api comment
Making a difference
A soft play area transforms a local community, bringing generations closer together and galvanising change for the better.
PLAY is vital for children’s development providing opportunities for social interaction and keeping them fit and active, which is why the Association of Play Industries and its member companies promote play in any format. Where children’s play areas are
successfully embraced by communities, a picture of change in the lives of the children and communities emerges. Such change has been witnessed by Rev. Mark Evans, who describes himself as a minister, youth worker and organiser of the new soft play centre at the Belvedere and Erith Congregational Church. The Noah’s Ark Soft Play area was the culmination of six months of planning and fundraising to raise £150,000 by the church and the community to augment the work of its Picardy playgroup. Operating on a no charge basis, Evans describes the facility as a gift to the community, and it’s one that has brought about significant change. “Our indoor play area has contributed to an amazing transformation in the community. People meet and make friends. The success of what we’ve been doing has shown that where children come and play,
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their parents and carers interact with each other,” says Evans. This also happens inter-generationally with some older members of the community acting as surrogate grandparents to younger families. “There are a high number of young, single mothers in the area who appreciate having a friendly person to chat to about the normal worries children bring,” he says. The indoor play area is currently
working with a local college to help some of the young mums who dropped out of education to gain an NVQ in child care. And using the centre’s kitchen facility, staff are encouraging mothers and children to adopt healthier eating habits. Some 60 to 80 children now visit the
centre daily with their parents and carers to enjoy the soft play, take part in arts and crafts activities and enjoy healthy snacks. As these numbers grow, so does community strength. Serving the community is in the best
traditions of the play industry says the API’s Graham Robinson. “Working closely with representatives of these communities is vital to ensuring the benefits of play are
experienced by the largest number of people to the greatest extent.” The Noah’s Ark project is just one of
many community lead stories published in a booklet by the Association of Play Industries, which demonstrates how inspirational and beneficial children’s play can be. Copies are available at
www.api-play.org
For a copy of the current API Directory of members, contact: Deborah Holt,
Association of Play Industries, Federation House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2RF. T: +44 (0)24 7641 4999 ext 208 F: +44 (0)24 7641 4990 E:
api@api-play.org W:
www.api-play.org
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