How we do it
The Devon Play Association (devonplay)
aims to deliver a range of core services and projects to support
its mission. Funding for these comes from a range of sources.
devonplay's
core services:
- Consultation and participation: We promote the involvement
of children in decisions that affect their lives, in particular
in development of play facilities and services. Over the last
year we have undertaken community based consultations affecting
services provided for around 6,000 children in Devon. Playing
for Real™ – our framework for consultation
– has been recognised by the Council of Europe as a model
of good practice and we have published a Playing
for Real™ Toolkit.
- Publications and play area advice: In 2001 we published Growing Spaces for Play, on the value of play in the natural environment, in association with RoSPA. In 2005 we published Spaces to play, a bite size guide to play area development. We provide advice on play facilities and services to many groups, including advice on fundraising. We have received positive feedback from funders about the impact of our support on the quality of funding applications they receive.
For further information about our current publications please click here.
- Training: We deliver a range of short courses, about active play, in association with zero14plus (the local EYDCP). Over the years we have developed and delivered training in environmental and outdoor play, playground safety inspection, and consultation and participation (including with children with special needs).
For further information about any of our training please contact us.
- An umbrella for play: We act as a strong voice for play in Devon; championing the value of play and promoting inclusion, innovation and risk; supporting local play groups and networks; and representing the needs of play to local, regional and national decision-makers.
devonplay's
projects:
1: The Greenspring project, funded by Barnados Better Play (NOF) until March 2005, focused on outdoor and environmental play:
- introducing people to environmental play;
- developing environmental play networks;
- working with Learning through Landscapes (school grounds); and,
- involving children in decision-making and play area development.
We are currently seeking trust funding to continue, with a particular focus on follow-up work to turn consultations in to play areas.
2: Our Children’s Fund worker,
funded to March 2007, focuses on participation:
- developing standards for meaningful involvement;
- working closely with Children’s Fund projects to promote and improve the involvement of children in those projects; and,
- piloting innovative participation of children with special needs.
We are currently seeking trust funding to further develop support/training for participation in recruitment.
3: Our Wheeled Sports worker, funded by Lloyds TSB Foundation to March 2006, focuses on:
- promoting wheeled sports (skateboarding, bmx, etc.); and,
- working with children and communities to develop skate parks, bike tracks and other wheeled sports facilities.
4: Feasibility Study completed in 2004, funded by Leader+ (Defra and EAGGF) and others, for a large-scale environmental demonstration play area:
- we undertook wide consultation with children and playworkers; but,
- the original idea was not found to be (cost-) effective – we will instead be aiming to develop four small-scale environmental demonstration play areas and/or a mobile/virtual showcase.
