Association of Play Industries


play &


activity today


More shorts


* The State of Happiness – new report The Young


Foundation and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) have published a report that analyses in-depth pilot schemes - from teaching resilience to children in schools to promoting neighbourliness - with three councils in different areas of the country. Among other things the report recommends that schools should teach resilience - drawing on strong evidence that this improves academic performance and behaviour as well as the employability of pupils.


* Drawing the line’ – a report on the Government’s


The future of Play


The API considers what Decade-2010 offers and announces Playfair 2010 A welcome outlook involves continued government interest, attention and hopefully funding. Play England has brought public engagement to the fore and raised the natural play profile to be part of local authority play planning. The play industry has come of age as dedicated exhibition, PlayFair, enters its third year this June. We have seen moves from primarily risk-averse provision to a culture that encourages challenge, assessing risks and the thrill and reward it gives children. A normal part of mainstream play planning, design and delivery now


includes accessibility, meeting wider community needs and making use of existing natural elements.


What does the next decade offer?


For many local authorities


play area development will continue to depend on third- party turnkey provision of community engagement, design, installation and maintenance. Short term, local authorities, play manufacturers and Play England are all focused on delivering the Playbuilder and Pathfinder projects to 2010 and 2011 deadlines. More


broadly, with


Playbuilder and Pathfinder allocations going to Children’s


Services, others are now becoming involved in play provision beyond its traditional home within the Parks Depts. The growing involvement of other departments and stakeholders, as they see how play also meets their agendas, is a positive development. Play England’s Play Shaper training for police, planners, transport, health officers supports this.


Sustainability for


environmental and financial reasons is likely to be centre stage, with use of kinetic, natural wind and water power, although electronic play’s need for power is an interesting counter trend. Hopefully in future the


different interests within play; playworkers, manufacturers, adventure play, natural play, etc., will come together, be more tolerant of each other and work together – especially as we are all now dealing with so many different disciplines.


Showtime 2010! Well set for this new decade the API and its member companies kick off the decade with Playfair 2010. The API is delighted to announce Playfair will return to Stoneleigh Park in Coventry for its third year, on 22nd and 23rd June 2010. Ninety percent of exhibitor space has already been taken up by eager exhibitors. Organised by Brintex in partnership with the Association of Play Industries (API) and with the backing of umbrella body the Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA), PlayFair is the only dedicated trade exhibition in the UK which attracts the majority of outdoor children’s play and safety surfacing companies. PlayFair gives these companies the stage to


CLICK HERE TO REQUEST LITERATURE Enquire at: www.playat.co.uk/enquire


showcase and demonstrate their products and services all in one place each year. Entry and the easy, ample parking are free to all visitors.


Uniquely for the play


industry, PlayFair has groups children from local schools visiting and dashing to try out the play equipment. Their laughter, fun, excitement and sheer enjoyment really bring an already friendly and informal trade show to life - and delight visitors and exhibitors.


API chairman, John


Croasdale commented, “We are delighted that PlayFair is such a huge success and that our members continue to support the event. In 2010, I know that our members will be displaying yet more exciting and innovative products which, along with the seminar programme, will attract many visitors.


Companies which have


already booked include - Kompan, Proludic, SMP, Eibe, Record


RSS, Wicksteed,


Husson, Sutcliffe’s, Lappset, Play&Leisure, Park Leisure, UAC, Huck Nets, Matta Products, SSP, EJ Services, Playdale, Jupiter and Firesmart.


Alongside the exhibition will be a full two-day seminar programme. Produced by the API, the seminars will cover and debate all of the latest opportunities and issues within the play sector. Entry to seminars is free but booking early and arriving early is advised as each year several are often over subscribed. In addition, an API Design


Group will be delivering a feature area covering an outdoor space of over 1700sqm, where visitors and the local school children can try out and test the latest in play equipment in a natural environment.


Event manager, Ray Baxter CLICK HERE TO REQUEST LITERATURE 19


For all the up to date information on PlayFair 2010, please see its dedicated website at www.playfairuk.com


For further details on PlayFair 2010, please call Ray Baxter on 020 7973 4695 and for the two-day seminar programme contact API association manager, Deborah Holt 02476 414999 www.api-play.org


Association of Play Industries Click here to request literature


commented, “We are delighted with the response from the industry to PlayFair. This event has really hit the spot for exhibitors and visitors.”


vetting and barring scheme. This report takes into account public concerns about the scheme and checks that the Government had drawn the line in the right place in relation to the requirement to register, particularly with regard to the frequency of contact with children which should trigger the obligation to register with the ISA. Views from a wide range of key individuals and organisations on the issues were considered.


* Stepping Into Play - a programme for parents


Inspire has developed a participatory programme to raise parents and carers’ awareness about the importance of play. The Stepping into Play can be delivered by family support staff after they have taken part in the two day training the trainers’ course facilitated by Inspire.


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