Jun 6
FPfC News — Children’s Play and Youth Work
Fair Play for Children website: http://www.fairplay31.online/index.html
December 2022
Tower Hamlets: Children stop play space from being dismantled
Why letting your kids play alone feels like a revelation to modern parents
Green Spaces for Good — Newsletter
Revitalising Play In Schools | Q & A
https://urbanplay.com.au/revitalising-play-in-schools-q-a-associate-professor-brendon-hyndman/
November 2022
How kids can learn through LEGO® Play
18 Preschool Games to Play With Kids (Educational + Fun)
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/18-preschool-games-to-play-with-kids-educational-fun/
October 2022
Social housing tenants warned of ‘play ban’ for children in London site’s shared spaces
Families in multimillion-pound One Tower Bridge development told games ‘breached tenancy agreements’
DEPRIVED AREAS MISSING OUT ON LEVELLING UP FUNDING DUE TO YOUTH WORK SPENDING DIFFERENCES, REPORT FINDS
Welsh Play Workforce Study 2021
Child mental health crisis exacerbated by pandemic ‘can be tackled with play’
Take time out to play over the Jewish holidays — opinion
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-717247
#CHILD: Let them play
https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2022/09/830842/child-let-them-play
September 2022
Across continents …. and decades
READ OUR LATEST e-LETTER, Playing-Up!
Summer 2022http://www.fairpla31.online/PU.html
Fair Play 50
Fifty years ago on 3st July 1972, a letter appeared in ‘The Times’ in the wake of a tragedy — two boys aged nine drowned playing in a tin bath in an East End Canal in London …. for want of somewhere safe to play.
The Letter that started it all — ‘The Times’ 31st July 1972 [link]
That event led Bishop Trevor Huddleston CR, then Bishop of Stepney, to pen an angry reproach in the press, he had known both boys and their families. It was not right, he insisted, that such a deficit should have led to their deaths.
With the same zeal that marked his defiance of apartheid in his native South Africa (from which he had been exiled for his views). Father Trevor launched this campaign, soon supported by The Duke of Edinburgh, it was, and is, known as Fair Play for Children.
Its mission is to achieve that safe, but challenging, play space for every child, as now stated in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At Fair Play 50, how do we measure progress towards that aim? Though much has been achieved, overall can we say that there has been much movement? Yes, the community and voluntary sector in the UK has led the way, against huge odds mainly thrown in their way by the statutory sector. Oh, plenty of platitudes, ‘nice thoughts’, but when we examine the record of government at all levels, it has been a sad tale of non-achievement, even of hindrance.
To be blunt, always the first target for cuts especially by councils, often running counter to their statutory obligations, which goes mainly unchallenged from society. Fair Play has been and is running a campaign on this aspect, to get the law updated so that councils are held to account by the Government.
Look, MPs and Ministers, local government chiefs, councillors etc all KNOW the importance of Play, or they pay it enough lip service that, were that translated into action and resource, we’d by now have a Play-scape for Heaven on earth.
At this time, so much has been lost, trashed by cuts, our children and young people have been betrayed.
Not very celebratory? Well, what is stated does not diminish one jot the years of hard work and dedication people and organisations have contributed and continue to do so, Fair Play 50 is dedicated to making sure they have first call — just consider how much money would be saved, for example, if Councillors across the country gave up their allowances …. At a very rough guess, that would free up over £80 million a year. After all, they stand voluntarily for office, they can receive out-of-pocket expenses, but why should they also have an allowance on top of that just for being a councillor?
One challenge if you are such a councillor — relinquish your annual allowance and ask your council that it be diverted to children’s play and youth work in your area! I did it when I was a councillor, you can too!
During the year ahead, FP50 will be aiming to secure legislative changes through dialogue with the Government. You can help by aiming letters at the your MPs to get their support. Keep in touch via our website www.fairplay31.online/index.html
This is my thirty-first year as National Secretary of Fair Play for Children. I urge you to redouble the fight for a Fair Deal for Children’s Play. Join Fair Play, DONATE, campaign with us!
Yours Playfully
National Secretary, Fair Play for Children
Loved Manchester playgrounds that likely wouldn’t be built today
erm …. some things were downright unsafe before rampant nostalgia takes over …. even lethal
August 2022
Complimentary Attendance
Physical Activity Facilities Forum — 20th & 21st September 2022
The API has been working alongside the physical activity facilities forum team and we’re pleased to be able to offer all our newsletter subscribers a unique opportunity.
The paf forum, which is taking place on 20th & 21st September at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Resort is designed to meet the needs of those delivering physical activity facilities in sport, leisure, recreation and play.
Each year the event brings together owners, operators, local authorities, universities, school leaders, project managers, architects, contractors and other senior level professionals looking to enhance their indoor and outdoor play areas and improve their supply chain.
Your attendance is complimentary and will also give you the opportunity to discuss what’s new, how sector challenges are being met as well as identifying emerging trends within the rapidly evolving landscape of physical activity facilities.
Your complimentary invitation includes:
- 1 1/2 days’ worth of business networking
• 1 1/2 days business schedule with selection of one-to-one meetings
• Overnight accommodation at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Resort
• Three course Gala Dinner function in the evening with entertainment
• Pre-Dinner drinks welcome reception
• All forum meals and beverages
The event includes seminars, the latest innovations, products & services combined with the opportunity to network and do business with your peers.
You will also have full access to the holiday & leisure park development forum which is running alongside the physical activity facilities forum.
Complimentary places are limited — contact Georgie Smith for more information.
Previous News:
Fields in Trust — Green spaces for good
https://e.fieldsintrust.org/6LZN-J7H2-B5FAB77241ECFC101770UEF7EFBFAB69B14B1A/cr.aspx
