play &
activity today More shorts
* After four years of unprecedented national
investment in children’s play, Play England’s major conference will consider its impact, explore how to sustain the momentum for change, and ask ‘what next for play provision, playwork and playable public space?’ The conference is both for play professionals – exploring the role of playwork practice across a range of children’s services – and for all those who want to improve children’s well-being by addressing the full scope of their place in the public realm. Visit the website to find out more, including special offers and agenda updates.
* Funding to get children walking to school
A scheme that encourages families to ditch the car and walk their children to school at least once a week is to receive an £800,000 boost from the Government. The ‘Walk Once a Week’ scheme run by Living Streets, rewards children who walk to school one day a week with a collectable metal badge for each month they take part. The funding will be used to expand the scheme to at least 900 more schools with a focus on the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Tyne and Wear, where there are higher numbers of overweight and obese children.
* SkillsActive has launched a consultation on its UK
strategy for playwork education, training and qualifications and is urging the play sector to get involved. A series of regional consultation events will be held, and a questionnaire is available on the SkillsActive website until 9 April 2010.
A revolutionary new concept in play is proven to improve the fitness of our children. New research on the electronic PlayAlive, undertaken by Staffordshire University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Research, has shown that this latest piece of play equipment can significantly increase children’s heart rates which can ultimately benefit their health. The launch of PlayAlive coincides with a recent study* that has revealed alarming figures indicating that fitness levels of British children are falling twice as quickly as the global average, with youngsters being significantly less fit than they were a decade ago.
The giant spider-shaped PlayAlive is interlaced with web-like climbing ropes with a central computer console that allows interactive electronic games to be played via satellites around the
structure.Researchers from the University studied children aged 9-11 and test results revealed that those playing on
Getting kids fit!
PlayAlive equipment. They continued to expend further calories after they had finished using PlayAlive as their heart rates continued to be raised after they had stopped. Dr Jacky Forsyth, Senior
Lecturer in Exercise Physiology Sport and Exercise at Staffordshire
University
commented, “The physical activity recommendation for children is to accumulate at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous activity.
Case Study
the PlayAlive equipment were exercising mostly at between 60-80% of their age-related maximum heart rate, which
equates to moderate to vigorous physical activity. Based on the average heart rate profiles**, it was
estimated that the children were using approximately 100- 220kcal (calories) for each 15 minutes they spent on the
Therefore any play equipment that encourages children to exercise regularly will be hugely beneficial to their health and wellbeing.”
Wicksteed Click here to request literature Community calls for play provision
Calls from a local community triggered Calderdale Council and the Elland & District Partnership (EDP) to focus efforts on raising funds to renovate a tired ballcourt that had been in place on James Street since the 1960s. The need for the James Street renovation was identified following complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour, litter and rubbish, and the poor condition of the existing play equipment that was known locally as “the doss”. With the support of Calderdale Council, the EDP, that includes representatives from the police, local councillors and local residents,
was successful in securing £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund through the People’s Millions initiative. Children from The
Brooksbank High School played a major role in securing the funds by making a video to show the local community why the revival of the ballcourt was essential to the community. The school now plans to use the MUGA as an extension to their own sports facilities. Additional funding was secured through Section 106 planning gain funds and the EDP’s own funds, which has helped make the new MUGA a destination play facility with children coming from the surrounding boroughs to enjoy the facilities.
The consultation process involved members of the EDP arranging door to door visits, school surveys and open EDP meetings.
spirit by involving local children and residents in all aspects of the redevelopment. They wanted to provide a place for families to meet, and for children and young people to have fun in the heart of their community. Mick Wilby, Playgrounds Manager from Calderdale Council comments; “The Elland & District Partnership is one of the most vibrant community groups that I work with, it really is testament to them that the James Street project progressed and is proving to be so successful. It was clear from early on in the tender process that the Sutcliffe Play MUGA was perfect for James Street.
Its Children and
young people all stated that whilst they did not use the current run-down ballcourt they would use an upgraded facility. The EDP wanted the project to build community
18 CLICK HERE TO REQUEST LITERATURE Enquire at:
www.playat.co.uk/enquire
unique sound insulation system was ideal for the area due to its close proximity to housing, and I’m sure our planning and environment office would fully support the project as it meets the current standards on sound. We’ve received no complaints from the local community throughout the whole process highlighting just how much the community has embraced
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST LITERATURE the project.”
Joe Braithwaite, Chairman of the EDP comments; “We’re delighted with the new ballcourt and the response from the local community. Just to see children and young people of all ages playing on it together shows how much the community needed this.”
For more information on the Sutcliffe Play product range or to find out more regarding this particular project just use the reader enquiry service provided.
Sutcliffe Play Click here to request literature
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