What is “Play works…!” Neath Port Talbot?
Who are we?
The “Play works…!” Team consists of three Play Development
Workers and a Play Development assistant, overseen by one Play
Officer. These posts are funded by the Cymorth grant, which is
money from the Welsh Assembly dedicated to supporting children and
young people from 0 to 25. We are based in Taibach, Port
Talbot.
What do we do?
Promote Play for children and young people in Neath Port Talbot
…by organising and attending special events and community events in
order to raise the profile of Play and “Play works…!” NPT. We let
parents and community groups know how important it is to children’s
development for them to play freely and safely.
Promote Open-access adventurous play …using adventure play
sessions where children can play in their natural environment,
which also means playing in the mud and the rain! Children are
taken back to the future, playing the way their parents used to
play – making tents, swings, dens, mudslides, bike ramps…the list
goes on!
Provide play activities:
- Holiday playschemes – open access playschemes, held in
community centres/halls and schools aimed at children between the
ages of 5 – 11.
- Supervised sessions in playgrounds – open access play sessions
where playworkers visit parks and playgrounds, taking equipment
with them in a van.
- After school adventure play – adventure play sessions held in
local parks, playgrounds and school fields after school.
Advise on play in and out of school …by providing school staff
and pupils with ideas for play during school times and emphasizing
the importance of play during and after school.
Support communities to provide play opportunities for children
in their local area so if you have any ideas or need support,
please get in touch with us using the details on the contact us page.
Play Working Group
The Play Working Group (PWG) is a sub-group of the Children’s
Partnership and is made up of representatives from agencies with an
interest in play. It is not a constituted body, and has no direct
funding, but makes recommendations to the Framework Partnership
Reference Group, based on advice from its members. It seeks to use
the Cymorth funding that are known as the ‘play grant’ and which
have been allocated for the development of play in Neath Port
Talbot.
The PWG meets every two months and currently has three working
groups that meet when needed. One of its main tasks has been to
oversee the development of the NPT Play Policy into a Play
Strategy. It is composed of representatives from the following:
- Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
- Celtic Community Leisure
- Children and Young People's Framework Partnership
- Playright – Play Resource Centre
- Interplay – integrated and inclusive play
- NPT Council for Voluntary Service
- NCH Action for Children
- Play Wales
Play Policy
Neath Port Talbot has had a Play Policy for over two years and
the strategy has been developed from it. It is available to view
here.
(Note: to download the files, click on the links above. For further details on how to view PDF documents, refer to our Help pages.)
Play Strategy
The final draft of the strategy is available to view and
download in English and Welsh.
(Note: to download the files, click on the links above. For further details on how to view PDF documents, refer to our Help pages.)
The strategy will be presented to various networks and forums
and circulated to fellow professionals who work with children, for
their views. It will then be submitted for approval by the
Framework Partnership and NPT Council.