Play Wales Annual Report for the year ended

31 March 2012www.playwales.org.uk

Play Wales is the national organisation for children’s play in Wales; an independent charity funded by the Welsh Government.

Our aim is to act as a champion for children’s play; to increase awareness and understanding of the critical importance of play in the health and wellbeing of children.

This report demonstrates the contribution Play Wales has made to children’s play in Wales in 2011-2012.

Welcome

Aims and objectivesChairperson’s report

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Director’s report 7Play provision and development 8Information, guidance and networking 10Workforce development 12Financial review 13IPA 2011Wales - A play friendly placeFuture plansPlay Wales teamContact details

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Contents

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Play Wales aims and objectives

Our objectives are to provide and assist in the provision •for facilities and services for play recreation, education and other leisure-time occupation for all children in Wales.

We act as a champion for children’s play; increasing •awareness and understanding throughout Wales of the critical importance of play to children and their wellbeing.

To maintain and ensure appropriate representation •and consultation on matters affecting children’s play in Wales.

To contribute and support playwork education training •and workforce development in Wales so as to further the play interests of children through quality play service provision and advocacy.

In meeting these objectives our aim is to foster a more tolerant, understanding and informed active response among adults who are in a position to meet children’s play needs both directly and indirectly and therefore to improve the wellbeing and participation of children within their communities.

The focus of our work

TheprincipalactivityofPlayWalesistoinfluencepolicy,strategicplanning and practice of all agencies and organisations that have an interest in and a responsibility for children’s play. This is achieved by providing information, technical advice and guidance related to play provision and workforce development; helping to identify needs and contributing to the increasing recognition of the profound importance of play as a critical component of children’s development. Play Wales provides a forum for playwork throughout Wales, and undertakes a national representational role for playwork.

As the national organisation for children’s play in Wales our strategic aims during the year were to:

act as a critical friend of the Welsh Government•

promote children’s freely chosen independent play•

advocate for children and their play needs•

uphold their right to play on behalf of all the children of Wales•

raise awareness of play needs at every level from national •Government to local play schemes

represent play providers and playworkers offering expert advice, •guidance, support, networking opportunities and conferences related to play, play policy, play provision and workforce development.

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These strategic aims are achieved through the following principal activities:

Information Services•

Training and Workforce Development•

Play Provision Development•

Who used and benefited from our services?

OuraimsandobjectivesrelatetobenefitingthechildrenofWales.

Our services were used by:

parents and carers•

members of the public campaigning to preserve or instate play •provision

organisations providing or supporting children’s services – both local •authority and voluntary

organisations providing children’s play services – both local authority •and voluntary, as well as community councils

playworkers,playdevelopmentworkersandplaydevelopmentofficers•

playwork trainers and managers of playworkers•

teachers, head teachers and governors.•

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Chairperson’s reportSadly the forthcoming year will be my last as Chair of the Play Wales Board of Trustees, having held the position continually since the charity’s inception in 1998. Play Wales has come a long way in the past 12 years and has achieved so much; including publishing The First Claim …, which was followed by The First Claim – desirable processes,workingwiththeWelshGovernmenttodevelopthefirstnational play policy in the world, developing the Playwork: Principles intoPractice(P3)coursesandqualificationsandsupportingtheBigLottery funded Child’s Play programme across Wales.

Throughout the year Play Wales has continued in its key role to provide expert support to community groups, organisations, ministerial groups and local government.

A highlight of the year for the organisation – and the play sector in Wales and the UK – was the IPA world conference Play Wales hosted in Cardiff’s City Hall in July 2011. It was an exciting and well-organized conference attended by play professionals from around the world. Play Wales successfully organised and hosted the conference with limited staff and resources – the team had almost halved in size since we bid to host the conference in 2008.

Play Wales’ relationship with the Welsh Government has been significantlystrengthenedduetothecontinuingworkingin

partnershipandsupportit’sprovidingregardingtheplaysufficiencyduty and assessments. We look forward to the commencement of the Duty that will require each local authority to assess for and providesufficientplayopportunitiesintheirareasaspartofChildrenand Families (Wales) Measure 2010. Throughout the year the Communications team has continued to produce high quality and timely information that is both accessible and engaging as well as working to develop a new website.

Play Wales, working in partnership with the YMCA has continued to deliverPlaywork:PrinciplesintoPractice(P3)Level2qualifications.Althoughthereisstillinsufficientfundingtomeettheneedsofthesector Play Wales continues to do what it can to deliver the best playworkqualificationinWales.

This year has not been the easiest for Play Wales; one of highs and lows, with the sad loss of Gill the Communications Manager. I would like to pay tribute and offer the thanks of the Board of Trustees to the committed, passionate and dedicated staff for their hard work and continued dedication to improving play opportunities in Wales.

Margaret Jervis MBEChairperson

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Director’s report

Over the past generation we have seen considerable change in the understanding of the importance of play to children; the ways in which we as adults can improve the environment (as well as the culture of our country) to make it a place where every child has free access to a choice of quality play opportunities within their community.

Over the past year Play Wales has continued to work hard to contribute to change in the physical environment and societal attitudes. We have worked with the Welsh Government, our members and constituency topreparethegroundfortheCommencementOrderofthefirstpartofthe new duty placed on Local Authorities by the Children and Families (Wales)Measure2010toassesssufficiencyofplayopportunitiesforchildren.

This development has resulted in a continued shift in emphasis of Play Wales’ work. Whilst still advocating and campaigning for children’s play, Play Wales has spent time addressing how it might best contribute to the successive steps of the process turning legislation into a reality on the ground and how we might best support Local Authorities to make best advantage of this development.

In some respects this has been less of a challenge than we had anticipatedwithofficialsacrossallLocalAuthoritydepartmentsengaging with a considerable degree of good will, recognising that whilst supporting children’s play is not their primary function, they do have a contribution to make in the achievement of the objectives Welsh Government has set.

Thedevelopmentanddeliveryofplayworkqualificationshasbecomepart of Play Wales’ core work and Play Wales has continued to deliver Level2qualificationsonafullcostrecoverybasisinpartnershipwiththe YMCA Community College. Play Wales was also successful in winning a Welsh Government European funded, Sector Priority Fund Programme contract from SkillsActive to develop Level 3 Playwork: Principles into Practice (P3)qualificationsandthelearningmaterialsfortheAwardwhichhasenabledustodeliverasuiteofqualificationsto meet workforce expectations.

The highlight of the year was the 50th Anniversary International Play Association World Conference which we hosted in Cardiff; attended by 450 delegates from 37 nations. It was a resounding success; only made so by the dedication, commitment and energy of present and past staff who joined us at Cardiff City Hall in July.

The success of the conference was in no small part due to the commitment and energy of Gill Evans who excelled in her role as Conference Manager. Unfortunately Gill lost her battle with cancer shortly after the conference. She has left a large gap in our organisationthatwearegentlyworkingtofill.

We look forward to the coming year with a strong sense of challenge as we work to support the roll out of the Measure.

Mike GreenawayDirector

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To maintain and ensure appropriate representation and consultation on matters affecting children’s play in Wales. Play Wales was in involved in a variety of Wales wide working groups predominately funded by the Welsh Government to ensure that children’s play acquires the status it deserves:

Play provision and development

Ministerial Advisory Group for the Physical Activity Plan•

Creating an Active Wales Research and Evaluation Planning •Group

CreatingandActiveWalesRBAdevelopmenttaskandfinish•group

Article 42 Working Group•

Childcare and Play Organisation Group•

Fforwm Magu Plant•

Participation Consortium 0 – 10’s Participation Sub Group•

RCT Homes Open Space Audit Steering Group•

Contribution to the play, sport, leisure and culture chapter •of Welsh Government’s 2011 Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Monitor for Wales.

Play Wales also responded to relevant national consultations:

OfficeofNationalStatisticsMeasuringNationalWellbeing(4/11)•

WelshGovernmentTobaccoControlActionPlan(5/11)•

CSSIWEngagementStrategy(12/11)•

SharedPurpose-SharedDelivery(3/12)•

Welsh Government proposals to amend the requirements for •theregistrationoftheeducationworkforceinWales(3/12)

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Play Wales has supported the development of a strategic approach to children’s play through:

contributing to the design and delivery of the Playworkers •Forum in partnership with regional play association projects

delivery of two ‘Cutting the Costs of Inspecting Play Areas’ •seminars

the maintenance and support of the All Wales Strategic •PlayNetwork

researching • State of Play – a national survey on local issues impacting on children’s play provision

Play Wales was involved in a variety of UK wide policy groups, to ensure UK wide initiatives reflect development and best practice in Wales:

Children’s Play Information Service Advisory Group•

Play Safety Forum•

Children’s Play Policy Forum•

Play England•

NationalPlaydaySteeringGroup•

International Play Association England, Wales and •NorthernIreland(IPAEWNI)Board

International Play Association (IPA) World•

Sustrans’ Free Range Kids Campaign •

Play Wales has supported children’s play and play provision at local delivery level by:

ensuring that Local Community groups are signposted to and •supported appropriately by local support networks. We estimate that we received and responded to more than 1000 telephone and email queries from parents, elected members, schools and small organisations during the last year.

providing non-managerial professional development support to •PlayDevelopmentOfficersthroughoutWales.

providingspecificsupportforvoluntarysectorplayprojects•including:

3 Counties Play Association •

Chwarae Plant•

Dewis Chwarae•

Re-create (Cardiff and Vale Play Services Association)•

Tri-County Play Association•

providing expertise and interim support to other local and national •organisationsthroughsecondments/shorttermcontractsforProject Team staff, Conwy Voluntary Services Council, Fair Share programme in Ynys Môn, Heads of the Valleys Project through Tri-County Play Association, delivery of mentoring programme for lunch time supervisors in partnership with Children’s Scrapstore (Bristol), Review of Powys Play Strategy.

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Provision, maintenance and ongoing development of a website which is •regularly updated with items of interest to members and to those who have an interest in children’s play, playwork and play provision. The number and variety of information pages on the website has increased and so has the number of visitors downloading information. Designed and developed a new look website to be launched in Summer 2012.

Tri-annual publication of • Play for Wales, our bilingual magazine – distributed free both printed and electronically to approximately 3,350 people who can further children’s play interests in Wales.

Review and publication of new web pages on a range of topics including •a range of materials on advocating for and sustainability of play provision for play providers – to support them in meeting children’s play needs and navigating new developments.

Expansion of Play Wales’ library, which offers the most comprehensive •resource of play and playwork materials in Wales. This is open to visitors by appointment, and largely supports our team with up to date information, as well as play professionals and students studying play and playwork.

Editing, proofreading, managing the design and supporting the development •of new bilingual playwork training materials – contributing to the quality training of playworkers who can work to meet children’s play needs.

Promotion of play through the media. Representation at national events, such •as national Playday - thus raising awareness of the barriers to children having quality play opportunities and emphasising the importance children’s play.

Information, guidance and networking

Play Wales’ Communications Team has produced and disseminated a wide variety of bilingual information and services over the past year, including:

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play friendly place Play Wales submitted an application for an International Play Association Right to Play Award. Wales is the firstcountrytoreceivetheaward.

Launched the Wales – A Play Friendly Place campaign to help •build a network of support for play across Wales.

Dissemination of publications, 141 copies of • The First Claim and 63 The First Claim - Desirable Processes - to facilitate the provision of quality play services to children.

Editing, proofreading, managing the design and translation and •supporting the development of new information sheets: Play: health and wellbeing and Play spaces: common complaints and simple solutions.

Editing, proofreading, managing the design and translation and •supporting the development of the Developing and managing play spaces community toolkit publication.

WiththeNationalAssemblyelectionsinmind(May2011),Play•Wales published Agenda for Children’s Play in Wales. These are objectives for policy in the new Government - to help remind decision-makers of the importance of play and play provision to children and their families.

Provision of seminars and conferences to facilitate the provision •of quality play services to children.

Contribution to the UK national Playday steering group and resources •– thus supporting play services in providing Playday events for children, and also providing Welsh representation and support to a UK campaigning group highlighting barriers to quality play experiences and recommending action.

Setting up and regularly updating Play Wales’ bilingual social media •channels. 93 ‘like’ our Facebook pages and 292 follow us on Twitter.

Regular contact with Members of Parliament and Assembly Members •through magazines, events, meetings and information sheets – thus raising awareness of the importance to children of playing and the necessity to promote play-friendly decisions among planners and decision makers.

Contribution to conferences and events in Wales and throughout the •UK – promoting the work of Play Wales and promoting quality play provision for children.

Co-ordinating the organisation of the International Play Association •2011 conference - promoting the work of Play Wales at an international level, promoting quality play provision for children – with 450 delegates from 37 countries attending. Marketing this event in Wales and internationally; maintaining a conference website, setting up an online booking system, setting up and updating social media channels;hostingUNAExchangevolunteers;workingwithtwodesign companies to develop and produce conference materials.

On behalf of all the people who are working to make Wales a •

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Play Wales’ Workforce Development team has continued to support and contribute towards playwork education training and workforce development in Wales.

Workforce development

Over the last 12 months Play Wales was active in a range of activity relating to training and workforce development in order to further the play interests of children in Wales, including:

OngoingsignificantsupporttoSkillsActive,thesectorskills•council for playwork, including the delivery of the UK strategy, Quality Training, Quality Play and the development of its successor strategy UK Play and Playwork Education and Skills Strategy 2011 – 2016, and its Implementation Plan for Wales.

Delivering four Playwork Education and Training Council Wales •meetings on behalf of SkillsActive.

SupportingthedevelopmentofNationalOccupationalStandards•– playwork now has Standard Occupational Class codes.

Delivering ESF Sector Priorities Fund Programme (SPFP) •project – accredited new (P3) Playwork: Principles into Practice Level3qualificationsAward,CertificateandDiplomaandwritenew materials for the Award.

Producing new training materials to support the delivery of the •P3 Level 3 Award.

Working to develop ESF SPFP bid to support the development •of materials for the P3Level3CertificateandDiploma,and

online delivery mechanism in English and Welsh across the Level 2 and3qualifications.

Rolling out delivery and support of the Level 2 P• 3 – 22 cohorts.

ThefirstpilotcohortofLevel3P• 3 established and progressing with success.

ContinuingtoimproveonthequalityofourScottishQualifications•Authority (SQA) Centre provision to attain the highest level accordedbyExternalVerifiers.

Planning delivery for a P• 3 Training the Trainers course. Secured funding for learners in the Cardiff area.

Developingpartnership/subcontractwithYMCACommunity•CollegeWalestosecurefundingtodeliverqualificationsinplaywork, training and assessing.

Beginningtheroleofmainstreamingplayworkqualifications•throughout Wales and working with several new colleges to establish SQA centres.

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Financial review

Principal funding sources During the year Play Wales raised its income principally from the Welsh Government, the International Play Association conference (which replaced the annual ‘Spirit’ conference for this year), a seminar, consultancy and advice, a secondment, Big Lottery Fund Fair Share Trust programme, SkillsActive contract and membership fees (effective 1 January 2012). The core funding from the Welsh Government is a major source of revenue, which has ensured the implementation of the work programme by employing staff and the associated operational costs.

Reserves statementPlay Wales intends to maintain the level of free reserves of at least three months annual expenditure, currentlyapproximately£132k.Thefinancialreservesaresetasidetoensurefinancialstabilityforstaff and its members and to ensure that the current activities would be maintained in the event of a significantdropinfunding.

Restricted funds of -£1,288 as at 31 March 2012 arose due to expenditure exceeding grant income and will be covered by income during the following year.

Attheyear-end,thecharityhasanaccumulatedunrestricteddeficitof-£101,892(2011:surplus£5,961).Ofthesereserves£11,010istiedupinfixedassetsand£105,000hasbeensetasideina designated fund. However, the unrestricted reserves are stated after the deduction of a pension liability of £470,000 that does not require to be settled immediately. The free reserves available to the charity(excludingfixedassets,thedesignatedfundandthepensionliability)were£252,098(2011:£221,999).

Investment policyThe trustees regularly review the amount that the organisation requires to ensure that they are adequatetofulfillitscontinuingobligations.Currentlythecharitytakesacautiousapproachtoinvesting, adopting a short term, low risk policy, interest bearing 14 day deposit account which attracts approximately 0.38 percent return.

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IPA 2011

Playing into the Future - surviving and thriving

The organisation worked with partners and colleagues to make the conference an exciting, vibrant, interesting and memorable event. This was a fantastic opportunity to bring together play providers, practitioners, theorists and researchers and to showcase the policy and practical work that happens in the UK. We succeded in providing a lively and stimulating four-day conference that showcased the best that Wales (and the UK) offers playing children.

During the year we prepared and hosted the IPA 2011 50th Anniversary World Conference.

Marketed the conference on a Wales, UK and international level both •by mail outs and electronic methods which resulted in attracting 450 delegates from 37 countries over the four daysHosted keynote speakers from the UK, Germany, India and the USA. •285 participated in presenting workshops and papers at the conference •Make a Noise for Play Festival • – representatives from 20 regional play associations and organisations from across Wales and the UK provided a variety of play opportunities for 525 school children (100 staff and volunteers from play organisations across Wales and the UK)RecruitedandhostednineUNAExchangestudentsontheInternational•Volunteer Project Marketed and sold exhibition space and sponsorship packages to •20 organisations and companiesContinued to fundraise and managed a £10,000 grant from the Waterloo •Foundation

Wales Cymru

2011

Managed the online booking system; developed and continually •updated the conference website which became a post conference report following the event which included video clips of the keynote speeches Hosted the IPA World Board and World Council meeting•Worked with a local design company to produce the conference •materials; sourced conference bags and promotional materialsLiaised with the conference venue and worked alongside Paul •Williams EventsLiaised with organisations in Cardiff for delegate visits during the •conference Marketed pre and post conference tours organised by other •organisationsLiaisedwithGlyndŵrUniversitytoorganiseandhosttheInternational•Playwork Camp (1 - 3 July 2011) - 50 delegates attended On behalf of all those people who are working to make Wales a play •friendly place we submitted the application - ‘Wales - A Play Friendly Place’ for the International Play Association Right to Play Award.

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‘Wales – A Play Friendly Place’ is a Play Wales campaign that communities can use to establish their own local campaigns for children’s play and be part of a national movement at the same time.

Play Wales submitted the application - ‘Wales - A Play Friendly Place’ for the International Play Association Right to Play Award on behalf of all those people who are working to make Wales a play friendly place.

The First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones AM, received the International Play Association (IPA) Right to Play Award when he opened the 18th IPA conference in Cardiff on 4 July 2011. Upon receiving the Award the First Minister said:

‘Thefactthatthisisthefirsttimetheprestigiousinternationalawardhasbeenmadetoawhole country is a great honour. I’d like to thank all the organisations and people whose energy and commitment has contributed to Wales winning this award.’

Wales - A play friendly place

Play Wales has created a Facebook page for ‘Wales – A Play Friendly Place’ to help build a network of support for play across Wales.

The page can be used to post opinions, photos and local activity, and gain inspiration. We welcome updates regarding what’s happening locally which is either protecting or prohibiting children and young people’s right to play.

http://on.fb.me/playfriendlyplace

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Future plans

Significantactivitiesandservicesthatwillcontributetotheachievement of the stated objectives include:

AReviewofPlayWales’sfiveyearand10yearstrategy•

Continued development and delivery of quality play training materials •andqualifications

Development of a bid for European Funding•

Continued development of the website and development of Information •Services

Publication of a magazine three times a year•

Delivery of a programme of conferences, workshops, events and •seminars

Maintenance of Welsh Local Authorities and Third Sector membership •and facilitation of partnership working

Contribution to and support the implementation of • Play in Wales

Contribution to the implementation of the UK Playwork Education and •Training Strategy

Development of Play Wales membership and increase new members •by 20 per cent

Development of Play Wales’ social media presence - increase followers •by 20 per cent

Support for professional networks •

Contribute to and support the implementation of The Children and •Families (Wales) Measure 2010 with respect to the duty on Local Authoritiestoassessandprovideforsufficiencyofchildren’splayopportunities

Development of a BIG Innovations bid•

Continue to submit bids for small contracts for workforce development•

Worktomainstreamfundingforplayworkqualificationsdeliveryand•support the development of further SQA centres around Wales

Establish independently funded international SQA satellite centres for •delivery of Playwork: Principles into Practice (P3)

Continue to support SkillsActive in its work in Wales and provide UK •representation

Support the Welsh Government regarding the Children and Families •(Wales) Measure 2010 requirements around children’s play in relation to cross-sectoral workforce development

ContinuepolicyworktoensurethatotherGovernmentMeasures/•initiatives that impact on access to places to play (such as the Transport Bill, Community Safety, Physical Activity Action Plans) incorporate an understanding of children’s right and entitlement to play

Through the Play Safety Forum continue to work with the Health and •Safety Executive (HSE) to reduce the unintended consequences of misapplication of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Continue to promote • Managing Risk in Play Provision: an Implementation Guide

Play Wales will consistently work to promote children’s play at every level, act as an advocate for children and their play needs and ensure a strategic national focus on play across divisions.

MichelleCraig-OfficeAssistant

Gill Evans - Communications Manager

Mike Greenaway - Director

Jacky Jenkins - Finance Manager

Marianne Mannello - Assistant Director

MartinKing-Sheard-ProjectOfficer

Tillie Mobbs - Assistant Director

KathyMuse-OfficeManager

SarahSouthern-ProjectOfficer

RichardTrew-QualificationsDevelopmentOfficer

MariaWorley-QualificationsCo-ordinator

AngharadWynJones-CommunicationsOfficer

Organisational structure The Board of Trustees administers the charity. The Director is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the day to day management of the organisation.

MembershipPlay Wales is a membership organisation. Membership is open to organisations and individuals from voluntary, statutory and independent sectors.

The membership fees for 2012 are: Individual: £10Organisations - one full-time member of staff or fewer: £25International: £25Organisations - more than one full-time member of staff: £50Commercial/private:£75Local Authority: £100

To register for membership please visit: www.playwales.org.uk/eng/membership

Play Wales team

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Play Wales

Baltic HouseMount Stuart SquareCardiff CF10 5FH

Telephone: (029) 2048 6050Email: mail@playwales.org.uk

Contact us ...

www.playwales.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1068926 A company limited by guarantee registered in Wales No. 3507258