6 | Play for Wales | Winter 2021
Summer of The Summer of Play campaign was a UKwide call for play to be prioritised during the summer of 2021 to support children’s health and wellbeing and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign urged everyone – governments, organisations, councils, businesses and families – to work together to make sure that children were given the time and space needed to reconnect and play with friends and enjoy a wide range of playful opportunities. In Wales, following a call from the Children’s Commissioner and others, the Welsh Government provided £5m funding via the Summer of Fun programme to support children and young people recover from the pandemic. This programme was one element of the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting children and young people’s recovery. The three main objectives of Summer of Fun were: • Supporting fun and the opportunity for children and young people to express themselves through play • Offering community based interactive, creative and play-based initiatives for all ages • Providing opportunities to play with friends and peers. Using the Summer of Fun funding provided by the Welsh Government, local authorities provided an array of opportunities across the country, working in partnership with a broad range of organisations. We invited local authorities to tell us more about some of the opportunities provided to children during the summer.
In Torfaen, the funding provided further opportunities for children and young people requiring additional support to attend provision by increasing the number of allocated spaces on Play and Respite sessions for disabled children and those with complex needs. Further sessions and spaces for children who require 1-1 support were also provided through playschemes, youth, early years and sports provision. Increasing access to outdoor play featured across Wales. In Carmarthenshire, free play sessions for children and families from the rural areas around Pumsaint were held in Dolau Cothi Woods. The sessions introduced families to local open outdoor public spaces, provided simple play ideas for families and gave children and their parents an opportunity to meet and socialise with others.
‘Can we come here everyday?’
