Improved play provision for teenagers and a drive towards improving access to play for children throughout the Great Yarmouth Borough area is being made possible following a Big Lottery Fund Children’s Play Programme grant of £243,400.
Over £150,000 is currently being invested in the installation of teenage equipment, with 12 sites in Yarmouth, Gorleston and a number of villages having benefited so far. The equipment and sites were chosen in conjunction with the Great Yarmouth Youth Forum.
The remainder of the grant is being used to employ a Play Development Worker with the specific task of developing and implementing a Play programme to increase opportunities for children aged 3 to 11 years to access free play provision within the Borough.
The Council’s Environmental Services Manager Simon Mutten said ‘With this grant around £700,000 of capital investment has been made in Borough Council play facilities over the last three years. This has enabled major improvements to be made across the Borough in line with the aims and objectives of the Councils Play Strategy.
‘We do recognise however that in some areas barriers still exist with regard to the accessing of play facilities and making the best use of them. That’s why the appointment of a Play Development Worker was integral to the bid we made to the Big Lottery Fund’
The new Play Development Worker, Adrian Barnes, started work in April based at the Marina Leisure Centre. Employed by the Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust who are delivering this element of the scheme on behalf of the Council, he is looking forward to the challenge.
He said ‘Play is essential to children’s happiness, health and development. Past generations of children spent lots of time outside both supervised and unsupervised enjoying different play experiences. Building sandcastles on the beach, swinging in the park, kicking a ball around and making dens. This has changed for a number of reasons including legitimate concerns about children’s safety as well as the introduction of less active play options such as video games. Although it would seem good that the menu of play opportunities has increased the fact is that children are spending less time in traditional forms of play and therefore losing out on its real benefits to their well being.
‘It is important that the Play agenda is taken seriously‘.
Adrian is looking to work with existing organisations, agencies, schools etc. to develop, promote and encourage free (i.e. non structured) play for children aged 3-11. ‘The primary resources available are the Borough’s Play areas, however it is anticipated that other play opportunities will also be developed’ he said.
Whilst Adrian will be working across the Borough, he will be looking particularly at issues and barriers to the accessing of play opportunities for children in South and Central Yarmouth and the Rural areas.
Currently links are being made with potential delivery partners and a Play Survey is being conducted which Adrian is keen should get as big a response as possible. He is therefore offering the children of the Borough an incentive to fill in and return the forms.
‘If you are a Parent or Guardian and your child comes home from school with a Play Survey please encourage them to complete and return it. We are very keen to receive their comments and they will be rewarded with a free swim token for the Marina Centre.’
If you represent an organisation and would like to be involved in the Play programme, would like a copy of the questionnaire or simply want to know more, please contact Adrian Barnes on 01493 851521 or email adrianbarnes@gyslt.com.
For more details on this Big Lottery funded project contact Simon Mutten, Environmental Services Manager, GYBC on 01493 846449 or scm@great-yarmouth.gov.uk. Or Marie Hartley, Culture, Sport and Leisure Manager GYBC on 01493 846354 or email mlh@great-yarmouth.gov.uk