PlayBoard Annual Review 2003

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WORKING FOR

THE CHILD'S R IGHT TO PLAY

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Title text

PlayBoard wishes to

thank

its main Funders

Youth Council for NI ployment & Learning Department for Em Network Training for Women

PROTEUS

e & Reconciliation

Peac EU Programme for

ure, Arts & Leisure

Department for Cult

h & Social Services & Public Safety

Department of Healt

OFMDFM, Children &

NI

Young Peoples Unit

Sports Council for eland tion for Northern Ir da un o F y it un m m Co unde

New Opportunities

Fund

mme

unities Grant Progra

Healthier Comm r the Investing for

rtnership Eastern Childcare Pa Partnership outhern Childcare S

e Partnership Northern Childcar Partnership Western Childcare

The Childhood Fund

Play for Peace tion for NI Community Founda (support in kind) Belfast City Council

Crumlin High School undation Esmee Fairburn Fo 2

Title text

‘Play is an essential part of every child’s life and vital to their development. It is the way children explore the world around them and develop and practice skills. It is essential for physical, emotional and spiritual growth, for intellectual and educational development, and for acquiring social and behavioural skills. Play is a generic term applied to a wide range of activities and behaviours that are satisfying to the child, creative for the child and freely chosen by the child. Children’s play may or may not involve equipment or have an end product. Children play on their own and with others. Their play may be boisterous and energetic or quiet and contemplative, light-hearted or very serious’. (taken from the New Charter for Children’s Play)

The past year has been both rewarding and challenging for PlayBoard. Play has finally made its way onto the Government’s mainstream agenda. From the evolving Children’s Strategy, to the Frank Dobson Play Review, to the Shared Future consultation, the importance of play is being realised.

And PlayBoard has played its part. Last November, we consulted with over five hundred children on the key issues for under twelves. We were impressed at how naturally the children expressed their thinking in a strategic and integrated way, and how enthusiastic they were about the consultation. PlayBoard will continue to monitor what impact the children’s voices have had on the Strategy as it develops.

Earlier this year the Department of Culture Media and Sport asked Frank Dobson to carry out The Play Review. PlayBoard was delighted to spearhead the formal consultation for Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Department of Education and OFMDFM Children and Young People’s Unit. The Review is due to be published in December and I am confident that it will have a positive impact on the future of play here.

PlayBoard also undertook to consult on the OFMDFM A Shared Future consultation. We prepared a response which was endorsed by our member organisations recognising the value of play in promoting good relations and moving towards a common ground through play.

Our greatest challenges have continued to be the resourcing of the play and childcare sector. We are still largely dependent on short-term funding initiatives which do little to address patterns of social exclusion in the long-term. Over fourteen thousand Out Of School Hours places have been created through NOF funding. Unlike the rest of the UK though, there is no sustainability strategy in place. We hope that the review of Children First will address this deficit, nevertheless an interim solution needs to be found to maintain the current levels of provision.

PlayBoard believes that every parent should be able to access affordable good quality childcare or open access play provision appropriate to their child’s and their

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own needs. A lot more development work and expansion needs to take place before this can become a reality.

The main success story for the year however has to be the Out 2 Play project which has grown into the Fit for Play project. This was made possible through funding from the New Opportunities Fund, Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland under the Investing for Healthier Communities Grant Programme and the four Childcare Partnerships. A true partnership project which will have a Playwork Training Officer based in each Health Board area.

Without doubt the biggest piece of work for PlayBoard was managing the second call for Measure 1.5, Positive Action for Women – Sustaining the PlayCare Initiative. PlayBoard has now committed 96% of its allocation as an Intermediary Funding Body and the PlayCare Sustainability Team is now in place to support the successful projects.

And as for next year, PlayBoard is looking forward to participating in the Youth Council JEDI Programme, signing up for Investors in People and preparing our next three year strategic plan, including revising our membership services. The biggest challenge is to extend the training unit to meet the demands from the sector, and we are in discussion with key stakeholders in the sector to ascertain how best to achieve this.

A huge thank you to our funders, sponsors, partners, volunteers and the children of Northern Ireland. A special thank you also to NIPPA, Belfast City Council, Youthnet and the four Childcare Partnerships who have supported and worked closely with us throughout the year.

One final note – PlayBoard was unable to secure funding this year for National Play Day. The theme was Get Out and Play. Would we get more support for a No Play Day? Marguerite Hunter Blair Chief Executive

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At the end of my second year as Chairman of the Board of Directors I look back on an incredibly busy year for PlayBoard and its Directors. The vitality of the staff is incredible and their motivation, energy and commitment is endless. The agency continues to expand and grow and Play is now firmly established on the education, health and cultural agendas.

I would like to welcome all the staff who have joined PlayBoard this year and would like to pay tribute to Caroline O’Kane and Mairead Watters who have left us this year as a direct result of inadequate core funding. This remains the Boards priority work area - securing appropriate resources to develop and support the work of this essential regional organisation.

We welcome the appointment of Nigel Williams, Northern Ireland’s first Children’s Commissioner and wish him every success in the future.

We welcome the announcement of his first research project and look forward to its findings in respect of how effectively the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been implemented, in particular Article 31.

I express my thanks to Marguerite and all the staff, who over the past year have done so much for PlayBoard and its members.

Billy Boyd Chairman

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One of the most exciting developments this year for the world of children has to be the appointment of the very first Commissioner for Children & Young people in Northern Ireland. The appointment of ‘Nigel Williams’ in October 2003 has come after many years of lobbying & campaigning by children’s agencies and forums. The commissioner has no easy task ahead of him. Northern Ireland has a large population of under 18 year olds (almost half a million in fact, that’s 27% of the population here).

The commissioner will have three main areas of work: • Promoting Children’s Rights • Complaints & Legal action – an Ombudsman for children • Research & Good Practise Speaking recently at the launch of the PLAYEDUCATION CONFERENCE in Belfast the commissioner said, “Play is every child’s right. Those five words are

devastatingly simple, but have huge repercussions for government, the

education system, local government, voluntary and community agencies and indeed individual families.”

He went on to say “ The legislation that set up my office set out two guiding

standards or principles for my role that I am sure will be very familiar to you –

first that I must safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and second that in interpreting that statement I must be guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”

The issues for Play highlighted by the Children’s Commissioner at the PlayEducation Conference were: • Uncertainty of funding – too many play projects rely on short term funding, living year from year to year not now knowing if they will be able to pay the wages of staff in a few months time. I don’t think that is an effective way of guaranteeing children’s right to play.

• Competing Government Initiatives • Overemphasis on one kind of play or one area The Commissioner concluded: ‘Play is essential for the healthy development of all our children. I

salute all those who work with this important area. I urge you to

continue to develop your play strategies and, as the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires, make them even more attuned to the diverse needs of children’.

PlayBoard welcomes the Commissioner to his new role and we look forward eagerly to supporting his work in the future.

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The training unit has experienced a period of change over the last year which has resulted in a change of staff and a shift in focus. We are pleased to welcome Suzi Gray who joined PlayBoard as the Quality Assurance and NVQ Co-ordinator in July.

Despite difficult circumstances a total of 30 playworkers have achieved either full or partial NVQ awards in the last year. This is a superb result and we would like to offer our warmest congratulations on your success!

Unfortunately access to appropriate Playwork training, including NVQ, is still not widely available across the Province. PlayBoard recognise that this situation is unacceptable and therefore one of the key objectives for the NVQ Co-ordinator in the in-coming year is the development of a sustainable NVQ infrastructure. Additionally, we will be engaged in the development of a comprehensive training and development plan for the sector that embraces additional accredited training programmes and qualifications. It is hoped that this will increase playworkers’ access to essential and appropriate training and continuous development opportunities and will include:

• • • • • •

Introduction to Playwork NVQ Level 2 NVQ Level 3 NEC/City & Guilds Progressional Award in Playwork Level 2 Cache Certificate in Playwork Cache Diploma in Playwork

The following courses will continue to be available where sufficient interest is identified: • • • • • • • • • • • •

What is Play?

Programme Planning Equal Opportunities Arts & Crafts Child Protection Top Play Games The Role of the Playworker Promoting positive Relationships Basic Administration Quality Assurance – Pathways to Excellence Fit for Play

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Throughout the year there has been a promising level of interest from both the voluntary and statutory sector in PlayBoard’s Quality Assurance scheme ‘Pathways to Excellence’. 94 QA packs have been sold to date, 67 of which have secured options to access full accreditation. Work to develop the supportive resources and the mentoring/assessment toolkit for the scheme is currently underway and we are delighted to announce that regional Roadshow events are scheduled to occur in early 2004. The Roadshows will contribute to raising awareness of the availability of the scheme and to offer the opportunities for groups already enrolled to receive guidance and support as they embark on the accreditation process.

Playboard are pleased to announce that 2003 saw a successful pilot of the Play for All training course. A total of 14 playworkers completed the course and plans are underway to roll out a second course in the near future.

The Play for All training course was devised in partnership with PlayBoard, Barnardos, BIFHE and Belfast City Council, and aims to:

• Enable playworkers to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to include children with disabilities in play services.

• Accredit playworkers’ knowledge, skills and experience in including children with disabilities in play provision.

• Facilitate the development of a group of trainers with disabilities.

PlayBoard has continued to work in partnership with a number of home and cross-boarder agencies with the hope of reaffirming play and play issues on both the social and political agenda:

• Institute of Technology, Sligo – development of BA in Childhood Development and Care.

• SkillsActive – Sector Skills Council for Sport and Leisure • Representation on the Technical Expert Group for the re-draft of the National Occupational Standards in Playwork.

• representation on the Playwork Education and Training Council (PETC).

• Representation on City & Guilds Playwork Training Network • Established links with Derry Children’s Commission • Continued to work with key agencies across the 0-14 services sector • Continue to deliver a modular programme for child protection in conjunction with the Southern Health & Social Services Board.

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Training Suite: Members: £35per session/Non-Members: £45 per session (max. 60 participants - Morning, afternoon or evening sessions available) Board Room : £10.00 per hour (max. 15 participants) Bookings can be made by contacting PlayBoard: Tel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381 All above prices include full use of the Training Equipment. tea/Coffee and Biscuits are an additional cost of 50p per person.

Included for your use will be:

• • • •

flip chart Data Projector & Screen TV and Video Recorder Overhead Projector

A range of menus are available to cover catering requirements prices and menus available on request.

Full disabled access to all training rooms.

Extensive NCP car parking facilities adjacent to building.

Bookings can be made by contacting PlayBoard: Tel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381

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Since the last annual review, the Team have faced another year of fresh challenges and changes. One very welcome change has been the Team having its full quota of five Officers. Working at full capacity has enabled us to support groups in applying for the final rounds of NOF’s OOSHC start up funding. We continued to assist the Partnership coordinators to address the priorities in each Childcare Plan.

At the final OOSHC Awards ceremony in August, NOF were very happy to announce the creation of over 14,000 childcare places through the OOSHC programme. Representing NOF, Breige Gadd expressed NOF’s delight at the outcome of the programme, and highlighted their satisfaction with the successful working relationships established with the four Childcare Partnerships. She also declared the intention of continuing to build on these relationships as a way of ensuring on the ground rollouts of future initiatives.

The Building Quality Childcare programme entered Stage 2 of its process this year, whereby groups were asked to submit individual application forms for their capital grant.

Whilst this stage is open until the end of 2004, a sizeable proportion of groups have submitted applications and been awarded their capital grant. The Childcare Partnerships and the Partnership Team remain committed to supporting all groups through the process over the next year.

The Team have continued to work closely on the ground with After Schools staff and Committees to ensure issues of quality and sustainability are supported and highlighted.

“Start up” and “Summer Scheme” training have been delivered, recruitment and interviewing support given, and information on relevant issues and events are regularly disseminated across the Sector.

Once again the Team would like to thank the Co-ordinators, Chairs and members of the Partnerships and their sub groups. We would also like to thank staff from NOF and our colleagues within PlayBoard.

The Sustainability Campaign - Save Our Afterschool Clubs The Postcard was launched November 2003.

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WORKING FOR

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THE CHILD'S RIGHT TO PLAY

The Finance & Monitoring team carry out invaluable work in PlayBoard assisting and supporting both project teams internally and projects externally who receive funding associated with PlayBoard.

The team also provides assistance with funding applications and administers PlayBoards income including the many grants, awards and tenders that PlayBoard is successful in bidding for and negotiating. As an Intermediary Funding Body for Peace II , Measure 1.5, Positive Action for Women, Sustaining the PlayCare Initiative, there has being extensive work in administering Peace II with the Special European Union Programmes Body.

Further Peace II awards were made under a second call in April 2003. The Monitoring Team held five training workshops during the month of May in various locations throughout Northern Ireland.

The aim of the workshops was to train the successful projects in the financial requirements of the European Structural Funds and to meet the Monitoring Team. Feed back on the workshops was very positive.

Monitoring for Peace II is now ongoing and all projects have been allocated a designated Monitoring Officer. In total PlayBoard under Peace II has committed £2,907,392.00.

A huge ‘thank you’ goes out to everyone who has assisted PlayBoard in administering this measure, including the Childcare Partnerships and their Strategic Funding Panels, fellow IFBs, the SEUPB and our sponsor Department, DEL. Once again a special acknowledgement is also due to Stephen Rainey from DEL.

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Eastern Board 1st Call

123 House

Belfast

£45,899.00

174 Trust

Belfast

£42,213.00

An Droichead Ltd

Belfast

£39,497.00

Ardmonagh Family & Community Group

Belfast

£8,802.75

Ashton Community Trust

Belfast

£19,648.50

Beechmount Community Project

Belfast

£22,989.08

Bright Sparks

Belfast

£39,497.00

Cairde Bunscoil Phonbal Feirste

Belfast

£40,515.41

Careers 'n' Kids

Belfast

£11,737.00

Corner House

Belfast

£3,130.99

Corpus Christi Services

Belfast

£53,386.00

Crossgar

£39,497.00

Downpatrick

£107,041.00

Kids Club - Oasis

Belfast

£39,497.00

Muppets - Poleglass Residents Association

Belfast

£39,497.00

Short Strand Community Forum

Belfast

£39,497.00

Newcastle

£14,671.25

Downpatrick

£39,497.00

Crossgar Community Centre Downpatrick - NICMA

Small Frys - YMCA The Scout Hall, Downpatrick Scout Unit

Tullymore Afterschools, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum

Belfast

£45,190.00

Vine Centre

Belfast

£11,737.00

Whiterock Creche Association

Belfast

£39,497.00

Windsor Womens Centre

Belfast

£27,751.00

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Eastern Board 2nd Call

An Club Electra

Belfast

£10,000.00

An Cumainn Iarscoile

Belfast

£34,412.00

An Droichead ASC

Belfast

£10,000.00

Ardmonagh Family & Community Group

Belfast

£10,000.00

Ardoyne ASC

Belfast

£19,386.00

Beechmount Community Project

Belfast

£10,000.00

Chinese Welfare Association

Belfast

£34,412.00

Lisbane & Lisbarnett

£30,000.00

Strangford

£34,412.00

Downpatrick

£10,000.00

The Vine Centre

Belfast

£10,000.00

Tullymore Afterschools, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum

Belfast

£5,997.00

Lurgan

£26,693.00

Kids Utd

Portadown

£23,474.00

Kidzone ASC

Bessbrook

£39,497.00

Scallywag

Coalisland

£20,291.00

Dungannon

£39,497.00

Augher

£45,130.00

Ballygawley ASC

Ballygawley

£34,412.00

Funtime ASC

Jonesbourgh

£13,272.00

Galbally

£15,673.00

Bessbrook

£4,166.00

Dungannon

£10,000.00

Craigavon

£10,317.00

Lisbane & Lisbarnett Strangford ASC The Scout Hall, Downpatrick Scout Unit

Southern Board 1st Call

Kids Patch

The Learning Zone Woodland Adventure Centre Southern Board 2nd Call

Galbally OOSC Kidzone ASC The Learning Zone Zero-8-Teen

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Northern Board 1st Call

Ballee

Ballymena

£39,497.00

Magherafelt

£50,343.33

Coleraine

£9,603.00

Cookstwon

£39,497.00

Kids Lodge

Magherafelt

£17,605.50

Kids View

Magherafelt

£26,693.00

Loughgeil

Ballymena

£39,497.00

Larne

£17,605.50

Ballymena

£40,555.00

Portrush

£28,809.00

Portrush

£10,000.00

Glenravel

£38,163.00

Antrim

£15,673.00

Kidz Lodge

Magherafelt

£9,726.00

Kilrea ASC

Kilrea

£18,420.00

Cookstown

£19,500.00

Pomeroy ASC

Pomeroy

£32,052.00

Rasharkin ASC

Rasharkin

£34,412.00

Larne

£10,000.00

Ballinascreen Focus On Family Gort Kids

Skools Out Summerfield The K-Club Northern Board 2nd Call

The K Club Glenravel ASC Just Kids

Link ASC

Skools Out

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Southern Board 1st Call

Camowen

Omagh

£76,725.00

Limavady

£39,497.00

Derry

£26,693.00

Irvinestown

£39,497.00

Kesh

£26,693.00

Ballinamallard

£39,497.00

Drumquin

£26,693.00

Irvinestown

£9,167.00

Omagh

£10,000.00

Donagheady

£24,000.00

Drumahoe

£37,767.00

Roslea

£27,330.00

Castlederg

£14,759.00

Kesh

£9,631.80

Kids Inn ASC

Greysteel

£34,412.00

L.C.D.I. ASC

Limavady

£10,000.00

Omagh

£10,000.00

Strabane & District PlayClub

Strabane

£21,650.00

Strathroy ASC

Strathroy

£10,000.00

LCDI Bright Ideas Active Alsorts Kesh Rascals Sugar & Spice Southern Board 2nd Call

Active Alsorts Camowen Donagheady ASC Drumahoe ASC Erne East ASC First Step OOSC Kesh ASC

Smart Attack ASC

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FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS ON THE OUT 2 PLAY PROGRAMME • It improved my skills and gave me more confidence to be more free with children concerning physical play and let children take more risks.

• Having the opportunity to participate in each of the activities as opposed to them just being explained. Meeting a variety of other workers and sharing ideas.

• Telling + encouraging the parents about the importance of physical play for their children • It gave my brain a kick-start to stop thinking about what we didn't have outside and to start thinking about what we do have and to make the most of it.

• We now use new skills to help develop free play among the children and they're benefiting from it.

• The course has expanded my view on my own performance being able to evaluate myself, my surroundings, the children, putting it all together to give a bigger picture.

• Children are outside everyday now not just a few times a week.

• I let the children be more spontaneous and don't always follow the programme plan but follow up on their needs.

• The practical nature of the course ensured that I feel more enthusiastic.

• I have learnt how to argue the benefits of play.

• The weather doesn’t really matter, in fact it can make physical play more creative i.e. wellies, hats and new ways of playing in the snow.

• Since doing the course I have changed the whole set-up of my afterschools groups p1 – p7. The staff all say it's a much more enjoyable experience and it appears the young people enjoys the club a lot more.

• It has given me words to use and justify free play for kids.

• How to have fun again, remembering our childhood, the mischief, the adventures, and encouraging our kids to take those extra steps to extend their play!

• How to relax and enjoy the children playing freely • Learned to use natures resources for outdoor play • Yes outside most of the time. Sun or rain great fun!

• You're never too old to have fun • You don't need expensive toys

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The Out 2 Play project has gone from strength to strength during the past year. The aim of the project is to improve the long-term health and well being of children by increasing skills and resources for physical play among playworkers. The Out 2 Play training course was developed and piloted with the support of Bob Hughes from PlayEducation, Rupert Brakespear Environmental Educator for the Heritage and Environment Service, Jess Webb Community Artist, Kathryn Montgomery from Belfast Community Circus and an Advisory group of experienced playworkers from a variety of backgrounds.

It has been a very inspiring journey to develop and deliver this course throughout the year.

We have delivered a training course based on experiential learning principles in the most fantastic settings across Northern Ireland with the support of the Forest Service, the Environment and Heritage Service, North Eastern Education and Library Board and Belfast City Council who have all provided venues free of charge.

The content of the course is a mixture of practical experiences, reflection and discussion.

On the practical side we play co-operative and parachute games, play circus, do earth education activities, play in the forest and remember traditional games. In terms of theoretical content we discuss quality indicators for physical play, the play environment and the playwork practice. In spite of the difficulties for groups and workers to find finance for extra cover for staff or for workers to give of their own time we have had 82 playworkers from the following 47 groups successfully completing the programme.

GROUPS WHO HAVE HAD STAFF ON THE OUT 2 PLAY PROGRAMME Focus on Family, Drumahoe Out of School, Club na nog, Scribblers Out of School Club, Club United, Dry Arch Centre Out of School Club, Rainbow Child and Family Centre, Kids Zone Out of Schools, C5 Club, Strabane District Playclub, Camowen Smart Kids,Castle Lough O F S Club, First Steps, Kidz Lodge After Schools Club, Kilrea After School Club, Glenravel Afterschool Club, Tower Kids, Harpurs Hill Comm Early Years Project, Family Caring Centre Afterschool Club, K-Club, Upperlands Afterschool Club, Little Treasures Out of Schools, St Vincent de Paul, Mountainview Centre, Oasis, The Vine Centre, North Queen Street Play Centre, Ardmonagh Com & Fam Centre Afterschools, Belfast Travellers Support Group, Forthspring Intercommunity Group, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum, Highway to Health - Finaghy, Corpus Christi Afterschool Group, Markets Community Centre,Wishingwell, Mullanaskea Afterschool Club, Fountain Youth Centre, Kesh Afterschools Club, Rascals Playstation, First Kids Club, St Michael's Guide Unit, Enniskillen, Magheraculmoney Guide Unit, Skools Out Club, Cloughey Kids Club, PHAB Daycare & Afterschool, Ionad Uioh Eachach, The Bridge Youth Club, Ardoyne Community Centre.

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All feedback from participants has been very positive, as you can see from the comments. We have also learned a lot from playworkers in the field, both about their enthusiasm and love for their work as well as some of the difficulties they have advocating for their children's right to play. In support of the participants we have developed a video and are about to print a resource pack with suggestions for how some of the issues around children's physical play needs and how they can be met can be discussed in their own groups with both staff and parents. This will be launched in the New Year.

The most exciting development during the year has been the success in finding resources to sustain and develop this project for another three years. The Fit for Play quality award scheme will be an opportunity for those who has already taken part in the Out 2 Play course to continue to develop good practice in their groups.

The purpose of the Fit for Play project is to improve the long-term health & well being of children and to improve play services by increasing physical play opportunities and healthy eating habits for 4-14 year olds.

It will do so by providing 40 community based play projects in each Health and Social Services Board area with a Quality Award Scheme. The scheme will include a training programme made up of three modules. Out 2 Play, Top Play/ Active Clubs and Food 4 Play.

Out to Play

Out 2 Play has been developed by PlayBoard and is a play based programme

encouraging play providers to enable children’s physical free play especially out doors.

Top Play Top Play is an activity-based physical activity programme developed by the Youth Sports Trust. Active Clubs is an activity-based physical activity programme developed by the British Heart Foundation and Kids Club Network.

Food 4 Play Food 4 Play will be developed in partnership with a variety of health promotion agencies

and will incorporate the five a day principle.

These three modules, once completed by staff in a play project, will be the basic requirement for entering the Fit for Play scheme. Our training & development staff will then work with the play provider to work towards excellence of provision. When excellence has been achieved the provider will be eligible for a Fit for Play Quality Play Award.

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Over the past 8 years the PlayCare Initiative which, is part of the EU programme for Peace and Reconciliation Measure 1.5 Economic renewal – Positive Action for Women, has been successful in delivering high quality child centred, play and child care provision.

The overall aim of the initiative is to improve women’s access to employment, training and education opportunities.

2003 saw the launch of the PlayCare Sustainable Support Project. The project, which consists of one full time and two part time staff members, will provide a support network for the PlayCare Initiative throughout Northern Ireland. The team is responsible for coordinating and delivering a range of development activities to enable projects to meet the funding terms and conditions as laid out in their letters of offer.

Development activities will include: • Management Capacity Building • Introduction and Implementation of PlayBoard’s Quality Assurance scheme ‘Pathways to Excellence’ • Cross Community Networking • Anti-sectarian Training • Business plans and Sustainability Strategies The Sustainability team’s overall aim is to develop and consolidate existing PlayCare networks with a view to further develop Playworkers and Management Committees capacity to ensure the delivery of quality accessible and sustainable services.

Presently the team is working with 74 PlayCare project across the Province, these are the projects that were successful in PEACE II funding rounds 1 and 2, and this total equates to the following breakdown: Northern: 17

Eastern: 28

Western: 19

Southern: 10

There remains much to be achieved in the year ahead; projects face many challenges in improving both level and scope of provision against the backdrop of funding uncertainty The PlayCare Sustainability Support project team will continue to support projects to meet the challenges and achieve its own demanding targets. The project is being externally evaluated by Deirdre Fitzpatrick Consultancy.

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PlayBoard launched the Out of School Hours Learning Project, funded by the ‘New Opportunities Fund’ in the summer of 2002. At this time small pots of funding were made available to play projects and schools across Northern Ireland. They, in partnership, have created fun learning environments for school aged children in some of the most deprived areas in the province. Through various activities children have been given opportunities to develop new skills and experiences, mix with others, develop and improve self-esteem and generally have fun. Activities have included: Drama workshops, cookery clubs, IT clubs, a local history project, dance, discussion groups, sports/team games…the list is endless.

Playworkers and teachers have worked hard on devising programmes that appeal to the children and to developing projects were the children have a real say in what goes on.

Many believe that this has led to the enormous success of the project so far. Other factors may include: • • • • •

The children attending do so voluntarily – they choose to come.

Activities are predominantly based in play projects - not schools.

Children are encouraged to “have a say” through various innovative methods.

Programmes developed are based on children’s needs and wishes.

Children’s achievements are recognised and rewarded.

The Out of School Hours Learning project is about to embark on a new exciting phase

with email links being made by children from all of the projects. We hope that this will develop into exchange visits and possibly a residential nearer the end of the initiative. It has to be said the benefits for children attending the projects have been enormous… playworkers, parents, teachers and indeed children themselves have commented on the skills that children have learnt whilst attending projects and at the same time having FUN, FUN,FUN. “ The opportunity to develop through activities which promote the process of play is as essential to the full & healthy development of

children as taught learning. Yet it is a form of learning which is largerly ignored and unrecognised.”

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(Heseltine & Holborn 1987).

As part of the pre-consultation work for the development of a Children’s Strategy for Northern Ireland, PlayBoard was asked to facilitate an event for primary school age children in order to gather their views and opinions of what they felt should be included in the strategy. Working in partnership with the Children & Young Peoples Unit and NIPPA an event took place at W5 in November 2002 and what fun we had!! The event was planned to give children the opportunity to express their views & opinions in a fun and informal way. They were asked various questions in innovative ways. An example of the methods used were Graffiti Wall Children were provided with drawing facilities and were asked to draw pictures and write statements relating to the question “What can you do as a child that you can’t do as an adult? “The pages were then stuck on a display board to form a graffiti wall.

Vox Pops The children were filmed using a video camera answering a variety of questions. This was unsurprisingly one of the most popular activities.

Mobile Phone A giant mobile phone was made with a large hole, acting as a post box where the screen should be. Children sent their answers to the question “Do you feel you can make decisions about your life?” through the phones screen.

Email Two computers were set up with email facilities and children were asked to email responses to various questions back to PlayBoard’s main office. The children loved using the computers!

House Building This activity involved children making a house out of bricks. Each brick had the question “What is good about living in Northern ireland? What is not so good?”

Completed bricks with answers were then attached on a huge template of a house.

Collage We gave children newspapers and magazines as well as a range of drawing materials nd asked them to cut out pictures and images that reflected their feelings on “What would make Northern Ireland a better place to grow up in?”

It was an exhausting, fun filled day and everyone involved slept well that night!!!

So, what did you say? om eed en! r f r re

Mo e: n’t lik We do graffiti; rian Secta , dirty r, flags s and litte t stree nd a l o o sch work. home

for

hild

c

fer us sa Give like cars r , bbe ts stree out of ru e d ma

e: rks, lik a We ng, P es, yi pac s, a l S ark P to P en es Gre kate plac y.

S ee pla Fr

I like t o go o ut on my bike, b ut I can’t ‘c ause o f the gla s s on the ro ad.

Get the ay murders aw iting on and the wr erything walls and ev just bad away, have good.

here

I need

somew

y! to pla

19

Common themes identified by you in the consultation: • • • • •

Play Community division Education & school Environment & green spaces Listening to children

Key issues - people under 12 years of age: • • • • • • • • • •

Sectarianism Conflict Play and leisure facilities Environment Safety/protection Education/schools Risk-taking behaviours Bullying Transport Promotion of rights/participation

These issues are being progressed by Task Groups and we will keep you informed of their progress.

Draft Strategy due out March ‘04.

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More is Caught than Taught Conference – Incorporating Consultation on Lottery Funding for Children’s Play

“It takes a whole village to raise a child”

African Proverb

In March 2003 PlayBoard and NIPPA together with Belfast City Council, the Children and Young Peoples Unit, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Department of Education organised two conferences. The conferences aim was to share the principles of ‘More is Caught than Taught’ and how they can be used to bring people together to put children at the heart of their communities.

Conference delegates heard about: • How ‘More is Caught than Taught’ has been used to bring community members together to provide the best possible environments for their children • The impact of ‘More is Caught than Taught’ on community members and providers of services for children, particularly childcare providers • How the principles of ‘More is Caught than Taught’ canbe applied to their settings The conference was opened by Peter McNanney, Chief Executive Belfast City Council and was led by Jack Guillebeaux (author of ‘More is Caught Than Taught’) and Haki Kapasi, INSPIRE. The events were held in two locations – Belfast and Derry – and around 100 delegates representing community, voluntary and statutory sectors attended the events.

The conference also incorporated the formal consultation exercise for Northern Ireland around Governments plans for a proposed National Lottery funding Programme for Children’s Play. A number of questions were posed to help establish participants views on both general issues, such as play & play provision, and on more specific areas such as play deficits in local communities and neighbourhoods and the particular play needs of children & young people in NI. Examples of the questions asked are: • What type of project do you think the programme should make a priority in your area?

• Do you agree with the definition of play provision given in the consultation document?

• How do you think the programme can support and disseminate good practice in community involvement, accessibility and design?

• What are your views on the appropriateness of existing benchmarks, standards and quality assurance tools?

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• What are your views on how the programme should be evaluated?

In general delegates were open and honest and valued the opportunity tohave their voices heard.

A full copy of the responses from the NI Consultation Event is available on PlayBoard’s website.

Frank Dobson’s Play Review Report is due to be released in December 2003.

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bye

e y b

PlayBoard Staff Team

Marguerite Hunter Blair.....................

Ciara Murray...................................

Lisa O’Connor .................................

Claire Houston.................................

Janette McKnight ..............................

Maura Moore & Ruth Murphy............

Sonia McAllister ...............................

Caroline Butler .................................

Suzi Gray........................................

Barbara Hawkes ..............................

Joan McGrath..................................

Joanne Magee .................................

Dolores Wilson ...............................

Kyra Pauley .....................................

Eva Kane ........................................

Lorraine Murphy...............................

Caroline Kerr ...................................

Sharon Donnelly...............................

A Vacancy.......................................

Jacqueline O’Loughlin.......................

Margaret Deevy ...............................

A Vacancy.......................................

A Vacancy.......................................

Caroline O’Kane..............................

Mairead Watters ..............................

Chief Executive Personal Assistant to Chief Executive/Personnel Administration Assistant Receptionist/Telephonist Finance Manager Finance & Monitoring Officers Finance & Administration Assistant Administration Assistant NVQ Centre & Quality Assurance Co-ordinator Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Northern) Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Western) Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Southern) Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Eastern) Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Eastern) Fit for Play Team Leader Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Eastern) Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Northern) Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Southern) Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Western) PlayCare Team Leader PlayCare Sustainability Officer PlayCare Sustainability Officer Business Development Officer (PlayBoard DEN) Information & Campaigns Officer (until Sep 03) Administration Assistant (until Oct 03)

PlayBoard Board of DirectorS

Billy Boyd ......................................... Chair Amanda Lilley .................................... Treasurer Barbara McIlwrath .............................. Vice Chair Ryan Williams, Peter McCartney, Janis McKenna, Mary Begley, Glenn Moore, Bill Shaw (until Nov 02), Dermott McElmeel (May 03)

Contact DetailS PlayBoard (Head Office)

PlayBoard (Irvinestown Office)

PlayBoard (Newry Office)

59/65 York Street Belfast BT15 1AA

Market Yard Mill Street Irvinestown BT94 4GR

Ballybot House 28 Cornmarket Newry BT35 8BG

Tel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381

Tel/Fax: 028 6862 8825

Tel: 028 3025 2399

PlayBoard, 59-65 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AA Tel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381 Email: information@playboard.co.uk