INCLUDING STRATEGIC PLAN 2005-08

Annual ReviewAnnual Review

20042004

Get out more to playDid you know that….

• More than one-third of children never play outside

• Almost half of children spend more than three hours a daywatching television or playing computer games

• More than 1 in 10 spend at least five hours or more a daywatching television or playing computers

• Nearly two-thirds of parents are worried about letting theirchildren play outside

• Three-quarters of parents feel that children face increasedrisks from playing outside unsupervised compared withfive years ago

• 97% of children have been warned about the dangers ofplaying outside

from research commissioned by The Royal Bank of Scotland NatWest 2004 1

PlayBoard Staff Team

Marguerite Hunter Blair Chief ExecutiveCiara Murray PA to Chief Executive/PersonnelLisa O’Connor Business Development OfficerClaire Houston Receptionist/TelephonistJanette McKnight Finance ManagerMaura Moore Finance & Monitoring Officer Ruth Murphy Finance & Monitoring Officer Sonia Mc Allister Finance & Administration OfficerCaroline Butler Administration & Finance Officer Suzi Gray Training & Quality ManagerJacqueline O’Loughlin PlayCare Manager Margaret Deevy PlayCare Sustainability OfficerKyra Pauley PlayCare Sustainability Officer Joan Mc Grath Quality Assurance OfficerAngela Stallard Play Development Officer (OOSHL)Eva Kane Fit for Play Manager Lorraine Murphy Training & Development Officer (Eastern)Caroline Kerr Training & Development Officer (Northern)Sharon Donnelly Training & Development Officer (Southern)Patricia Conway Training & Development Officer (Western)Dolores Wilson Childcare Partnership Development Officer (until March 04)Lisa Storey Business Development Manager (until August 04)Barbara Hawkes Childcare Partnership Development Officer

(until August 04)Joanne Magee Childcare Partnership Development Officer

(until September 04)A Vacancy PlaySpace Co-ordinatorA Vacancy Business Development Manager A Vacancy Business Training Officer

PlayBoard Board of Directors

Barbara McIlwrath Chairperson David Raymond Interim Treasurer Ryan Williams Vice ChairFrancis Loughlin Glenn Moore, Peter McCartney, Billy Boyd (Resigned in year), Monica Culbert (Resigned in year)

I was delighted to attend a reception at 10 Downing Street in September to celebrateChildcare, at the Prime Minister and Cherie Blair’s invitation. This provided me with awonderful opportunity to lobby at the highest level about the importance of Play andPlayCare in Northern Ireland. Very useful contacts were made with senior Policy Advisorsfrom the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit in Downing Street, who have been very supportive.

Another welcome ally this year proved to be the Children’s Commissioner. We workedclosely with Nigel William’s office on his research in respect of ‘Leisure, Play, Recreation,Culture and the Arts’. The research highlighted the need for a Play Strategy for NorthernIreland and echoed children’s pleas for a wide range of accessible provision to meet allchildren and young people’s needs.

On the fun side PlayBoard organised three key events in the summer. The Importance ofPhysical Play Conference with All Play Agencies, the launch of the Fit for Play Project inStormont Play Park and National PlayDay at Oxford Island in August. A huge Thank You toeveryone who attended these packed events, and for your enthusiastic and highly positivefeedback.

PlayBoard also welcomed the opportunity to speak at a number of national conferencesincluding two Community Youth Workers Trade Union Conferences, ILAM Leisure, SkillsActive and the Scottish Out of School Childcare Network. The European Child in the CityConference was held in London and papers are available from PlayBoard.

In March PlayBoard began a new Business Project to promote organisational development.This project has been hugely successful and key outcomes include improved membershipservices and website services. PlayBoard is delighted to announce that we have alsoentered into a formal arrangement with Playdale Playground Specialists to provideexclusive membership benefits and discounted services.

Further new developments included the Peace through Music Project, which was piloted in2004, with the Shropshire Music Foundation. Through this Youth Project PlayBoard hasdeveloped a very welcome partnership with the ‘Kosovo Children’s Music Initiative’.Feedback from the pilot groups has been constructive and enabled the project to develop aclear Northern Ireland perspective. The programme will continue in the summer of 2005with the production of a CD combining music from both the Kosovo and Belfast projects. Itis hoped that Youth Leaders and Playworkers will be able to travel to Kosovo in 2005 toshare experiences.

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Chief ExecutiveÕs Report

“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden;heaven is a playground” G.K Chesterton

The past year for PlayBoard has been action packed and extremely fast moving, with lots ofnew developments and fond farewells to old friends and the much missed Out of SchoolHours Childcare Team. It has been a year full of consultations, campaigning andconferences.

The Frank Dobson Play Review, ‘Getting Serious About Play’ was launched in January 2004.It was designed to provide recommendations to the Government regarding dedicatedLottery funding for new and improved children’s play facilities. The government responseis due to be released before the general election in 2005, however it is unlikely that thegovernment will honour its last General Election pledge that £200 million of NationalLottery money will be ring fenced for new and improved children’s play facilities.

On a more positive note, PlayBoard was delighted to work with 4 Children in England toaward Computers to 25 projects in Northern Ireland. The Creative Computers Initiative wassponsored by Marks and Spencer.

The Consultation exercises came thick and fast all year, the Youthwork Strategy, ChildrenFirst, Big Lottery, Fit Futures, Care Standards, Single Equality Bill, New TSN, Peace Extension,Pre School Play, Priorities and Budget 2005-08 to name but a few, responses are availablefrom PlayBoard. PlayBoard itself consulted on the National Occupational Standards forPlaywork and the Northern Ireland Playwork Education Training Strategy with SkillsActive.

Campaigning on the resourcing of Play and PlayCare became a key focus of PlayBoard’sworkplan for the year. We forged a strong alliance with TWN and the Women’s Sector tosuccessfully lobby both the European Commission and the Minister of Finance andPersonnel, Ian Pearson to re instate measure 1.5, Positive Action for Women (includingPlayCare) in the Peace II extension programme. We extend a huge Thank You to PatriciaLewsley MLA and all three of Northern Ireland’s members of the European Parliament, JimMcAllister, Jim Nicholson, and Barbara de Bruin. The Minister has made clear thatMainstream Funding for Out of School Playcare can only be committed once the Childrenand Young People’s Strategy and the Review of Children First are finally completed andendorse the case PlayBoard has made (see Policy Delivery through Playcare, published byPlayBoard Oct 2004 and available on website)

‘

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PlayBoard’s PlaySpace project (which was established in 1999 following support fromHilary Clinton and Cherie Blair for a Play for Peace Fund) gathered new momentum in 2004.A strategic alliance was forged with Speedwell Trust to fund a Playspace site at ParkanaurForest Park in Dungannon, and we look forward to working together on this project.PlayBoard is further developing Playspace with the new Reclaiming Playspace project.

Our final new development is a partnership between the EnviroCentre and ARENANetwork to deliver a waste management education resource programme to Playworkers.The NI Green Gang Project is on its way to an area near you!

Publications to be launched at this years AGM include Addressing Disability in Playwork,the Pathways to PlayCare toolkit, and Games not Names for All.

Last but not least, PlayBoard is participating in the Youth Services JEDI programme – Joinedin Equity, Diversity and Interdependence – we are finding it an extremely worthwhileexperience and would highly commend the process.

Many thanks to you the membership for all your continued support of PlayBoard, to all ourfunders, sponsors, partners, volunteers and the Children and Young People of NorthernIreland. My personal thanks to the Board of Directors for their dedication, support andguidance and to all the staff, who inspire me daily.

Marguerite Hunter BlairChief Executive

Chairperson’s Report

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. I amdelighted to have been able to bring my own practical experiences in Playwork, Youthwork,PlayCare and current research to the strategic planning and development of PlayBoard. Twoof the main highlights for PlayBoard this year have been participating in the Youth Service’sJEDI Programme and in the revision of the Playwork Principles led by PlayWales. Both thesepieces of work intrinsically reflect and underpin the value base and ethos of PlayBoard.

The Strategic Plan Play Works enclosed for 2005-2008 clearly articulates the importance ofPlayBoard’s role. ‘What does PlayBoard really do?’ is perhaps one of the most frequentlyasked questions. We have set out to provide the answers in a succinct and readilyaccessible format. However, critical to the success of PlayBoard is YOU the membership,our partners and key sectoral allies. We look forward to working with all of you to bringabout better play opportunities for children and young people in Northern Ireland.

In closing, I would like to pay tribute to Amanda Lilley, PlayBoard’s Treasurer of some six years who stood down earlier this year. We are deeply indebted to you Amanda for your commitment and loyalty and enormous voluntary contribution to PlayBoard.

Barbara McIlwrathChairperson

6

Getting Serious About PlayÕ - The Frank Dobson Play Review

PlayBoard facilitated the Northern Ireland response to this consultation in 2003 (see ‘Whatthe Children Said’ available from PlayBoard). The report was launched in January 2004 andwas designed to provide recommendations to the Government regarding dedicated Lotteryfunding for new and improved children’s play facilities. The full report can be accessed byemail: Tiffany.Denny@culture.gsi.gov.uk. The key recommendations are outlined below.

VITALThe common elements of many successful play opportunities were captured in theacronym VITAL – Value based, In the right place, Top quality, Appropriate, Long term.Criteria based on these five elements should be used to assess priorities for funding.

Characteristics of VITAL play opportunities

Value based• Children and young people’s interests and rights respected• All children and young people, whatever their ability or background welcomed,

especially those from disadvantaged groups• Children and young people’s competences and abilities respected

In the right place• Close to children and young people’s homes and schools, on well-used travel

routes, in safe locations• Located in places that children and young people and the wider community are

happy with

Top quality• Safe, welcoming and providing choice and variety• Well-designed in relation to the surrounding space and community• Taking a balanced approach to managing risk• Well-managed

7

Treasurer’s Report

PlayBoard’s accounts will be presented in full at our AGM by our Auditors, Grant Thornton. Iwould like to take this opportunity to extend a huge thank you to the staff from GrantThornton, in particular David Hall, who provided PlayBoard with exceptional supportthroughout the year in our task to extend the core funding base. While PlayBoard isfortunate to own its own premises and does have limited reserves, the Board’s two keypriorities are to extend both the core funding base and the reserves as recommended bythe Auditors.

The Board of Directors is delighted that PlayBoard has been ranked as the top IFB(Intermediary Funding Body) out of 44 by the Special European Programmes Body.Congratulations to the Finance Department on this achievement!

David RaymondInterim Treasurer

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Appropriate• Shaped by local needs and circumstances• Complementing other local opportunities• Taking account of all sectors of the local community• Well-planned

Long-term• Sustainable beyond the lifetime of the funding programme• Set up to be valued and respected parts of the social fabric of the neighbourhood

PROGRAMME DELIVERYThe Funding programme should devote the bulk of the funding – around 80 per cent – to ‘VITAL Spaces’ strand, drawing on the criteria set out above. Alongside the main VITALSpaces strand, the funding programme should devote up to 20 per cent of the funding tocreate a ‘Playful Ideas Strand’ to develop and support projects that create playopportunities in innovative ways, or in ‘non-traditional’ settings.

PLAYFUL IDEAS STRANDThe ‘Playful Ideas Strand’, while reflecting the VITAL criteria, should be devoted todeveloping innovations…. These might include:

• Play provision as part of new schools• Play opportunities in new housing developments• Playful elements in public spaces, museums and other cultural centres• Play provision with community access in childcare/early years services

The Playful Ideas would be valuable in stimulating innovative ways to include disabledchildren and young people, children in care and other groups excluded from mainstreamprovision. It is hoped that the Government will encourage good practice in thecomprehensive planning and delivery of play opportunities across local authority areas.

The Government’s official response is awaited…..

R wrld 2Consultation on a Draft Strategy for Children & Young Peoplein Northern Ireland.

“Our vision is of a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, stable and fair society, firmlyfounded on the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust and theprotection and vindication of human rights for all…. Central to our vision for thefuture must be a focus on our young people. On their development lies our futureand we need to ensure that our policies and programmes take account of theirneeds”The Belfast Agreement

In January 2001, the then Northern Ireland Executive, decided to put in place a long-termstrategy for children and young people. This delighted the children’s sector as it highlightedan increased awareness of the role that children and young people actually have in oursociety. The aims of the strategy also identified a desire to put in place measures to ensurethat:

• Children & Young people’s rights are recognised & promoted• That their contribution is encouraged and enabled; and• That their best interests are safeguarded

The draft strategy is now available for consultation and discussion and PlayBoard wouldurge all of you who are interested in promoting the rights and best interests of children andyoung people, to respond to the strategy.

PlayBoard is organising four consultation events in February 2005 with children and youngpeople 4-14 on the Draft Strategy and Single Equality Bill for the Children and Young Peoples Unit (OFMDFM).

Further information and a copy of the draft strategy can be obtained atwww.allchildrenni.gov.uk A young person’s version is also available.

Children and young people under 18 years of age make up approximately one quarter ofthe population in Northern Ireland. Over one third of all households include children; yetthere is a general consensus that not enough is known about their lives. In part this is dueto gaps in both comprehensive statistical information and qualitative research. The strategyneeds to address these shortcomings. (Taken from r wrld 2)

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Finance Department

Behind every successful project within PlayBoard is the support and expertise of thefinance department. This small team ensures that all PlayBoards income and expenditure(internally and externally) is fully accounted for and managed stringently. The financedepartment assists the Chief Executive, the Board of Directors and Project Team Leaders toidentify, apply to and monitor sources of income for the organization and its members.

PlayBoards Finance & Monitoring Team have been recognised as one of the topperforming IFBs by the SEUPB, the Managing Authority, being ranked 1st of 44 IFBs in termsof delivery (includes commitment and spend of grant funding) and ranked 5th of 44 interms of services (includes population of database, certification of expenditure, Article 4visits and returns to the Managing Authority).

The Finance & Monitoring Team, who work across Northern Ireland, carry out project sitevisits to vouch expenditure, verify audit trails and monitor compliance targets. They alsoassist projects with grant applications, facilitate finance workshops and deliver on sitetraining. A large and very valuable part of their work is liaising and dealing with projectqueries and correspondence. The team is also involved in the preparation of grantpayments, returns, reports and forecasts to the SEUPB and the upkeep of grant databasesystems. The team has represented PlayBoard at IFB and Implementation and Forummeetings.

Congratulations to Ruth and Sonia on the safe delivery of their baby girls!

Training & Quality Department

The training department within PlayBoard has had another busy year and continues to beguided by the following playwork values:

Playwork Values

Child-centred Process EmpowermentNot controlled by Adults Stimulation and ChallengeThe Right to Play Safely Individual RespectCare and Consideration Equal OpportunityExtending Experience Co-operationThe Legislative Framework An Accessible Environment

Under the direction of the Training & Quality Manager PlayBoard’s Quality AssuranceScheme – Pathways to Excellence is now being accessed throughout the Province. Thescheme which was launched last year illustrates a commitment to quality within thePlaycare sector and is being used as a self-assessment quality tool within play settings. A number of projects are well on their way to becoming the first to present their qualityportfolio’s to the Selection Panel which has been set up to ensure Transparency andStandardisation across the board.Two levels of quality can be achieved and mentoring and support is part of the process.PlayBoard looks forward to presenting the first Quality awards in 2005.

The following courses continue to be available and PlayBoard is keen to hear from you ifyou have training needs. Specific sessions can be tailor made to suit your needs.

• What is Play?• Programme Planning• Equal Opportunities• Practical Activities• Child Protection• The Role of the Playworker• Promoting Positive Relationships• Fit for Play• Basic administration• Quality assurance – Pathways to Excellence• Play for All (OCN Level 2)

In addition three new training courses have been launched this year:

• Games Not Names for All.• Addressing Disability in Playwork.• Play Development Training.

GAMES NOT NAMES FOR ALL

Games not Names for All is designed to encourage practitioners to reflect upon andexamine the values that underpin and inform their play provision. Delivered using aplay focus, practitioners are offered a safe environment to develop anti-discriminatorypractice and to become aware of relevant legislation.

AIM:To provide Playworkers with the space and time to explore the impact of unfairdiscrimination and bias on Play and Playwork

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES:• To examine language, myths and stereotypes within the context of anti-

discriminatory and anti-bias practice• To provide an overview of relevant key legislation that underpins quality Playwork

and childcare practice• To explore the different modes of communication and how these inform and

influence children’s environments• To highlight the importance of Play to children’s holistic development and introduce

participants to the language of Playwork• To engage in practical activities, including programme planning, that embrace and

reflect anti-discriminatory and anti-bias practice• To introduce a framework of an Equity, Diversity and Interdependence framework

for policy development• To evaluate the impact of the programme on registered provision

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ADDRESSING DISABILITY IN PLAYWORK

Addressing Disability is an innovative training programme that encourages practitionersto consider the implications of Inclusion. Practical activities are provided that seek tohighlight and address those barriers that may exist in the development of an InclusivePlay Environment

PLAY DEVELOPMENT TRAININGThis new programme reflects recent developments within the field of Playwork andexamines the following practice areas:

What is PlayThe Role of the PlayworkerProgramme PlanningThe role of the Co-ordinator

NVQ’s….an update!PlayBoard is a City & Guilds registered training centre. PlayBoard is committed to thedevelopment of a professional and well- trained Playwork workforce. We recognise thevalue of competence based training and qualifications including NVQs. If you are aqualified assessor and/or internal verifier with Playwork experience, PlayBoard would loveto hear from you as we are attempting to establish a more robust infrastructure.

Creative ComputersPlayBoard, working in partnership with 4Children, Scottish Out of School Network andClybiau Plant Cymru Kids Clubs and sponsored by Marks and Spencer, were delighted tooffer groups across the country the opportunity to apply for a new computer. Using anapplication process each country allocated a total of 25 computers.

The application forms asked how the group would benefit from a new computer and toexplain how having access to this resource would enhance and enrich children’sexperiences.

Over 70 clubs across Northern Ireland entered the competition and their reasons for applyingwere as diverse as the children who use the clubs. PlayBoard was particularly pleased to readthat so many clubs had actively engaged in consultation with their children and hadsubsequently chosen to include these comments in their application forms. The followingquotes are taken from some of the successful applications and reflect the children's thoughtsabout the potential benefits that having access to a computer would bring to their club:

"I like to paint and our old one is broke" "I will help set it up cos I'm best at computers" "To have our own computer that nobody could touch!" "We could design our own comic and newsletter" "We could speak to other children around the world" "We could play computer games that help us learn or just to have fun!" "To send emails to our friends in China" "If we had a computer in our club more children would attend it!" "If we had a digital camera we could take interesting pictures and promote our club in ourcommunity"

In general terms the staff in the clubs recognised the positive impact that additional ITsupport could offer. The majority of comments centred around the development of moreeffective recording and monitoring systems and the storage of important data. There weresome expectations that the supporting software package may provide some assistance withthis aspect of their work. PlayBoard would like to take this opportunity to extend thanks toMarks & Spencer for sponsoring such a worthwhile competition and to 4Children for theirfacilitation of the project. We would also like to congratulate all the clubs who weresuccessful in their applications. Happy computing!!!

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PlayBoard Training Facilities

Training SuiteA large, bright, airy room ideal for large group sessions.Members £35 per session. Non-members £45 per session.Morning, Afternoon & Evening Sessions are available.Maximum 60 participants.

Board RoomA smaller function room which can cater for a maximum 15 participants. £10 per hour

All prices include full use of training equipment:Flip ChartData Projector & ScreenTV & Video RecorderOverhead Projector

Tea/Coffee and a range of menus are available on request.

PlayBoard has fully accessible disabled facilities.

Extensive NCP car parking facilities are adjacent to the building.

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

• Clonard Out of School Hours ProjectBelfast

• The Playcentre Londonderry • Ashton Community Trust Afterschool Club

Belfast • Gort Kids After School Clubs Cookstown • 174 Trust Playcare Project Belfast • Pips Kids Club Portaferry • Link Afterschool Cookstown • Drumellan Children & Young People Centre

Belfast • Society of St Vincent de Paul Belfast • Cumann Larscoile An Droichead Belfast • Careers’n’Kids inc. LTD Belfast

• Ballygawley Early Years Ltd Dungannon • LCDI After School Club Limavady • The Vine Centre Belfast • Glencraig After School Club Holywood • Galbally Out of School Club Dungannon • The Nest After Schools Claudy • Dromore Cross Community After School

Club Dromore • BeesNees Early Years Centre Newtownards • Manor Street/ Cliftonville Community

Group Belfast • Chinese Welfare Association After School

Club Belfast • Kidz Lodge Londonderry • Woodland Adventure Augher • BT 36 Travellers Belfast

Fit for Play Quality Award

The Fit for Play Quality Award was launched earlier this year and is causing a stir ofexcitement within the Playwork sector. The Fit for Play Award can be obtained once aproject is deemed “Fit for Play”.

The award has been designed to help tackle the obesity crisis which is affecting thechildren in today’s society. PlayBoard believes that by giving children opportunities toenjoy physical and outdoor play we are helping to prevent heart disease and health relatedproblems in later life.

The programme which integrates physicalactivity and nutrition fully supports andpromotes the development of healthylifestyles amongst our children.

In order to achieve an award play projectsmust complete three modules – Out 2 Play, Top Play/Active Clubs and Food 4 Play.

Fit for Play Training and DevelopmentOfficers are available to assist groups whowish to obtain this award.

Out 2 Play“By doing the practical things made me realise the full benefits of play and how itteaches us to risk assess and be more adventurous!”

“It was such an interesting and well presented course. I have learnt so much moreand am so much more aware of how important it is for children to be out doors andnot sitting at tv and computer games. Thank you so much”

The two comments above, taken from participants’ feedback forms, highlight the success ofthe Out 2 Play training module. This year 68 projects have accessed this 8 session trainingcourse which aims to improve the skills amongst playworkers for the promotion of outdoor

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physical play. It looks at children’s physical play behaviour, playwork environments andplaywork practice within individual settings. Training sessions allow participants toparticipate in a mixture of practical experiences, reflection exercises and discussion.

Top Play/Active ClubsThis one session training focuses on physical activityand promotes the message that children need anhour of physical activity per day to stay healthy.

Food 4 PlayPlayBoard believes that children’s ability to play isamong other things dependant on what they eat ordrink. Food 4 Play has been developed inpartnership with the Health Promotion Agency andCommunity Dieticians and it gives playworkers ideasand experiences in preparing healthy snacks forchildren. The training focuses on the importance ofhealthy eating and looks at issues such as: children’s participation in the preparation ofhealthy snacks and food hygiene.

Some feedback from the piloting of the Food 4 Play training in Ballygawley:

“Increased thinking about food that I would never have dreamt of giving the kids”

“I will try to provide a range of fruit for the children, as I now realise how beneficial it is.”

The PlayCare Initiative

The PlayCare Initiative which is now in its ninth year continues to deliver high quality, child-centred, PlayCare provision across Northern Ireland.

The initiative is funded under Measure 1.5 Economic renewal – Positive Action for Women,EU programme for Peace & Reconciliation.

Currently 91 projects are being supported by the PlayCare Initiative.

The PlayCare Team who have had a challenging year provide a comprehensivesupport service for projects across Northern Ireland and activities include:

• Development, Support & Advice (capacity building ,staffing issues, policydevelopment, recruitment & selection, cross community networks)

• Quality Assurance• Training• Representation at relevant forums• Lobbying on behalf of the sector

This year has seen the launch of the ‘Policy Delivery through PlayCare’ document, whichprovides a regional analysis on the shortfall of funding required to sustain out of SchoolPlayCare provision in Northern Ireland (available from Website).

The PlayCare initiative is the only Peace Project in Northern Ireland which commissioned anexternal evaluation at the outset. Watch out for DVD highlights in 2005.

The team continues to represent YOU (PlayBoard Members) at relevant forums includingChildCare Partnerships, District Childcare Partnerships, NIAP, Rural Community Network,and Strategic Funding Panels. The team would urge YOU to attend Cluster Group Meetings inyour area to discuss relevant issues and help us in the lobby for the provision of qualityplay provision across Northern Ireland.

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The funding Campaign

Pathways to PlayCare Toolkit The PlayCare Team has developed a ‘Play Box’.

The Play Box offers high quality resources including policies & procedures, recruitment andselection guidance, business plans and staff appraisal formats. Included in the box are alsoessential documents such as a register,an accident & incident book and afinance manual. All contentshave been mapped against thenew Minimum Standards for theRegistration and Inspection ofOut of School Care 2005.

The box is a MUST for all Out ofSchool PlayCare Provision andcan be purchased fromPlayBoard. Contact LisaO’Connor.

Out of School Hours Learning Project

The Out of School Hours Learning project which was launched by PlayBoard in 2002 iscontinuing to be successful in offering children across Northern Ireland the opportunity to play andlearn in fun-filled environments.

Children attending take part in activities such as dance, music, local history, IT, sport andgames, circus skills, cookery, and drama.

Out of School Hours Learning Projects:Glen Parent & Youth Group Strathroy Afterschools (OOSHL)Belfast Travellers Support Group Forever FriendsManor Street Sunnyside AfterschoolsFocus on Family

The Play Projects and their associated primary schools work in partnership to deliver highquality FUN activities for the children, and the impact and feedback on the service hasbeen amazing.

Approximately 1000 children have taken part in the project so far and playworkers andteachers are working hard to ensure that the children’s voices are being heard and thattheir views and suggestions are being listened to.

Children from all the projects are taking part in ‘Away Days’ (fun days out in various venues)which gives them the opportunity to come together and develop friendships. Thesefriendships are then maintained through an email link-up. A weekend residential has beenorganised for summer 2005 and children will be planning activities for the weekend early

in the New Year! So, watch this space!

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I love coming here – I getto meet all my friends.

I like it here cause of thegames we play. I like the arts& crafts and I like the leaders.

We get to play. We

paint. I love to learn!.

PlaySpace Project and Reclaiming PlaySpace

The purpose of the PlaySpace project is, ‘to provide state of the art green space playfacilities for all children to play together, facilitated by Playworkers’. The Play for PeaceFund which supports this project has made three awards this year to Speedwell Trust,Peace through Music and Reclaiming PlaySpace.

The Reclaiming PlaySpace Initiative aims to develop safe outdoor play provision forchildren aged 4 – 12 years old in deprived areas. Working in partnership with Belfast CityCouncil initially it is anticipated that play opportunities will be facilitated outdoors inparks, open spaces and other outdoor play areas. The project will engage with a furtherfour District Councils to create a best practice model for District Councils throughoutNorthern Ireland.

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Fit Futures

Importance of Physical Play Conference

This Conference was hosted by PlayBoard and All Play Agencies in June. The conferencehighlighted the need for Play opportunities and Play equipment which promotes inclusion,appropriate risk taking and a wide range of physical activity. It is essential that Playprovision fosters the child’s wellbeing, healthy growth and development, knowledge andunderstanding, creativity and capacity to learn.

Key Topics:• Play Deprivation & the Legacy of Conflict in Northern Ireland• Play Accessibility, Inclusive Play and Appropriate Risk • Fit for Play Project• The Importance of Physical Play for Children’s Development

Speakers at the Conference from left: Teresa Devlin(childrens

commissioners office), David Gent MD (Lapsett UK), Jill McKee (All Play

Agencies), Johanna Ikaheimo Owner of Lappset UK, Robin Sutcliffe

Managing Director (Sutcliffe Play) and Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief

Executive (PlayBoard)

National Playday 2004- Families at Play

PlayBoard hosted a National Playday event at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, at OxfordIsland. Over 500 children, parents and Playworkers took part in the fun activities. Live TVand radio broadcast helped promote the serious message of the day, that a key role of thefamily is providing children with good Play opportunities.

“It was fab! Thank you PlayBoard”Child aged 10

The theme for PlayDay 05 will be Fit for Play and in true PlayBoard style - we are settingourselves the task of making it even bigger and better! So see you at Oxford Island on 3rdAugust 2005!

Funders and Sponsors

Youth Council for NIDepartment of Employment and Learning

ProteusChildcare Partnerships

Member feesEUSSPPR

EU Programme for Peace & ReconciliationNew Opportunities Fund, The Big Lottery

Community Foundation NIThe Childhood Fund

Sports Council NIZurich

Esmee FairbairnMarks and Spencer

Royal Mail

‘Play for Peace Fund’ - Chairman Robert BuxtonThe Monument Trust

The Weinberg FoundationLady Belmore

Peter Moores FoundationThe Northern Rock Foundation

First Trust BankAIF - John Loeb

Judith Chiara/Wm & Sandra BertschAIF 200 grant round

Ireland Fund of CanadaAIF Chairmans Discretionary, Grant FairThe Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

AIF - Donahue Family FoundationLionel Wigram Memorial Trust 2524

Contact Details

PlayBoard (Head Office)59-65 York StreetBelfastBT15 1AATel: 028 9080 3380Fax: 028 9080 3381

PlayBoard (Irvinestown Office)Market YardMill StreetIrvinestownBT94 4GRTel/Fax: 028 6862 8825

PlayBoard (Armagh Office)1 College StreetArmagh BT61 9BTTel: 028 3752 2330

PlayBoard Website:www.playboard.org

© PlayBoard

All rights reserved. No parts of these publications may becopied or used without the express permission ofPlayBoard. Exception is made, for authorised persons only.

Further information on this subject may be obtained fromPlayBoard

Published by PlayBoard, 59-65 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AATel: 028 9080 3380Fax: 028 9080 3381Email: information@playboard.co.ukWebsite: www.playboard.org

PlayBoard is a Registered Charity X0139/90PlayBoard is a Limited Company by Guarantee No. 30225

20 years on...

Playboard’s 20th Anniversary Play

Conference, Play Works!

19th October 2005

at Belfast Castle and Adventurous

Playground

see you ther

e!