Wolverhampton City Council Children and Young Peoples Services

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Play Pathfinder
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Our Vision the Importance of Play

• Wolverhamptons children and young people have
  easy access
• to a range of quality play
• opportunities within a
• practical walking distance
• from their homes.
• (Wolverhampton Play Policy)

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Background to the Pathfinder

• Play Pathfinder
• Develop 28 new or refurbished Play areas in Parks
  Open Spaces
• Creation of one new innovative Adventure
  Playground.
• Employ Six new Play Rangers
• All to be completed by March 2010
• Funding
• Capital - 2,152,721
• Revenue - 497,674

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What they will offer

• Natural Play
• Promotion of adventurous activities
• Use of natural resources (Trees, rocks water)
• Opportunities to engage in Risky Play

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Why risk is important

• Children need and want to take risks when they
  play. Play provision aims to respond to these
  needs and wishes by offering children and young
  people stimulating, challenging environments for
  exploring and developing their abilities. In
  doing this, play provision aims to manage the
  levels of risk so that children
• are not exposed to unacceptable risks of
• life threatening or permanently disabling
• injury. (Play Safety Forum)

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Role of the Play Ranger in promoting challenging
Play

• Enable children and communities to develop a
  sense of ownership of Play Spaces
• Promote Article 31 of the UN Convention Every
  child has the right to rest, play and to do
  things they enjoy
• Offer opportunities for children to play freely
• and allow them freedom to explore
• Increase the positive visibility of children
• in the community

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Designing our Play Spaces

• 10 principals for designing successful play
  spaces
• Successful play spaces
• Are bespoke
• Are sustainable and appropriately maintained
• Allow children of different ages to play together
• Provide a wide range of play experiences
• Are accessible to both disabled and non-disabled
  children
• Allow for change and evolution
• Make use of natural elements
• Build opportunities to experience risk and
• challenge
• Meet community needs
• Are well located

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Consultation

• Children Young People
• Local Communities
• Design Team
• RoSPA
• Park Maintenance Teams
• Play Design Group

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Governance arrangements

• Wolverhampton Play Forum
• Local Councillors
• Council Departments
• Play, Cultural Services, Education, Risk
  Management, Housing
• Local Area Neighbourhood Arrangements
• Childrens Centres
• Voluntary and BME Groups
• Children Young Peoples Strategic Partnership
• Cabinet

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Play Spacesan opportunity for Partnership

• Groundwork Black Country
• Intermediate Labour Team (employed by Groundwork
  Black Country)

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Challenges to delivery

• Timescales
• Recruitment of suitable staff
• Negativity from the local community
• Helping professionals and local people move away
  from the traditional idea of play
• Creation of high quality designs and
• materials

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Meeting the Challenges

• Tight project plan and good communication between
  all partners
• Rigorous and creative recruitment and selection
  process
• Consultation methods that include the community
  from the start and throughout
• Marketing, open days, design competitions and
• Seeing is Believing trips
• Combination of a creative design team, a clear
• vision and comprehensive input from children
• and community

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Finally.

• Wolverhampton City Council is extremely pleased
  to have this opportunity and will rise to the
  challenge of improving access to good quality
  play opportunities for as many of its children
  young people as possible.