NVSC - Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium

Play Seminar

March 03, 2008

On the first Friday in February, NVSC in partnership with Community Links, financially supported by Extended Services, held a Play Seminar.

Although small in number the energy and commitment shown by, in the main, playworkers was tremendous.

Each one of the workshop sessions was thought provoking and I am sure
that everyone that participated came away with fresh ideas.

Based on the 5 Every Child Matters themes, we looked at the role of play in helping to deliver the governments agenda and as important how play can also deliver the targets that the Borough has set.

It is quite clear that there has been a significant downsizing and perhaps
more concerning, in the value of play. Colleagues were all able to recall how
different the Borough was even 5 years ago.

We heard that there were currently 23 regeneration schemes happening or
planned for Newham - and the Olympics was the 17th largest. All of these
schemes will have an impact on the quality of life of the children and young people who live in the borough and a concerted effort should be made to ensure that each one of the regeneration schemes incorporates sufficient facilities for play.

The Borough have been awarded some 1 million pounds to deliver its Play Strategy from the Big Lottery. This will fund 7 different schemes - all being
delivered in the parts of the Borough that currently have little or no facilities.

The seminar pledged to continue to lobby both the Council and other Statutory
Authorities to put play higher on their Agenda.

We hope to make this an Annual event and to have an ongoing conversation
with decision makers.

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