How will we deliver play in Mid and East Antrim?

How does this Play Strategy reflect other directives?

Play is essential to children’s happiness, health and development. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 gives all children the right “to rest and leisure; to engage in age-appropriate play and recreational activities.” There is increasing evidence, however, that children’s play opportunities are under threat. Many children and young people do not have the degree of freedom or access to the spaces and environments that they need in order to play. The consequences both for their immediate quality of life and for their long-term health and development are significant. There are a number of important strategic documents at local, regional and international level which impact on how we deliver our play functions within Mid and East Antrim as well as several partnerships and organisations which help support us to provide high value play experiences and opportunities for our children and young people.

International

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations in 1989, spells out the basic human rights to which every child, everywhere, is entitled. The United Kingdom has been bound by the convention since 1991. The Convention sets out a number of statements called articles. These are the rights of all children and young people up to the age of 18. These include Article 31, the right to engage in play and recreational activities.

Recognises the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and arts. Respects and promotes the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

Article 31 of the UN convention on the rights of the child.

It also recognises that the lack of play opportunities can also bring about a loss in self-confidence, self-identify, concentration and independence in children. In addition, opportunities for social interaction at both family and wider community cohesion, with reduced opportunity for meeting new people and forming relationships. Play provides opportunities for children to develop their sense of self-identity and self-esteem, to empathise with others and increase awareness of the consequences of their actions. This in turn can contribute to reducing incidences of anti-social behaviour in later years, with play creating an appealing diversion to such behaviours from an early age. The Mid and East Antrim Play Strategy aims to address this through provision of play opportunities, creating an environment to nurture and develop children for the benefit of themselves, their family, carers and wider community. It will clearly contribute to building positive relationships at the local level and forge more cohesive communities through increased opportunities for interaction and use of shared space by children, families and their wider communities.

National

Open Spaces, Sport and Outdoor Recreation

Fields in Trust, previously known as the National Playing Fields Association is a British charity, protecting and promoting open spaces for sport and recreation since 1925. Its Six Acre Standard aims to help land use planners ensure a sufficient level of Open Space, enabling residents of all ages to participate in sports and games with an emphasis on access for children to play grounds and other play space. The standard suggests that for each 1,000 residents there should be a total of 6 acres (2.43ha) of recreational land, of which 4 acres (1.6 ha) should be for outdoor sport and recreation space (including parks) and 2 acres (0.81 ha) for children’s play, with some of this being equipped play parks.