Play Wales has released the first of a series of guides exploring some of the theories that influence the way adults understand children, the role of play and childhood, as well as the ethics of working with playing children. The first guide: Explores some of the ideas, concepts and theories of child development and childhood … Continue reading Play Wales publishes first of new series on play theory
Inspecting your adventure playground
As practitioner-led structure building declines, Rob Wheway of the Children's Play Advisory Service explains how inspection training is part of a renaisance of this quintessential feature of the traditional adventure playground. Over the course of its history, adventure play has had a variety of attributes promulgated as its defining practice ethos, with different aspects taking … Continue reading Inspecting your adventure playground
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: A CALL FOR URGENT MASS ACTION
A message from The All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood Zoom Meeting open to all – Monday 8th February 2021 at 4.30 pmThe APPG is inviting you to an open meeting with the aim of encouraging and co-ordinating sector-wide activity to press for improved mental health support for children and young people. It … Continue reading MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: A CALL FOR URGENT MASS ACTION
Mapping adventure playgrounds in the UK
The Playwork Foundation is attempting to compile a current database of adventure playgrounds, knowing that there have sadly been many closures in recent years. We also want to extend the scope of the data to cover the whole of the UK. We are asking members and supporters to help us to review the attached spreadsheet … Continue reading Mapping adventure playgrounds in the UK
All-Wales Playworkers Forum, 2020
by Simon Bazley The All Wales Playworkers Forum has been running since 2007. Orginally established by Play Wales to provide a forum for those working in adventure playgrounds it has evolved to meet the needs of the sector. The Playworkers Forum is run by a dedicated steering group of playworkers, for playworkers. In the past … Continue reading All-Wales Playworkers Forum, 2020
Researching playwork in the pandemic
Dr Pete King of Swansea University is researching the playwork field's response to the pandemic and has two opportunities to get involved. Adventure Playgrounds Dr. King is looking for anyone involved in adventure playground to take part in a study on how adventure playgrounds have been adapted since post-lockdown measures were put in place in … Continue reading Researching playwork in the pandemic
Questions to a playworker…
Adele Cleaver trained as a playworker in Birmingham back in 2010. She calls herself “a nomadic Brummie” who after dabbling in playful adventures and community work in Leeds, London and Birmingham and Ghana, Portugal, Brazil, Uganda and Kenya now resides in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with her 4-year-old daughter and husband. In … Continue reading Questions to a playworker…
Meriden in the pandemic
Trustee Ali Wood describes how Meriden Adventure Playground, in Chelmsley Wood in the West Midlands, is managing to continue its vital work through the Covid crisis Like all other playgrounds, we had to close during the lockdown. We furloughed most of the staff but kept two on to stay in touch with the community and … Continue reading Meriden in the pandemic
Level 2 Apprenticeship in Playwork
by Gill GamesChair of the Playwork Trailblazer Apprenticeship Group Over three years ago now, a group of playwork employers began the journey to build a new Trailblazer Apprenticeship for Playworkers. Probably if those involved had realised the size of the mountain (actually that should be mountains) in front of them, this journey might never have … Continue reading Level 2 Apprenticeship in Playwork
Researching playfulness on the streets during lockdown
By Alison Stenning and Wendy Russell A bit of background This research is part of a larger project that Alison was working on, funded by a Leverhulme Research Fellowship, focused on how organised street play sessions using the Playing Out model were remaking relationships between people and places on the street. Fieldwork on this project … Continue reading Researching playfulness on the streets during lockdown