ofwaste away from landfill (not including what wehold in the store) because it went out of thebuilding with members.

Using scrap materials gives an opportunity toeducate people of all ages about just howmuch waste is produced in the manufactureand packaging of everyday goods, and topromote resourcefulness in our throw-awaysociety. In fact we have been called a ‘SurrealSupermarket’ where people walk our aisles withtheir trolleys buying packaging instead of food.

Manufacturers and scrap suppliers win byreducing their waste costs and supporting theircommunity and the environment wins by nothaving perfectly good, reusable waste stuffedinto the ground or incinerated!! Makes sense tous.

Jacki Rees Thomas, Caretaker Coordinator,Play Right, Swansea 01792 794884

As well as running Play Schemes and a fantasticmobile Pirate Ship and Bouncy Castle projectduring the summer, Play Right offers:

• A low cost art and craft shop;

• An equipment lending service;

• A well stocked library;

• In-house training on issues such as Child Protection, Multi Cultural Awareness, CreativePlay, Play in Nature and many more.

• We also hire out our training room at low cost.

TTOOYY LLIIBBRRAARRIIEESSASSOCIATION IN WALES Play and Sports

ssuucccceessssfor Gurnos, GalonUchaf and Penydarren.

The Play Information Resource at PlayWales’ national office is growing apace.

You will soon be able to access the databasethrough our website at www.playwales.org.ukSimply click on the Library button and thenfollow instructions. You will be able to searchfor books and other materials by author, titleand subject, and to request photocopies byphone or e-mail.

Visitors who are studying for playworkqualifications are bowled over by the range ofbooks we have as compared to college libraries.

You are welcome to visit and there is space tostudy. Unfortunately we don’t have the capacityto lend books.

We are also in the process of building a referencecollection at our North Wales office in Prestatyn.You can visit either library by prior arrangement.

Gill Evans, Information Officerinfo@playwales.org.uk

National Office 029 2048 6050

North Wales Office 01745 851 816

Play Information ResourcePlay Information Resource

Play Right Bags Environment

AAWWAARRDDPlay Right Bags Environment

PLAY DEVELOPMENT

4

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

The 1989 Children Act divided play provisioninto day care and open access, depending onthe level of care provided. The WelshAssembly Government has recently reviewedthe Child Minding and Day Care Regulationsand Standards, including those applying toopen access provision. Here is an attempt toclarify confusion, to encompass thedescription within the new Standards, and tocelebrate open access play.

• Open access is staffed. Confusion aroundthe terms play and childcare means theterm open access is often used forprovision that is not staffed e.g. fixedequipment play areas. Strictly speakingthe term applies to a staffed setting wherethe process of play is facilitated byplayworkers.

• It is recommended that it is free of charge.Children’s access to provision should notbe determined by their ability to pay.

• There is no contract with a parent or carerto provide care.

• It is for all children, including under-eights.

• There are no entry conditions other thanthose pertaining to safety and welfare.

• It may be permanent or short-term (e.g.school holiday).

• It can take place in a variety to settings,with or without premises, including playcentres, adventure playgrounds* and playschemes.

• It provides play opportunities for childrento learn and develop in a safeenvironment, in their own way, and in theabsence of their carers.

• Children are not prevented from comingand going as they wish. In reality childrenrarely roam - they have come becausethey want to, and stay because they arestimulated and engaged within theenvironment.

• Children have a freedom to choose whatplay opportunities they wish to take up,and with whom they play, in a rich andstimulating environment. Children are freeto play on their own as well as with others.

Open access play provision is for childrento fulfil their play needs. It is not:

• A childminding service for their carers.

• An opportunity to squeeze extra formaleducation into the day, or to catch up withhomework (unless a child independentlychooses to use their time in this way)..

• A means to reduce crime.

• A sports scheme.

• A fixed equipment play area.

• Containment and entertainment.All play provision, whether it is childcare oropen access, should facilitate children toplay freely. Children should be free toexercise the right to dictate the type andlevel of play behaviour they wish to pursuewithin parameters that they determine.

*An adventure playground is not simply aplay area with fixed wooden playequipment. It is a staffed open accessfacility where children have theopportunity to design and build theirown play equipment, to mould their ownenvironment to their own purposes, andto be involved in a whole range of activityincluding playing with earth, air, fire andwater. They can confront and learn tomanage risk in a supervised environmentfacilitated by playworkers. Generallyadventure playgrounds have beendeveloped in urban areas to compensatefor the absence of natural open spacewith trees, fields, streams etc wherechildren would have played in the past.

Any definition of open access play provisiongoes hand in hand with a definition of playitself. Play Wales adheres to the playworkprofession’s definition of play, as developedby PlayEducation.

Open access PlayOOppeenn aacccceessss PlayThe recent New Opportunities Fund scheme for Integrated Centres

gave the provision of open access play as one of the criteria for asuccessful bid. Unfortunately, those who have a grasp of the conceptseem to be few and far between, and some Children and YoungPeople’s Partnerships have found it difficult to incorporate in their bid.More importantly, by leaving open access play out of their plans, theyare denying children access to a very rich and rewarding experience.

Is it sport? Is it a fixed equipment play

area? Does it involve zips and Velcro? Is it like trying to keep live eels

in your handbag?

What isplay?

The experience of play is something sharedby the vast majority of humans around theworld, and other mammals as well. We areborn with the urge to play - it is an animal’sway of learning about itself and the world(both physically and emotionally) as it growsinto an adult. If we are deprived ofopportunities to play freely and to experiencethe whole range of play behaviour we becomeemotionally, neurologically, and physicallystunted.

The child’s urge to play is often modified byadults to satisfy their own agenda; educators,carers and sports coaches can harness it orinhibit it in a range of ways to suit thepurposes of adults.

In reality play is behaviour that is:• Freely chosen – a child independently

chooses what it wants to do;

• Personally directed – a childindependently chooses how it wants to doit;

• Intrinsically motivated – a child chooseswhy they do it, and it is not performed forany external goal or reward.

However, in terms of the child developmentit is absolutely invaluable, the rewards areincalculable and last a lifetime.

For more information about play, and thetypes of play children need to experience tofully develop physically, neurologically andemotionally, please see The First Claim,published by Play Wales in 2001 (£12.50plus packing and postage, from our nationaloffice). The Welsh Assembly Government’sPlay Policy for Wales is available from theirwebsite, www.wales.gov.uk and therationale behind it (i.e. evidence of the vitalimportance of children’s play to our society)is available from the Play Wales websitewww.playwales.org.uk/policy

The Venture, a successful open accessadventure playground and community

project in Wrexham, has been chosen bythe Welsh Assembly Government as amodel for Integrated Children’s Centres.

The Venture has recently secured funding toconduct a research project which will considerthe value of play in an open access adventureplayground, and will endeavour to substantiateand promote that practice in relation to currentthinking and legislation. Ben Tawil, TheVenture’s Assistant Manager and ResearchProject Organiser, reports:

The project will be conducted in partnershipwith children, young people, staff, professionalvisitors and past Venture users. We aim tocompile an archive and analyse 25 years of playprovision, and outline the underpinningphilosophy and practice that has contributed toa successful holistic neighbourhood play project- as well as outlining some of the pitfalls andchallenges!

The project will almost certainly focus on thenecessity for a multi-disciplinary approach toplay service provision for children and youngpeople within communities. In its final form, theresearch project will include a booklet, researchreport, and video.

We’re not trying to produce a "how to do it"manual, or to say we got it all right. But if wecan look at what we have done and say whichbits were good or bad, speak with children, andcapture some of their inspiration, creativity,confidence and wisdom - which truly aboundswithin the adventure playground environment -then hopefully it will be of use to anybodywishing to, or already travelling, the samejourney as we are.

The Venture will also be running a series of opendays and training events to address theunderpinning philosophy and values of theIntegrated Children’s Centre initiative proposedwithin the Cymorth and NOF funding streams.The training will be closely linked to meeting thetargets and outcomes required for these fundingstreams. Training and visits are welcomed fromany interested parties concerned with providingout of school open access adventureplaygrounds.

Contact BenTawil at The Venture 01978355761 or e-mail theventure@talk21.com

Children from Wrexham speak about openaccess adventure play at the Venture:

• It’s always here, you just come down andthere’s always something to do.

• You get to say how things are run and whathappens even talk to new staff before theycome for interview.

• The staff and the fire, even winter is goodhere.

• No one talks to us like you do.• Its shady ‘cos you don’t have snooker tables

like the youth club, but its not like it is here atthe youth club.

• You can build stuff, anything you want. • It’s safe ‘cos it’s got staff, but they’re not

always in your face - you don’t have to seethem if you don’t want.

• We like bonfire night, and the Christmasfloat, and camp, and summer

• Trips are good, but so is just being with everyone else round the fire at the end of the nightand having a laugh.

• Every time the Venture’s open I’m here. • The staff ‘cos they’re proper good. They do

anything for you. No matter what it is youcan tell ‘em, and they look after you.

• Just getting the tools out, and all working onstuff for like a week every day until itsfinished. That’s dead good. Like the treehouse in summer or the staircase.

• Making dens. • Having water fights in summer and the water

slide. • Its good here ‘cos you can be with

everybody or get away from it all if you want. • Its good in the winter when its dark and you

can play commando and that.• Everyone should have a Venture.

Children missed the opportunity to playlast year when people aiming to set up

play provision in Wales were so dauntedby Care Standards Inspectorate (CSIW)registration requirements and newCriminal Records Bureau procedures thatsome schemes failed to run. Completingreams of paperwork is a huge stumblingblock when all you wish to do is providefun for children in the school holidays orafter school. In the meantime there doesnot appear to be an easily accessible,comprehensive, up-to-date guide forsetting up play provision in Wales.

Play Wales is working together with a groupof play development officers to publish a lowcost pack that guides play leaders andcommunity groups through the tangled andthorny maze of setting up play provision,whether it be a holiday play scheme, an out-of-school scheme or open access provision.The aim is to inform and enrich the quality ofyour work, and ease your administrativeburden. Using the principles explored in TheFirst Claim, we aim to enhance yourunderstanding of children’s play needs sothat you can provide them with the bestpossible play opportunities.

We are looking for volunteers to give usfeedback on the introductory booklet –particularly representatives of voluntaryorganisations and organisers of local playschemes (both new and experienced). Wealso need people to try out the practical packthat will accompany it. Since we know youare all busy people, we will be distributing the

drafts and gathering feedback using postand e-mail, and leaving the joy of sittingthrough meetings to the steering group.Please get in touch with Gill Evans at ournational office if you would like to beinvolved.

The First Claim . . . a framework forplaywork quality assessment is availablefrom Play Wales national office (£12.50plus packing and postage).

15

PLAY DEVELOPMENTPlay Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

AA MMooddeell VVeennttuurree

Providing PlayProviding Play

Rhyl Adventure Playground is an openaccess scheme in one of the most

deprived areas in Wales. Jonathon Bentley,Manager and Senior Playworker, reports on afantastic success over the February half-termholiday.

The introduction of ropes to the general playsession at Rhyl Adventure Playground haspromoted a frenzy of activity, and has alsohighlighted a number of interesting physical andsocial elements in the behaviour of children andyoung people.

I gently introduced some basic skipping skills andgames at the beginning of half-term. Initially, asmall number of children responded. By the endof the week, not only were there unheard ofattendances at the playground with 170 recordedon one day, but dozens and dozens of children,boys and girls alike, aged from 5-16 years, werequeuing up to participate in skipping rope gamesand activities.

It was very noticeable that the older young people,boys in particular, were tentative, sceptical andfeigned a lack of interest in the beginning, but theirenthusiasm at the end of the week was quiteremarkable. What was also noticeable was theabsence of physical co-ordination, strength andstamina amongst many of the kids. However, theyloved skipping, and continuous participationbrought marked improvements to all these areas.

The complexity of skipping games increasedthroughout the week and this encouragedparticipation in other traditional games andactivities culminating in a session on Scottishdancing one Saturday! Recent averageattendances have been in the region of 80 childrenper day - attributable to the efforts of Rhylplayworkers in promoting traditional and largegroup games without the use of expensiveequipment or modern technology.

JUMP TO IT!

Contact Jonathon Bentley on 01745 344751

JJUUMMPPIINNGG FFOORR JJOOYY

6

In England the pilots proved a great success.The Government has recently supported theHome Zone Challenge with £30m to buildsixty-one more, and some local authoritiesare also building home zones as part of theirown planning initiative. But is their any life inHome Zones in Wales? So far the WelshAssembly Government Transport PolicyDepartment has taken a wait and seeapproach, wishing to produce a "holistic"response to what is generally seen as a roadsafety issue. Sue Essex, Assembly Ministerfor the Environment, has "taken an interest"and home zones are likely to "take moreprofile" in the future.

The Assembly’s new Road Safety Strategyfor Wales, published in January, focuses onthe decline in walking and cycling, andrecognises the need to support children towalk and cycle safely to school, shops,playgrounds, parks and leisure centres. Thestrategy is well-intentioned and seeks totackle some very pertinent issues, however,there appears to be no mention of HomeZones, or the value of streets as communalspace or space for play. The car continues torule.

Play Wales supports Home Zones - streetsare invaluable places where children can playand develop their own culture. In someplaces streets are the only public placeswhere they can play within easy reach of theirown home, as part of their own community.The new Play Policy for Wales states that:“play is so critically important to all childrenthat society should seek every opportunity tosupport it and create an environment thatfosters it." The environment where childrenspend the majority of their everyday life is theone around their home. Play Wales wouldlike to see the Assembly honouring the playpolicy by urging changes to the way newresidential streets are planned both in termsof housing and transport to take account ofthe views and needs of children.

In Holland Home Zones are considered to beof such value to local communities that thecurrent policy is to make 50% of residentialstreets into Home Zones or very low speedzones within the next couple of years.

In the meantime architects and urbandesigners who wish to help communities todevelop Home Zone schemes are hamperedby a number of factors:

• pressure on space - the Governmentexpects twelve houses per acre(increased from ten per acre) and socialhousing landlords are under pressure tohouse as many tenants as possible, whichleaves little room for play areas on newbuild schemes;

• local authority highways departments,whose rules prioritise traffic overpedestrians;

• Inflexible play equipment health andsafety regulations, which specify a certainamount of space around play equipment,and between play equipment and roads;

• petty planning regulations;

• lack of funds – in Wales there is nospecific home zone funding scheme.

Our One and Only WoonerfIf you want to see the only true Home Zonein Wales go to Rhos Nathan Wyn inAberaman, where despite all the obstacles,Newydd Housing Association andCommunity Design Service (Architects andUrban Designers) have included a smallhome zone with children’s play equipmentas part of an estate regeneration strategy.

Community consultation included opendays in one of the local flats as well as largemeetings, and included children as well asadults. Tenants were asked how their livescould be improved by changes in theirimmediate area, and the changes theywanted were private gardens as well aspublic play areas for toddlers, and areaswhere families could socialise outside.

Andrew Chapman, the CommunityDevelopment Officer at Newydd, submitted abid to the National Assembly HousingDepartment for a special grant for innovation,and received £50K from People inCommunities to cover the cost of the HomeZone. Newydd also invested its own moneyin the scheme. Jonathon Bevan, of

Community Design Service, drew up plans toadapt the existing open space and parkingarea, and included a small play space with aplay house, a springy see-saw and a witcheshat, as well as a slide built into a natural bankalong the side of a well-used path. He alsoinstalled a picnic table for communal usebecause some of the residents like tobarbecue in the street in the summer months.

The site is still under construction andSue Essex will attend the official launchlater in the Spring.

A definitionHome Zones originated in Holland, and arereferred to as Woonerf or Winkelerf.

A Woonerf is a residential street designed,or redesigned, in consultation with residents(that’s children too!) giving local people andtheir needs priority over traffic. Streets arechanged with severe traffic calmingmeasures (usually including a 5mph speedlimit), people-friendly parking, planting,street furniture and play equipment.Pavements and road surfaces are integratedso that pushchairs, bikes, trikes andwheelchairs have easy access to the wholestreet area. Since children use the street toplay, their needs are considered first, thenthe adult community and lastly the needs ofcar drivers. Vehicles are seen as guests.

A Winkelerf is a similar scheme in ashopping area – such as the one that nowexists in Magor.

Retrofit home zones are adaptations ofexisting residential streets, whereas newbuild home zones are incorporated in newhousing schemes.

For contact details, a reading list anduseful websites please contact Gill Evansat Play Wales national office.

HHoommee zones

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

What’s the Score in Wales? One Winkelerf and one Woonerf! Acouple of years ago there was a blaze of publicity about Home Zones,

but here in Wales the idea appears to have spluttered and fizzled out. Inthe year 2000 eleven UK pilot projects included one in Magor, but untilrecently we had not heard of any further development west of Offa’s Dyke.

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zones

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This feature recently appeared in the Times,contributed by a reader from Bath, who gave us

permission to print. The piece is pure nostalgia forthose who grew up in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, butit makes a very important point . . .

Here is an edited version:We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scrapsand then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot thebrakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learnedto solve the problem.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as longas we were back when the streetlights came on. No one wasable to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable. Weplayed ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt. We gotcut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were nolawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No onewas to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black andblue and learned to get over it.

We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank sugar sodabut we were never overweight - we were always outsideplaying. We shared one grape soda with four friends, fromone bottle, and no one died from this. We drank water from

the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors.

We did not have Play Stations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, videogames, 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surroundsound, personal cell phones, Personal Computers, Internetchat rooms ... we had friends. We went outside and foundthem. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home andknocked on the door, or rung the bell or just walked in andtalked to them.

Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves!Out there in the cold cruel world! Without a guardian. Howdid we do it?

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ateworms, and although we were told it would happen, we didnot put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside usforever.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.No one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out ifwe broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with thelaw, imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takersand problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 yearshas been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We hadfreedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learnedhow to deal with it all.

I Can't Believe YYoouu MMaaddee IItt

As always, this year’s NationalPlayday theme aims to highlight

contemporary issues which impact onchildren’s play opportunities. There is growing concern about children’splace in public space. Children in mostcommunities are in a vicious cycle, wherethe outdoors is perceived too dangerous forthem, so parents and other adults restricttheir freedom. On the other hand, in somecommunities, letting children play out isseen as a sign of bad parenting, andchildren and young people playing outsidehave been known to be greeted withsuspicion and antagonism. Playday 2003and events to highlight this issue will help to

redress the balance and may even ‘bruise’the cycle.’

Recent consultations with children haveindicated that children want to get out more,and many still do play outdoors. The adultsin their lives are becoming increasinglyaware of a loss of freedom and mobility forchildren. There is a growing publicawareness that children are losing out onsomething vital in terms of theirdevelopment. This awareness needs to beharnessed, but more importantly, strategicmeasures need to be adopted to ensure asensitive, positive effect for children.Playday campaigns can kick start positiveaction.

On a national level, the Children’s PlayCouncil and Children’s Society propose toundertake a children’s survey askingchildren about restrictions to playing outsidenear their homes. The questionnaire will beavailable online, and for further informationplease contact Pennie Hedge at theChildren’s Play Council phedge@ncb.org.uk

Here in Wales, we would like to hear storiesfrom people of all ages about children beingencouraged or prevented from playingoutside near their home, and on a morepositive note, we would like to hear aboutprojects that have successfully championedthis issue in their community. We hope topublish these in our Summer issue, deadline30 May 2003.

For more information on this year’sPlayday visit www.playday.org.uk

Please see Events for details of LondonPlay’s National Conference onorganising a Playday.

For more information about planningspecific events in your area, pleasecontact Marianne Mannello at PlayWales.

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PLAYDAYWWeeddnneessddaayy 66 AAuugguusstt,, 22000033‘Get out and Play’

PLAYDAY

There is a risk that this programme will beused to refurbish existing ill maintained fixedequipment playgrounds, which shouldalready be funded and maintained as amatter of course by those that provide them.Applicants should demonstrate how theirproject uses other funding streams for play,and that there is no alternative fundingavailable.

Regardless of the nature of project thereshould be a clear statement that neitherchildren nor their carers will have to pay toaccess play provision.

The Role of the Children andYoung People’s FrameworkPartnershipsThe proposal to distribute NOF funding anddeliver services through Children and Young Peoples Framework Partnerships, isunderstandable, as it is an existing system,but this may further disenfranchise voluntarygroups with an interest in play and playwork.The voluntary sector and the playworkprofession are not yet sufficiently representedon the Partnerships, whose membershiptends to be skewed towards otherprofessions that have different priorities andpolitical agendas. A scheme with a notionalallocation to each Local Authority area, andapplications demonstrating a relationshipwith the respective Partnerships (to ensure astrategic approach and to promotesustainability) would provide the mostflexible, equitable and transparent method ofdistribution.

Prioritising FundingPlay Wales supports the proposal to focuson those children with poor access to goodplay opportunities and not to set overallpriorities for age. It also supports theproposal for weighted allocations to favourprojects located in areas of social andeconomic disadvantage. However, theseareas already receive additional financialsupport, and particular consideration shouldbe given to communities that fall just outsidethe scope of targeted funding. Playdeprivation is not restricted to children fromeconomically deprived communities – itcrosses all social and cultural categories andthe range of living environments andeconomic circumstances.

Local neighbourhood play projects shouldbe prioritised - play provision should offer aprogression of opportunity for children’splay, accommodating the range ofmovement and travel distances of children ofdifferent ages. Provision to which the child istaken by car will not significantly contributeto meeting the child’s need for localaccessible play provision.

The programme offers the opportunity to"kick start" projects with necessary capitalfunding, and revenue funding for staffedprovision. However, in order that staffed playprovision becomes embedded within acommunity it needs to develop over a periodof time, and a minimum of 10 years fundingshould be available. There is a clear tensionbetween the desire for a "short term fix" andthe practical realities of playwork in thecontext of long-term community development.On the ground at a local level, a strongargument can be made for the developmentof partnership working to support communityinvolvement and ownership of play provision.

Partnership WorkingThere are two complementary themes thatmight be developed to promote partnershipworking and long-term sustainability:

1. Rural communities might use the funding to develop self-build play equipment

2. Communities in urban areas might use the funding to establish staffed play provision - adventure playgrounds for example (see our definition of an adventure playground on page 4).

The process of self-build, as well as theprocess of setting up an adventureplayground fosters community developmentas well as ownership of provision, and addsto the range of play opportunities for children.

Commercial SponsorshipThe play needs and urges of children should notbe subsumed or harnessed for any commercialpurpose. However, in some areas it is notunusual for local businesses to supportcommunity projects, which has to be welcomed.No child should be required to pay to use anyform of staffed play provision and there shouldbe no other entry conditions other than thesewith respect to the safety and welfare of the child.

The NOF programme itself should not be relatedto any form of sponsorship.

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

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HAVE A SAY ONHAVE A SAY ON> CONTINUED FROM Page1

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

Good Practice in CommunityInvolvementThe nature and location of projects shouldreflect the demography and needs ofchildren in the community and should belocated so as to allow easy access by allchildren of the age range for whom they aredesigned.

The principles of self-build play provisioncontribute, not only to children’s play needsbut also provide a community developmentfunction. They provide a focus forcommunities that draws members togetherin common purpose in addition to meetingthe play needs of children.

Staffed play provision offers adults within thecommunity the opportunity to contribute toboth the management and delivery ofprovision - perhaps starting as volunteersand moving on to become paid staff. Thisplaywork model has long been recognisedas providing a non-threatening entry or re-entry into paid work, with many of the skillsrequired of a play worker being eminentlytransferable.

Benchmarks, Standards, QualityAssurance Tools, and EvaluationIn terms of facilitating play, "THE FIRSTCLAIM" (Play Wales, 2001) is the mostappropriate quality appraisal model forstaffed play provision, and it should be usedto evaluate projects supported by theprogramme. For care-related issuespertaining to play provision "Quality In Play"(London Play, 1999) is the most playworksensitive quality model. "Best Play"(Children’s Play Council, NPFA, PlayLink,2000) also provides useful guidance.

Standards applied to play areas should beflexible and take account of the localcharacteristics of a given area. The NPFA"Six Acre Standard" is therefore of limiteduse. It may be applicable to new residentialdevelopment, but it contains no criteriarelating to local demography and even in thiscontext can be too proscriptive. There are atpresent no alternative playing spacestandards for established urban areas orrural communities, and Play Walesrecommends that a new standard(encompassing staffed play provision suchas adventure playgrounds) be developed tomeet the needs of children in Wales.

The European Standards EN1176, for fixedequipment play provision should beconsidered in conjunction with the practiceof risk assessment that reflects children’sbehavioural need for challenge andexcitement.

Support for Planning andDelivering ProjectsAll applications should demonstrateappropriate levels of community involvementranging from consultation with children tocommunity ownership and management ofplay provision. This applies particularly toprojects that propose to use the funding todevelop self-build play equipment.

The funding might also be used to contributeto the development of a support networkproviding play providers with an opportunityfor the sharing of skills and expertise relatedto the local development of play provision.

Appropriate Skills andCompetenciesWhere supported projects employ staff theyshould be qualified in accordance with thequalification framework. In the event thatsuch qualified playworkers are unavailablethere should be an explicit commitment/requirement that unqualified staff receiveappropriate playwork training as acomponent of their employment. Playworktraining is the most appropriate for playworksettings.

Innovation There should be a strong emphasis onfunding innovative projects. This wouldprovide an opportunity to consider the fullrange of children’s play needs and todevelop ground-breaking projects to meetthose needs. However, what may be

considered as innovative in onegeographical area, might already beestablished play provision in another, sothere ought to be acknowledgment ofinnovation in a particular part of the country.

This programme provides the opportunity tofund locally determined, staffeddemonstration projects that are exemplars ofbest practice, that address a broader rangeof children’s play needs than might be met byun-staffed fixed equipment playgrounds.

Rather than continue to provide a limitedrange of fixed equipment, installed byspecialist contractors, as has been thepattern of the past, smaller communitiesmight build and own their own play provision,and in larger communities the developmentof staffed play provision will extend the rangeof play opportunities for children and providean environment that compensates for thepaucity of play opportunities, particularly forchildren in urban areas.

If you require further information or wantto discuss any of the issues in thisresponse, please contact Play Wales.

You will soon be able to access our full response via our website atwww.playwales.org.uk.

Copies of the consultation document canbe downloaded from the Assembly’swebsite at www.wales.gov.uk or contactElinor Jones in the Children and FamiliesDivision 029 20801119 orelinor.jones@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Voluntary Sector Play DevelopmentWWOORRKKEERRSS IINN WWAALLEESSIn our last issue we listed the contact numbers for Local Authority PlayDevelopment Officers in Wales. Here are the details of Voluntary Sector PlayDevelopment Officers, if you are aware of any glaring omissions please contactus so that we can publish them in our summer issue.

Caerphilly Caerphilly Creative Play Project Michelle Jones 01443 822644

Powys Brecknockshire Marion Guthrie 01874 622446

Montgomeryshire Diane Jones 01686 640380

Radnorshire Kerry Berroyer 01874 623720

Rhondda Cynon Taff Interlink Beth Davies 01443 485337

Merthyr Merthyr Play Forum Paula Wood 01685 353963

The telephone number we provided for Steven Roberts of Ynys Mon in Play for Wales (issue 8) wasincorrect. You can contact him on 01248 724944.

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PLAY IN WALESPLAY IN WALES

Play Wales Chwarae Cymru Issue 9 Spring

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Celebrating the Spirit ofAdventure Play – a national conference for adventureplayground workers 14 and 15 May,Cardiff. Contact Play Wales for further information.

Make the Most of Playday – a national conference organised byLondon Play on Monday 19 May 2003, atCounty Hall, London. Workshops andpresentations on running a successfulplayday event and on using Playday as acampaigning tool. Contact Glenys at London Play 020 7272 6759

Play Day 2003 Wednesday 6August - the theme is Get out and Play, startplanning now – visit www.playday.org.uk for furtherinformation.

TTRRAAIINNIINNGGInspecting Children’s Playgrounds25 March 2003, Chorley, Lancs – contact ILAM Events 0870 845 8475

Play Strategies1 April 2003, Midlands, an opportunity toexplore the issues involved in developingyour own strategy, contact ILAM Eventsas above

An Introduction to Play Types1 April 2003, Birmingham, speaker BobHughes Bob will outline Play Types in astimulating and informative forum ideallysuited to playwork trainers - contact the Conference Administrator atCACHE on 01727 738339.

Fundraising for Beginners1 May 2003 (closing date 20 March)South Wales – contact WCVA 029 2043 1723training@wcva.org.uk

FFUUNNDDIINNGGYouth Groups The Community Foundation in Wales hasannounced a new grant scheme for NorthWales called Cynhyrfu. Youth groups canapply for up to £500 cash to support anyone-off activity or for minor capitalexpenditure that will benefit young peoplefrom Anglesey to Wrexham. Any voluntaryyoung peoples’ group wishing to apply fora grant must do so before 24 March.Application packs can be received bytelephoning 02920 520250 or by emailingcynhyrfu@cfiw.org.uk.

Volunteers Wales Cares is a Business in theCommunity project supported by theWelsh Assembly Government, whichchallenges businesses and theiremployees to use their time, skills andresources to make a positive impact oncommunity regeneration. They may beable to help your project. Contact Cardiff (029 2048 3348),Wrexham (01745 817 332) or Swansea (01792 323 689), or visit www.walescares.co.uk

Refugee CommunityDevelopment Fund grants are available to organisations workingclosely with refugees in the UK. Visit www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk or ring020 8760 8418

Millennium Stadium CharitableTrust grants of £2,000 to £20,000 forsport, arts, cultural and environmentalactivities are available to voluntaryorganisations, not-for-profit organisationsand local authorities for non-coreactivities under the Activate! scheme.Priority is given to organisations providingfor people disadvantaged by age, gender,disability, ethnicity and social/economiccircumstance. Contact Louise Edwards on029 204963 or visit MSCT@fusionuk.org.uk

EEVVEENNTTSS

BBOOOOKKSSand PeriodicalsFor Every Childthe rights of the child in words and pictures

While ploughing through a Cardiff bookstore on aChristmas shopping trek, I discovered abeautifully written and illustrated children’spaperback produced by UNICEF. Each article ofthe UN Convention on the Rights of the Child isencapsulated by a different children’s illustratorfrom around the world, and the text is clear andmoving. As the title suggests, every child shouldhave one, but failing that, every child should haveaccess to one. Don’t wait till next Christmas!

Published by Random House, price £5.99 (allroyalties to UNICEF) ISBN 0-09-940865-1

Play WordsWe are pleased to say that Play Words magazineis now back in print. A mixture of news, practicaland theoretical articles, Play Words is a must forpeople who are serious about play. Subscriptionscost £30, contactplaywords@commonthreads.co.uk or 07000 785 215

Playwork Theory and Practice"This is a book that will challenge the way youlook at yourself and at your working practice."Jackie James, Senior Playworker at KitchenerRoad After School Club in Cardiff, and student onthe BA (Hons) Community Studies (Playwork)course at Caerleon, reviews the latest playworktext book.

This is an exciting new book for playworkers atall levels, with contributions from twelve differentwriters from various play backgrounds. Eachchapter gives the reader more knowledge andideas, as well as access to a wealth ofexperience and expertise in the playwork field.

A vast amount is covered in what is quite a smallbook, from the opening section looking at theroots of play and playwork, to deeper discussionson the theories of playwork, and on to the finalpart about reflecting on practice. As each authorshed light on a particular subject, the bookseemed to flow from chapter to chapter, and Ifound it easy to read and comprehend. It gaveme food for thought, for instance, the chapter onestablishing play made me think about the futureof the playwork profession, and the reflectivediaries from an orphanage in Romania showedthe wretched effects of play deprivation, and howplay can be used therapeutically.

In my every day work with children I have learntthat memories and experiences have no expirydate – the ones recorded in this book are aptlessons for playworkers now, just as they werethen. I have enjoyed this book, and I know it willbe one that I turn to again and again both forstudy purposes and for examples of goodpractice.

Playwork Theory and Practice,Fraser Brown (Editor), Open University PressISBN 0-335-20944-0

www.playwales.org.ukVisit the new revamped Play Wales website and find the following:

• play news updated as it arrives• information sheets on play and playgrounds to download• background information on the Welsh Assembly Government Play Policy• details of our information resource, with an accessible database coming on line within

the next few months• details of Play Wales events and services• details of Play Wales’ publications and forms from the First Claim to download• you will soon be able to advertise Wales-based play-related jobs at little or no cost

Check it out and add it to your favourites!