The Big Bug Hunt

Nurseries and playgroups from across Bristol have the chance to help raise funds for a city-based charity by hunting out some cheeky bugs. The Big Bug Hunt is the exciting new event for under fives run by Meningitis UK where children can have fun finding the Cheeky Bug.

Tots will be able to take part in a variety of events and activities tailored to the abilities and interests of pre-school children, including a sponsored bug hunt or obstacle course, fancy dress or colouring competition. It can be held at anytime throughout September and October 2008 and by taking part, nursery and pre-school groups will be helping to protect children from meningitis - a disease which particularly affects children under the age of five.

Money raised from the Big Bug Hunt will go towards Meningitis UK’s Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign and groups will also have the option of keeping 25 per cent for their own organisation.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: katerowland@meningitisuk.org

Telephone: 0117 302 6195

Olympics 2012 - play ideas

As you are aware 2012 is the year of the Olympics and already the pace is being set for exciting things and play should not be left out!

As part of the developments Play England are looking for events and activities that are already being planned with the Olympics in mind. If you have something planned and would like to raise its profile and spread the great word of play then please let Play England know about it.

In addition to this there will be many ways in which you can get involved and we would love to hear of any ideas that you have come up with when talking to the children and young people that you work with.

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: play-sw@ncb.org.uk

Telephone:

Qualifying the Playwork Workforce

A great opportunity to provide practical support for playworkers is now available. The offer, to fund 4000 playworkers to achieve Level 3 NVQ qualifications in Playwork, has emerged from the government’s commitment in the Children’s Plan to support individuals in playwork to gain skills and take a professional role.

For the full report click on the link below.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: skills@skillsactive.com

Telephone:

SkillsActive launch Play On toolkit

SkillsActive, in partnership with Move On Up, has developed a toolkit for playwork employers called Play On.

The toolkit offers practical and useful information to help playwork employers think about how they can support their staff to develop their English and maths skills.

The toolkit is an invaluable resource to playwork employers and covers areas like; what the benefits are when playworkers improve their English and maths skills and how employers can set up, promote, evaluate and engage staff in the training.

Paul Bonel, Playwork Unit Director at SkillsActive, said: “Reading, writing and simple arithmetic are part of our everyday lives. Yet, according to the Leitch review, it’s the basic skills like these that a third of UK adults do not have. And, the same review of skills predicts that 90% of jobs will require level 2 qualifications by 2010.

“Playworkers rely on English and maths skills all the time; whether it’s preparing a budget for an activity, writing a letter to parents or completing a risk assessment. And, when staff are given the opportunity to brush up their English and maths skills, there are numerous benefits, not only for the individual and the people they’re in daily contact with, but for the employer as well."

It’s never too late to develop English and maths skills and now, with the Play on toolkit, playwork employers are able to support their staff to develop these skills.”

SkillsActive’s Regional Development Managers (RDMs) will be distributing copies of the toolkit at regional workshops.

Visit: www.skillsactive.com/training/skillsforlife/resources for more information

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: swplay@skillsactive.com

Telephone: 01242 714601

How to apply to BBC Children In Need

MEET THE FUNDERS
HOW TO APPLY TO BBC CHILDREN IN NEED
A FREE 3 HOUR WORKSHOP

An opportunity to hear at first hand from Emma Beeston, Regional Manager of the South West Region at BBC Children in Need.

This interactive workshop has been designed to improve your skills and knowledge to attract funding from Children in Need to improve outcomes for children and young people in Gloucestershire.

There will be a focus on designing and achieving outcomes and involving children and young people in the process.

The workshop will take place on

Date: Monday 21st July
Time: 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Place: GAVCA Training Room, Gloucester

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: training@gavca.org.uk

Telephone: 01452 332424

Design for Play - presentation available

The Design for Play: a guide to creating successful play spaces presentation is available now.

A presentation based on the forthcoming publication Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces, by Aileen Shackell, Nicola Butler, Phil Doyle and David Ball, to be published by Play England is now available on the Free Play Network and Play England websites at: http://www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk/designforplay or you can access it as a .pdf from the Play England website as below.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: nbutler@freeplaynetwork.org.uk

Telephone:

Give us back our game

The Give Us Back Our Game campaign aims to promote a more playful, child-centred approach to football. Paul Cooper, co-founder of the campaign, is keen to make contact with people from the play sector who may be interested in taking forward the campaign locally.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: giveusbackourgame@gmail.com

Telephone:

New CYPS directory for Gloucestershire

The launch of new Children and Young People’s Service Directory will be Wednesday 6th August 10-3pm at GL1, Gloucester.

This National Play Day event hosted by the Family Advice Service, Gloucestershire County Council will be held on Wednesday, 6th August from 10 - 3 with the actual 'launch' of the Directory at 12.30 p.m.

The Directory is an online information resource www.gloscypdirectory.gov.uk.which is supported by a free telephone helpline (0800 542 02 02 and email support: childrensinformationservice@gloucestershire.gov.ukIt is for children, young people and their families, as well as practitioners and volunteers, to access national, regional and local information to support children, young people and their families.

Children, young people, their families and interested voluntary and community sector groups are invited to come along to the event which will feature:

· free activities including WII challenge, soccer skills, crafts, traditional games, face painting and more
· promotion of the new directory,
· information and networking opportunities

For further information contact Jane Lakin, Assistant Manager, Family Advice Service, Children and Young People's Directorate
Gloucestershire County Council.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: jane.lakin@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01452 425844

Playing on the Range – New KIDS NDD Training

Did you know that KIDS National Development Department’s training team has added ‘Play Ranger’ training to their portfolio of courses?

Many local authority BIG Lottery Fund bids for new play projects emphasised the development of outdoor and inclusive play environments for all children and young people. Some of these projects have extended the role of playworkers into “play rangers” to support activities in public play areas.

Working with Playwork Partnerships, the South West Centre for Playwork Education and Training, KIDS NDD can now offer “Playing on the Range”. This 3 day course, endorsed by SkillsActive at Level 2, builds on Playwork Partnerships’ experience from the “Playing on the Wildside” project. A related course, Playing with the Elements (endorsed at Level 3) is also available from KIDS.

From the autumn, the current KIDS’ ‘Let’s All Play!’ training will also be available as a one day option that introduces Play Rangers to inclusive play principles and practices. If your play ranger team is relatively small, you may be eligible for a reduced course fee if you ‘host a venue’ and work in partnership with one or more neighbouring authorities.

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: training@kids.org.uk

Telephone:

Boys and Girls Don't Come Out To Play

This article featured in Saturday's Guardian. Written by Cath Elliott, it also includes a comment from Jan Cosgrove, Fair Play's National Secretary.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/12/youngpeople?commentpage=3&commentposted=1

It's a must-read for those who fear the current legislative and social pressure around children's rights to walk freely in their own streets.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: fairplay@arunet.co.uk

Telephone:

Play England membership

Message from Play England:

Since our launch in 2006, Play England has worked with government and partners in the play and related sectors to help effect real change in policy for children's play and better opportunities for free play providers. Now, with local and national play strategies recently launched, it is an exciting time to get involved and ensure that children and young people get real, long-term benefit from these changes.

As well as continuing to support local, regional and national partners, Play England promotes quality standards in all aspects of play provision. We also research and demonstrate the benefits of play, to raise awareness - at all levels - of the need to provide high quality play opportunities for all children and young people.

One of our strengths is that we work with and on behalf of our members, building consensus and providing a strong voice for the play sector. Play England members meet regularly as the Play England Council (formerly Children's Play Council) to help us develop our strategy, form policy positions and to share good practice, information and support with each other.

Regular mailings will keep you up-to-date with the latest news and policy initiatives for the play sector, plus in-depth briefings on key topics. Further benefits include discounts on publications, conferences and training, plus access to NCB's library and information service.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: playenglandmembers@ncb.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7843 6016

Playday - Give us a go! 6th August

Playday, now in its 21st year, is the annual celebration of children's right to play - a national campaign, which this year culminates on Wednesday 6 August. On Playday and throughout the summer of 2008, thousands of children, young people and communities will get out and play at hundreds of locally organised events across the UK. Playday events range from small-scale neighbourhood get-togethers to large-scale public events organised by local authorities and national organisations.

This year's Playday theme is about risk and play and the title is Give us a go! The campaign calls for children to be allowed challenging and adventurous play opportunities and aims to shake off the 'cotton wool' culture that can limit children’s play. There are over 50 playday events happening in the South West! Visit the Playday website and click on the Events Near You page for all the details.

more info

Author:

Date: 15/07/2008

Email: playday@ncb.org.uk

Telephone:

Date

Name

10/01/2007

Play in Local Area Agreements:

12/02/2007

Play Research Network Meetings

13/12/2006

Bright Ideas for Play: 11th So

17/01/2007

Benefits of play and playwork

10/01/2007

Communities & Local Government

24/01/2007

Play Indicators update

13/12/2006

Playwork Level 2 NOS review co

13/12/2006

Playwork Partnerships new look

10/01/2007

Examples of play in extended s

12/02/2007

Fundraising opportunities for

24/01/2007

Have Your Say - the largest ev

24/01/2007

All Kids Need Play

24/01/2007

New BANES Community Play Range

12/02/2007

Common Threads Publications

12/02/2007

Global Grants Funding with The

12/02/2007

Level 2 Playwork National Occu

05/03/2007

Play England briefing: Safegua

05/03/2007

Level 2 Playwork National Occu

05/03/2007

Children's Stars Awards 2007

05/03/2007

Playday 2007 - Our Streets too

05/03/2007

University of York / Play Engl

24/04/2007

Community Tutors needed for Gl

15/05/2007

Children's Workforce Mobility

15/05/2007

Junkyard Online Sports Communi

15/05/2007

Love Parks 16th - 24th June 2

27/03/2007

Wholeland playful outdoor lear

15/05/2007

The Playwork Partnerships offi

12/02/2007

Invitation to Tender - Play Ra

05/03/2007

Risk assessment workshops for

27/03/2007

PLAYLINK / Free Play Network:

27/03/2007

New Volunteer Manager's Traini

24/04/2007

Summer Term 2007 – PIP Regiona

15/05/2007

EDCM Update 15 - Vote for disa

23/05/2007

Play Wales new publication - T

23/05/2007

What do you think of your loca

23/05/2007

Invitation to tender: Managing

23/05/2007

EDCM Update 18 - Government an

23/05/2007

Regional Integrated Qualificat

23/05/2007

9th July - SkillsActive South

10/07/2007

Biggest parks survey ever cond

07/08/2007

SPARC - Let's educate and recr

07/08/2007

Children's Rights Alliance Age

07/08/2007

Summer Wild Weeks - Free resid

18/06/2007

Children's Society Research pu

18/06/2007

Playground Partnerships Initia

24/04/2007

Gloucestershire Resource Centr

24/04/2007

Play Today Organiser's Seminar

24/04/2007

The Foundation Degree in Playw

24/04/2007

Children's Stars Awards 2007 -

24/04/2007

‘The Venture - A Case Study o

24/04/2007

SkillsActive Playwork Survey d

24/04/2007

University of Gloucestershire

05/03/2007

NICE guidance on physical acti

05/03/2007

Review of the Charter for Chil

27/03/2007

Childcare Workforce Conference

27/03/2007

Sports Surfaces - review of th

27/03/2007

Playday Wednesday 1st August 2

24/04/2007

Playwork Jobs - Online Recruit

15/05/2007

T&GU and CYWU lauch national c

15/05/2007

Venues for new Common Threads

23/05/2007

FREE Open University Training

18/06/2007

Play Ranger Job Opportunities

18/06/2007

EDCM - If I could change one t

18/06/2007

The Local Network Fund for Chi

18/06/2007

The new Playday website is now

18/06/2007

Play Awards Mean a Lotto fun f

18/06/2007

Charter for Childhood

18/06/2007

Joint Area Review – Children &

10/07/2007

Playful children are set to de

07/08/2007

Guardian article: make sure yo

07/08/2007

Free Range Childhood Conferenc

07/08/2007

Summer 2007 edition of SWOP no

07/08/2007

New date for South West Employ

21/08/2007

Join Kids National Development

21/08/2007

SkillsActive Out to Play Confe

21/08/2007

FREE strategic planning traini

15/05/2007

ENSAC (Finland) Conference Can

07/08/2007

Play England welcomes Governme

21/08/2007

Play England - Innovation in P

05/09/2007

EDCM Update 30 - EDCM launche

05/09/2007

Everyone Can Play Tutor Traini

05/09/2007

Play sector case studies requi

06/09/2007

The Play and Early Years Train

26/09/2007

Time To Talk - National Consul

26/09/2007

Autumn 2007 - PIP Regional Pla

26/09/2007

Practical approach to playtime

26/09/2007

Play England South West Rural

26/09/2007

PlayEducation Conference 16/17

26/09/2007

PlayEducation Conference 2007

26/09/2007

Geographies of Play, Boston, U

17/10/2007

South West Job Vacancies inc.

17/10/2007

CABE Space launches design ski

17/10/2007

Play England - South West Rura

17/10/2007

Free Inclusion Training in Glo

30/10/2007

INVITATION TO TENDER

21/11/2007

Let's All Playinclusive play a

21/11/2007

Free Range Childhood Conferenc

21/11/2007

New Young Mayor for Newham (Lo

21/11/2007

Request for best practice exam

21/11/2007

Participation Works Training

21/11/2007

World Jungle (based in Dursely

05/12/2007

PIP National Annual Conference

05/12/2007

Children's Play in Natural Env

23/05/2007

Playwork Voices - new publicat

23/05/2007

Playworkers – Defenders of Chi

18/06/2007

Growing Up With Risk - new pub

10/07/2007

Groundwork Playscape's Communi

18/06/2007

No Risk, No Play? Online Discu

18/06/2007

Get Play Noticed!

10/07/2007

Playworker's Day Out

21/08/2007

Job Vacancites at CSV Environm

17/10/2007

Gloucestershire Clustering of

21/11/2007

Play and Health: Investigating

05/12/2007

Time To Talk - Consultation Re

05/12/2007

11 Million Takeover Day, 23rd

05/12/2007

Possible Futures for Playwork

05/12/2007

Improving Play Areas in Hospti

05/12/2007

New Somerset Play Forum websit

05/12/2007

Play England Briefing Papers

05/12/2007

Play Project Co-ordinator, Ede

08/01/2008

Children's Plan

09/12/2007

Hospital Play Specialist Award

12/12/2007

SWOP Newsletter Autumn 2007 -

12/12/2007

MTCS 10% off Playwork & Childc

12/12/2007

SkillsActive Out2Play Conferen

12/12/2007

Playwork Partnerships resource

12/12/2007

Playing on the Range - new L2

19/12/2007

Search for trainers to write o

08/01/2008

Play Designers database

09/01/2008

Support for groups working wit

22/01/2008

Call for papers - Possible Fut

18/06/2007

VCS Engage - free training in

17/10/2007

Play Soundings - Response from

17/10/2007

Getting Started With Your Fore

17/10/2007

Free Range Childhood Conferenc

21/11/2007

No Fear - new book by Tim Gill

21/11/2007

Children's Workforce Developme

21/11/2007

Seen and Heard Report

12/12/2007

Free Development Days for the

08/01/2008

Development Days for the Child

08/01/2008

Turning the 2020 Vision Into R

09/01/2008

Upcoming events in the Playwor

09/01/2008

Call for articles for next edi

22/01/2008

Play in the Children's Plan: P

22/01/2008

SkillsActive vacancies: 3 x Re

04/02/2008

The Play Commission Online Dis

04/02/2008

Be part of the hundreds and th

04/02/2008

Physical activity and environm

04/02/2008

New powers for councils to rai

05/02/2008

Memorial Service for the late

05/02/2008

Join the PLAYLINK /Freeplay Ne

05/02/2008

Playday Organiser Seminars

05/02/2008

New publications from KIDS

05/02/2008

Spring SWOP edition - articles

05/02/2008

Notice for Registration to Run

19/02/2008

Funding Surgeries around Glouc

19/02/2008

Big Lottery Fund South West Re

07/08/2007

Stay Safe consultation launche

26/09/2007

NPFA becomes Fields in Trust

26/09/2007

Play Ranger Job Vacancies: Nor

26/09/2007

Children's Play Council AGM 6t

12/12/2007

Playday August 2008 - theme co

08/01/2008

Playing On The Range training

09/01/2008

Somerset families go wild toge

22/01/2008

Wales - International Play Ass

04/02/2008

Playwork Partnerships: now rec

05/02/2008

White City Adventure playgroun

05/02/2008

The Links Effect - Youth Actio

19/02/2008

Families Minister attacks 'cot

19/02/2008

Play Gloucestershire to delive

19/02/2008

Games children play - 6 month

19/02/2008

SkillsActive vacancy: 3 x Play

19/02/2008

Play Funding Beats the Winter

19/02/2008

Train To Gain - Revised Fundin

19/02/2008

Young people dare to care by t

19/02/2008

Possible Futures for Playwork

19/02/2008

Children's Workforce Employer

19/02/2008

Children and Community Seminar

19/02/2008

Playing on the Range - Trainin

19/02/2008

The Foundation Degree in Playw

29/02/2008

New Young Mayor for Tower Haml

29/02/2008

Inclusion by Design - New KIDS

04/03/2008

Lifetime in Play in London Awa

04/03/2008

Community Play Projects Face C

02/04/2008

Do you have vivid memories of

02/04/2008

Gloucestershire Safeguarding C

07/08/2007

New Playwork Training Centre f

21/08/2007

Regeneration and Sustainable C

21/11/2007

Phase 3 Children’s Centre Cons

21/11/2007

Play England Annual Report

21/11/2007

The Youth Offer: The Arts Meet

05/12/2007

Common Threads - Autumn issue

22/01/2008

SPF - Early Years Foundation S

04/02/2008

Childcare Act 2006: Future App

22/01/2008

Free training for BME and fait

05/02/2008

SkillsActive 5th Playwork Conf

19/02/2008

SkillsActive Out2Play conferen

19/02/2008

FREE Open University Training

19/02/2008

Playing on the Range - Trainin

29/02/2008

4Children's National Children'

04/03/2008

South West Playday Organiser s

02/04/2008

Out2Play Conference a great su

02/04/2008

New Fair Play website

02/04/2008

Nancy Ovens Bursary

02/04/2008

Playwork Partnerships - Playwo

02/04/2008

Somerset Play Forum Grants to

24/04/2008

Fair Play: A consultation on t

24/04/2008

PIP Summer Network Seminars

07/04/2008

‘MYPlace’ capital funding prog

15/05/2008

Playground Partnerships 2008 (

15/05/2008

Government gives green light t

15/05/2008

Gloucestershire Children and Y

21/08/2007

Autumn 2007 - PIP Regional Pla

26/09/2007

Letter to the Daily Telegraph

26/09/2007

Out 2 Play - The SkillsActive

26/09/2007

Belfast to host first ever Pla

26/09/2007

Children’s Centres encouraged

26/09/2007

Sport & Leisure Diploma - Empl

17/10/2007

London Play: Adventure Play Co

12/12/2007

£225 million for play in Child

04/03/2008

Wild & Away - the 3rd Environm

02/04/2008

Playday Update - Give us a go!

15/05/2008

SkillsActive and Skills for Ju

24/04/2008

Invitation to join Play Englan

14/04/2008

DCMS Funding supports SkillsAc

15/05/2008

BIG Children's Play evaluation

05/06/2008

Opportunities to Tender for wo

05/06/2008

Wild and Away 2008 - over 50%

05/09/2007

Space Riot in Torbay!

05/09/2007

Free Range Childhood Conferenc

05/12/2007

Advance Notice: Play England C

08/01/2008

Consultation for Diploma in Sp

08/01/2008

South West Job Vacancies

09/01/2008

Bournemouth Kids Play Mini Med

22/01/2008

Job Vacancies in the South Wes

04/02/2008

Possible Futures for Playwork

19/02/2008

SkillsActive present to All Pa

19/02/2008

'Time to Talk' Event - your in

07/04/2008

Playground Partnerships 2008 i

15/05/2008

Invitation to Tender: Children

05/06/2008

Youth Offer Funding for Cotswo

15/05/2008

Playwork newsletter survey

26/09/2007

Creating Excellence Rewards

05/02/2008

VCS Engage Free Conference - E

02/04/2008

Participation Matters - Summer

24/04/2008

Launch of Myplace

24/04/2008

New MTCS Distance Learning Pac

24/04/2008

SkillsActive welcomes next ste

09/06/2008

Play Your Way to School Confer

22/01/2008

5 dangerous things you should

22/01/2008

Deadline for applications for

15/05/2008

Places to go, things to do: fu

19/02/2008

Youth Arts Matter event - 17/0

19/02/2008

IMPORTANT: Children are unbeat

19/02/2008

Playing with the Elements (fo

15/05/2008

Safer strangers, Safer buildin

05/06/2008

Playwork Partnerships/Play Eng

05/06/2008

SWOP Summer 2008 - your articl

15/05/2008

SkillsActive Playwork South We

05/06/2008

Skills for Justice: Creating a