Getting it Right Legally

Playwork Partnerships in partnership with the law firm Bates Wells and Braithwaite has developed two illustrated guides providing legal guidance on: status and structures for childcare and play providers; and contract and grant relationships between local authorities/funders and childcare organisations.

The idea for Getting it Right Legally - Status and Structure for Play and Childcare Organisations (GIRL 1) came from the responses of the groups across the country involved in developing and trialling the 4Children toolkit for Voluntary Management Committees called ‘Making it Happen’. The feedback was that groups needed more help on the legal side – specifically guidance on the different legal structures and forms of governance – in order to select the most appropriate legal form for what they wanted to do.

Following widespread use of GIRL 1, further feedback from the field suggested that what was needed was a similarly developed guide to successful contracting with local authorities to deliver a range of children’s services.  Anecdotal evidence of public sector/voluntary and community sector engagement suggests many organisations encounter frustrations and difficulties in this area. As a result Getting it Right Legally - Contract and Grant Relationships between Local Authorities/Funders and Community Play and Childcare Organisations (GIRL 2) was developed.

Like GIRL 1, the purpose of GIRL 2 is to clarify and demystify legal issues faced by those running community play and childcare organisations – it aims to provide practical guidance and to minimise technical legal content.

Following on from the continuing success of GIRL, a series of very well received ‘how to use it’ seminars have been delivered. Julian Blake of Bates, Wells and Braithwaite and independent consultant Charlotte Pace have been engaged, in association with Playwork Partnerships, in seminars over the last three years, delivered principally to local authority play and childcare community development officers in both England and Wales.

• More information on GIRL 1
• More information on GIRL 2
• More information on the How to use it Seminars
• Frequently Asked Questions  (GIRL 1)

A short film has been created as an introduction to GIRL 1. Filmed during a 'how to use it' seminar the 3-4 minute film gives insight into the GIRL material and training. For a complementary copy contact girl@playwork.co.uk.