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W O R K I N G F O R T H E C H I L D ' S R I G H T T O P L A Y

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Title text

PlayBoard wishes to thank its main Funders

Youth Council for NI

Department for Employment & Learning

Training for Women Network PROTEUS

EU Programme for Peace & Reconciliation

Department for Culture, Arts & Leisure

Department of Health & Social Services & Public Safety

OFMDFM, Children & Young Peoples Unit

Sports Council for NI

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

under the Investing for Healthier Communities Grant Programme

New Opportunities Fund

Eastern Childcare PartnershipSouthern Childcare Partnership

Northern Childcare Partnership

Western Childcare Partnership

The Childhood FundPlay for Peace

Community Foundation for NI

Belfast City Council (support in kind)

Crumlin High SchoolEsmee Fairburn Foundation

Title text

‘Play is an essential part of every child’s life and vital to theirdevelopment. It is the way children explore the world around them and develop and practice skills. It is essential for physical, emotionaland spiritual growth, for intellectual and educational development, and for acquiring social and behavioural skills. Play is a generic termapplied 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 anend 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 finallymade its way onto the Government’s mainstream agenda. From the evolving Children’sStrategy, to the Frank Dobson Play Review, to the Shared Future consultation, theimportance of play is being realised.

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

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

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

Our greatest challenges have continued to be the resourcing of the play and childcaresector. We are still largely dependent on short-term funding initiatives which do little toaddress patterns of social exclusion in the long-term. Over fourteen thousand Out Of SchoolHours 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 willaddress this deficit, nevertheless an interim solution needs to be found to maintain thecurrent levels of provision.

PlayBoard believes that every parent should be able to access affordable goodquality 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 placebefore this can become a reality.

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

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

And as for next year, PlayBoard is looking forward to participating in the Youth CouncilJEDI Programme, signing up for Investors in People and preparing our next three yearstrategic 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, BelfastCity Council, Youthnet and the four ChildcarePartnerships who have supported and worked closelywith us throughout the year.

One final note – PlayBoard was unable to secure fundingthis year for National Play Day. The theme was Get Out

and Play. Would we get more support for a No Play Day?

Marguerite Hunter BlairChief Executive

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

I would like to welcome all the staff who have joined PlayBoard this year and would liketo pay tribute to Caroline O’Kane and Mairead Watters who have left us this yearas 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’sCommissioner and wish him every success in the future.We welcome the announcement of his firstresearch project and look forward to itsfindings in respect of how effectively the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child has beenimplemented, in particular Article 31.

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

Billy BoydChairman

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One of the most exciting developments this year for the world of children has to be theappointment of the very first Commissioner for Children & Young people in NorthernIreland. The appointment of ‘Nigel Williams’ in October 2003 has come after many yearsof lobbying & campaigning by children’s agencies and forums. The commissioner has noeasy 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 thecommissioner said, “Play is every child’s right. Those five words aredevastatingly simple, but have huge repercussions for government, theeducation system, local government, voluntary and community agenciesand indeed individual families.”

He went on to say “ The legislation that set up my office set out two guidingstandards 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 childrenand second that in interpreting that statement I must be guided by the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child”

The issues for Play highlighted by the Children’s Commissioner at the PlayEducationConference were:

• Uncertainty of funding – too many play projects rely on short term funding, living yearfrom year to year not now knowing if they will be able to pay the wages of staff in a fewmonths 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. Isalute all those who work with this important area. I urge you to

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

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

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

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

Unfortunately access to appropriate Playwork training, including NVQ, is still not widely availableacross the Province. PlayBoard recognise that this situation is unacceptable and therefore one of thekey objectives for the NVQ Co-ordinator in the in-coming year is the development of a sustainableNVQ infrastructure. Additionally, we will be engaged in the development of a comprehensivetraining and development plan for the sector that embraces additional accredited trainingprogrammes and qualifications. It is hoped that this will increase playworkers’ access to essentialand 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 fromboth the voluntary and statutory sector in PlayBoard’s Quality

Assurance scheme ‘Pathways to Excellence’. 94 QApacks have been sold to date, 67 of which have secured

options to access full accreditation. Work to develop the supportiveresources and the mentoring/assessment toolkit for the scheme is

currently underway and we are delighted to announce that regionalRoadshow events are scheduled to occur in early 2004. The Roadshows willcontribute to raising awareness of the availability of the scheme and to offer theopportunities for groups already enrolled to receive guidance and support as theyembark on the accreditation process.

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

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

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

• Accredit playworkers’ knowledge, skills and experience in including children with disabilities inplay 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 agencieswith 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.

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 additionalcost 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 requirementsprices and menus available on request.

Full disabled access to all training rooms.

Extensive NCP car parking facilities adjacent to building.

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

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W O R K I N G F O R T H E C H I L D ' S R I G H T T O P L A Y

stam h re

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

At the final OOSHC Awards ceremony in August, NOF were very happy to announce thecreation of over 14,000 childcare places through the OOSHC programme. RepresentingNOF, Breige Gadd expressed NOF’s delight at the outcome of the programme, andhighlighted their satisfaction with the successful working relationships established with thefour Childcare Partnerships. She also declared the intention of continuing to build on theserelationships 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 havesubmitted applications and been awarded their capital grant. The Childcare Partnershipsand the Partnership Team remain committed to supporting all groups through the processover the next year.

The Team have continued to work closely on the ground with After Schools staff andCommittees to ensure issues of quality and sustainability are supported and highlighted.“Start up” and “Summer Scheme” training have been delivered, recruitment andinterviewing support given, and information on relevant issues and events are regularlydisseminated across the Sector.

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

The Sustainability Campaign - Save Our Afterschool Clubs

The Postcard was launched November 2003.

WORKING FOR T

HE CH ILD 'S R IGHT TO PLAY

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

The team also provides assistance with funding applications andadministers PlayBoards income including the manygrants, awards and tenders that PlayBoard issuccessful in bidding for and negotiating. As anIntermediary Funding Body for Peace II ,Measure 1.5, Positive Action forWomen, Sustaining the PlayCareInitiative, there has being extensivework in administering Peace II withthe Special European UnionProgrammes Body.

Further Peace II awards weremade under a second call inApril 2003. The MonitoringTeam held five trainingworkshops during the month ofMay in various locationsthroughout Northern Ireland.The aim of the workshops was to train thesuccessful projects in the financial requirements ofthe European Structural Funds and to meet theMonitoring Team. Feed back on the workshopswas very positive.

Monitoring for Peace II is now ongoingand all projects have been allocateda designated Monitoring Officer. Intotal PlayBoard under Peace II hascommitted £2,907,392.00.

A huge ‘thank you’ goes out toeveryone who has assisted PlayBoard in administeringthis measure, including the Childcare Partnerships andtheir Strategic Funding Panels, fellow IFBs, the SEUPBand our sponsor Department, DEL.

Once again a special acknowledgement is also due toStephen 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 Community Centre Crossgar £39,497.00

Downpatrick - NICMA 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

Small Frys - YMCA Newcastle £14,671.25

The Scout Hall, Downpatrick Scout Unit Downpatrick £39,497.00

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 Lisbane & Lisbarnett £30,000.00

Strangford ASC Strangford £34,412.00

The Scout Hall, Downpatrick Scout Unit Downpatrick £10,000.00

The Vine Centre Belfast £10,000.00

Tullymore Afterschools, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum Belfast £5,997.00

Southern Board 1st Call

Kids Patch Lurgan £26,693.00

Kids Utd Portadown £23,474.00

Kidzone ASC Bessbrook £39,497.00

Scallywag Coalisland £20,291.00

The Learning Zone Dungannon £39,497.00

Woodland Adventure Centre Augher £45,130.00

Southern Board 2nd Call

Ballygawley ASC Ballygawley £34,412.00

Funtime ASC Jonesbourgh £13,272.00

Galbally OOSC Galbally £15,673.00

Kidzone ASC Bessbrook £4,166.00

The Learning Zone Dungannon £10,000.00

Zero-8-Teen Craigavon £10,317.00

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Northern Board 1st Call

Ballee Ballymena £39,497.00

Ballinascreen Magherafelt £50,343.33

Focus On Family Coleraine £9,603.00

Gort Kids Cookstwon £39,497.00

Kids Lodge Magherafelt £17,605.50

Kids View Magherafelt £26,693.00

Loughgeil Ballymena £39,497.00

Skools Out Larne £17,605.50

Summerfield Ballymena £40,555.00

The K-Club Portrush £28,809.00

Northern Board 2nd Call

The K Club Portrush £10,000.00

Glenravel ASC Glenravel £38,163.00

Just Kids Antrim £15,673.00

Kidz Lodge Magherafelt £9,726.00

Kilrea ASC Kilrea £18,420.00

Link ASC Cookstown £19,500.00

Pomeroy ASC Pomeroy £32,052.00

Rasharkin ASC Rasharkin £34,412.00

Skools Out Larne £10,000.00

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Southern Board 1st Call

Camowen Omagh £76,725.00

LCDI Limavady £39,497.00

Bright Ideas Derry £26,693.00

Active Alsorts Irvinestown £39,497.00

Kesh Kesh £26,693.00

Rascals Ballinamallard £39,497.00

Sugar & Spice Drumquin £26,693.00

Southern Board 2nd Call

Active Alsorts Irvinestown £9,167.00

Camowen Omagh £10,000.00

Donagheady ASC Donagheady £24,000.00

Drumahoe ASC Drumahoe £37,767.00

Erne East ASC Roslea £27,330.00

First Step OOSC Castlederg £14,759.00

Kesh ASC Kesh £9,631.80

Kids Inn ASC Greysteel £34,412.00

L.C.D.I. ASC Limavady £10,000.00

Smart Attack ASC Omagh £10,000.00

Strabane & District PlayClub Strabane £21,650.00

Strathroy ASC Strathroy £10,000.00

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FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS ON THE OUT 2 PLAYPROGRAMME• It improved my skills and gave me more

confidence to be more free with childrenconcerning physical play and let childrentake more risks.

• Having the opportunity to participate ineach of the activities as opposed to themjust being explained. Meeting a varietyof other workers and sharing ideas.

• Telling + encouraging the parents about the importance of physical play for theirchildren

• It gave my brain a kick-start to stop thinking about what we didn't have outside and tostart 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'rebenefiting from it.

• The course has expanded my view on my ownperformance being able to evaluate myself, mysurroundings, the children, putting it all together togive a bigger picture.

• Children are outside everyday now not just a fewtimes a week.

• I let the children be more spontaneous and don'talways follow the programme plan but follow upon their needs.

• The practical nature of the course ensured that Ifeel 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 newways of playing in the snow.

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

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

• How to have fun again, remembering ourchildhood, the mischief, the adventures, andencouraging our kids to take those extra steps toextend 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

The Out 2 Play project has gone from strength to strength during the past year. The aim ofthe project is to improve the long-term health and well being of children by increasing skillsand resources for physical play among playworkers. The Out 2 Play training course wasdeveloped and piloted with the support of Bob Hughes from PlayEducation, RupertBrakespear Environmental Educator for the Heritage and Environment Service, Jess WebbCommunity Artist, Kathryn Montgomery from Belfast Community Circus and an Advisorygroup 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 mostfantastic settings across Northern Ireland with the support of the Forest Service, theEnvironment and Heritage Service, North Eastern Education and Library Board and BelfastCity 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 eartheducation activities, play in the forest and remember traditional games. In terms oftheoretical content we discuss quality indicators for physical play, the play environment andthe playwork practice. In spite of the difficulties for groups and workers to find finance forextra cover for staff or for workers to give of their own time we have had 82 playworkersfrom 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 SmartKids,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 AfterschoolClub, K-Club, Upperlands Afterschool Club, Little Treasures Out of Schools,St Vincent de Paul, Mountainview Centre, Oasis, The Vine Centre, NorthQueen 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 CommunityCentre,Wishingwell, Mullanaskea Afterschool Club, FountainYouth 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 abouttheir enthusiasm and love for their work as well as some

of the difficulties they have advocating for theirchildren's right to play. In support of the participantswe have developed a video and are about to print aresource pack with suggestions for how some of the

issues around children's physical play needs and howthey 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 tosustain and develop this project for another three years. The Fit for Play quality awardscheme will be an opportunity for those who has already taken part in the Out 2 Playcourse 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 ofchildren and to improve play services by increasing physical play opportunities and healthyeating habits for 4-14 year olds.

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

Out to PlayOut 2 Play has been developed by PlayBoard and is a play based programmeencouraging play providers to enable children’s physical free play especially out doors.

Top PlayTop Play is an activity-based physical activity programme developed by the Youth SportsTrust. Active Clubs is an activity-based physical activity programme developed by theBritish Heart Foundation and Kids Club Network.

Food 4 PlayFood 4 Play will be developed in partnership with a variety of health promotion agenciesand will incorporate the five a day principle.

These three modules, once completed by staff in a play project, will be the basicrequirement for entering the Fit for Play scheme. Our training & development staff will thenwork with the play provider to work towards excellence of provision. When excellence hasbeen 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 forPeace 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 andeducation opportunities.

2003 saw the launch of the PlayCare Sustainable Support Project. The project, whichconsists of one full time and two part time staff members, will provide a support network forthe PlayCare Initiative throughout Northern Ireland. The team is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering a range of development activities to enable projects to meet thefunding 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 PlayCarenetworks with a view to further develop Playworkers and Management Committees capacityto ensure the delivery of quality accessible and sustainable services.

Presently the team is working with 74 PlayCare project across the Province, these are theprojects that were successful in PEACE II funding rounds 1 and 2, and this total equates tothe 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 provisionagainst the backdrop of funding uncertainty

The PlayCare Sustainability Support project team will continue to support projects tomeet the challenges and achieve its own demanding targets. The project is being externallyevaluated by Deirdre Fitzpatrick Consultancy.

PlayBoard launched the Out of School Hours Learning Project, funded by the ‘NewOpportunities Fund’ in the summer of 2002. At this time small pots of funding weremade 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 mostdeprived areas in the province. Through various activities children have been givenopportunities to develop new skills and experiences, mix with others, develop and improveself-esteem and generally have fun. Activities have included: Drama workshops, cookeryclubs, IT clubs, a local history project, dance, discussion groups, sports/team games…thelist is endless.

Playworkers and teachers have worked hard on devising programmes that appeal to thechildren 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 factorsmay 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 phasewith email links being made by children from all of the projects. We hope that this willdevelop into exchange visits and possibly a residential nearer the end of the initiative. Ithas to be said the benefits for children attending the projects have been enormous…playworkers, parents, teachers and indeed children themselves have commented on theskills that children have learnt whilst attending projects and at the same time having FUN,FUN,FUN.

“ The opportunity to develop through activities which promote theprocess of play is as essential to the full & healthy development ofchildren as taught learning. Yet it is a form of learning which is largerlyignored and unrecognised.”

(Heseltine & Holborn 1987).

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We like:

Playing, Parks,

Green Spaces,

Skate Parks,

Free places to

p

lay.

More freedom

for children!

Give us safer

streets, like cars

made out of rubber

We don’t like:

Sectarian graffiti;

flags, dirty

streets and litter,

school and

homework.

Get the

murders away

and the writing on

walls and everything

bad away, just

have good.

I need somewhere

to play!

I like to go out on my bike, but I can’t ‘cause of the glass on the road.

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As part of the pre-consultation work for the development of a Children’s Strategy forNorthern Ireland, PlayBoard was asked to facilitate an event for primary school agechildren in order to gather their views and opinions of what they felt should be included inthe strategy. Working in partnership with the Children & Young Peoples Unit and NIPPAan event took place at W5 in November 2002 and what fun we had!! The event wasplanned to give children the opportunity to express their views & opinions in a fun andinformal way. They were asked various questions in innovative ways. An example of themethods used were -

Graffiti Wall Children were provided with drawing facilities and were asked to drawpictures and write statements relating to the question “What can you do as a child that youcan’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 ofquestions. 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 boxwhere the screen should be. Children sent their answers to the question “Do you feel youcan make decisions about your life?” through the phones screen.

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

House Building This activity involved children making a house out of bricks. Each brickhad 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 drawingmaterials 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 thatnight!!!

So, what did you say?

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, theChildren and Young Peoples Unit, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure andthe Department of Education organised two conferences. The conferences aimwas to share the principles of ‘More is Caught than Taught’ and howthey can be used to bring people together to put children at theheart of their communities.

Conference delegates heard about:

• How ‘More is Caught than Taught’ has been used tobring community members together to provide the bestpossible environments for their children

• The impact of ‘More is Caught than Taught’ oncommunity members and providers of services forchildren, 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 wasled 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 delegatesrepresenting community, voluntary and statutory sectors attended the events.

The conference also incorporated the formal consultation exercise for Northern Irelandaround Governments plans for a proposed National Lottery funding Programme forChildren’s Play. A number of questions were posed to help establish participants viewson both general issues, such as play & play provision, and on more specific areas such asplay deficits in local communities and neighbourhoods and the particular play needs ofchildren & 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 theirvoices heard.

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

Frank Dobson’s Play Review Report is due to be released in December2003.

bye bye

PlayBoard Staff TeamMarguerite Hunter Blair..................... Chief ExecutiveCiara Murray................................... Personal Assistant to Chief Executive/PersonnelLisa O’Connor ................................. Administration AssistantClaire Houston................................. Receptionist/TelephonistJanette McKnight .............................. Finance ManagerMaura Moore & Ruth Murphy............ Finance & Monitoring OfficersSonia McAllister............................... Finance & Administration AssistantCaroline Butler ................................. Administration AssistantSuzi Gray........................................ NVQ Centre & Quality Assurance Co-ordinatorBarbara Hawkes .............................. Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Northern)Joan McGrath.................................. Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Western)Joanne Magee ................................. Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Southern)Dolores Wilson ............................... Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Eastern)Kyra Pauley ..................................... Childcare Partnership Development Officer (Eastern)Eva Kane ........................................ Fit for Play Team LeaderLorraine Murphy............................... Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Eastern)Caroline Kerr ................................... Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Northern)Sharon Donnelly............................... Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Southern)A Vacancy....................................... Fit for Play Training & Development Officer (Western) Jacqueline O’Loughlin....................... PlayCare Team LeaderMargaret Deevy ............................... PlayCare Sustainability OfficerA Vacancy....................................... PlayCare Sustainability Officer A Vacancy....................................... Business Development Officer (PlayBoard DEN)Caroline O’Kane.............................. Information & Campaigns Officer (until Sep 03)Mairead Watters .............................. Administration Assistant (until Oct 03)

PlayBoard Board of DirectorSBilly Boyd ......................................... ChairAmanda Lilley.................................... TreasurerBarbara McIlwrath.............................. Vice ChairRyan Williams, Peter McCartney, Janis McKenna, Mary Begley, Glenn Moore, Bill Shaw (until Nov 02), Dermott McElmeel (May 03)

Contact DetailSPlayBoard (Head Office) PlayBoard (Irvinestown Office) PlayBoard (Newry Office)59/65 York Street Market Yard Ballybot HouseBelfast Mill Street 28 CornmarketBT15 1AA Irvinestown BT94 4GR Newry BT35 8BG

Tel: 028 9080 3380 Tel/Fax: 028 6862 8825 Tel: 028 3025 2399Fax: 028 9080 3381

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