Play & Activity December 2018

Obesity warning as playground closures go into freefall

New research shows that playgrounds continue to close at an alarming rate despite the government’s claims that they are tackling childhood obesity and mental health problems.

In April 2017, the Association of Play Industries Nowhere toPlay report first uncovered the state of playground decline in England, revealing the closure of hundreds of playgrounds.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the API has once again asked local authorities to disclose current and planned playground closures and found:

• By 2020/21 there will have been a decrease in spend on play facilities of 44% since 2017/18

In 2016/17 local authorities closed 63 playgrounds and in 2017/18 a further 70 playgrounds have been closed.

• Since 2014 local authorities have closed a total of 347 playgrounds across England.

• There will be a decrease in spend on playgrounds of over £13m each year on average across England.

• Local authorities estimate a decrease in their spending on playgrounds of £25m by 2021.

API Chair, Mark Hardy, says: “Something we all took for granted –safe, local and free spaces in which to play – is disappearing.

“Our latest research shows a very worrying picture indeed and, unless action is taken now, it seems we are in danger of losing playgrounds. Let’s not forget that when a playground is neglected and closed it is often lost forever.

“The impact on the NHS of childhood obesity, poor fitness and mental health problems is

sizeable. One of the root causes is that children are not playing outside as freely as they once did and this is partly because of the lack of local, high-quality and safe areas available for them to play in and socialise.

“A relatively small investment by government could have huge

UK Children’s Commissioners stand together for right to play

To mark the UK’s annual celebration of play – Playday 2018 – all four children’s commissioners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales stood together to support the importance of children’s play as an essential aspect of childhood as thousands of

children across the four nations attend organised Playday events.

Koulla Yiasouma, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales and Anne Longfield OBE Children’s Commissioner for England are urging everyone to play their part in ensuring the creation of the best possible opportunities for all children and young people to embrace their right to play.

The four commissioners are calling for:

• All adults to consider how they can help children and young people across the UK have time, space, permission and support to play, both in their family life and in their community.

• Organisations to think about whether they are doing all they can to empower and involve children and young people to have a say in ideas and decisions that affect their rights – including their right to play.

• Governments and statutory agencies to actively promote and protect children’s right to play through the provision of adequate resources.

The four national UK play organisations, Play Wales, PlayBoard Northern Ireland, Play England and Play Scotland are calling on everyone – parents, grandparents, carers, childcare providers and support staff across the UK to help celebrate and promote the importance of play for all children.

Playday

social and health benefits for years to come.

“Outdoor play is essential to children’s development. They need playgrounds to develop vital social skills and these community spaces have a central role in children’s physical and mental health.

“In the midst of an obesity epidemic and a mental health crisis we are calling on the government to make a significant and sustained investment in our playgrounds before it is too late.”

API

Local authorities supported to innovate

The government has announced a new programme to develop local solutions to childhood obesity that can be shared across the country.

The government is asking local authorities to apply to its Trailblazer programme, in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA).

The 3-year programme forms part of the second chapter of the government’s childhood obesity plan, launched in the summer, which included the aim to halve childhood obesity by 2030. One

All councils will be invited to apply to the programme and set out their proposals. Up to 12 local authorities will be supported to develop practical plans, and in spring next year 5 authorities will be selected.

Trailblazer local authorities will be on the programme for 3 years. During that time they will be given expert advice to help realise their plans, as well as £100,000 per year in funding to support this. Successful approaches to reducing childhood obesity will be considered for shaping national policy.

New guide

Proludic Wicksteed RoSPA

Winner of the 30th anniversary Springer competition.

Minister unveils centenary Blue Plaque.

to keeping children safe and active.

Official opening of new Creative Play playground remembers little Alfie

The family of a brave little boy whose battle against a rare cancer inspired his parents to set up a charity in his memory have officially opened a new playground at a Kent pub which has been a big part of their lives.

The Sir Stanley Gray pub in Pegwell Village, Ramsgate, has invested £60,000 in a sunken ship-themed playground – the only one of its kind in the UK –which has been designed and manufactured by outdoor play experts, Creative Play.

Family members of two-year-old Alfie Gough, whose wake was held at the pub after he lost his battle with neuroblastoma back in 2010, were on hand to mark the official opening of the new play area.

Frank Thorley, who owns the pub along with a number of other sites which form Thorley Taverns, played his part in helping to raise money for Alfie’s parents, Sarah and Dean, when they were in the process of trying to fund treatment in America prior to their son’s death. And he has continued his support for the couple, now living in Vancouver, Canada, since they launched The

Alfie Gough Trust which helps children fighting cancer.

Frank says Alfie’s battle touched the hearts of the community and he was delighted that his family members could come down to the pub and give the new play area their seal of approval. To mark the occasion he pledged a further £200 to their cause.

Each Creative Play playground is designed to suit the client’s specifications, depending on their budget and location. The equipment is designed and manufactured in Chester by the company’s in house teams, who use state of the art equipment and each specialise in timber, plastic or metal.

Creative Play’s own teams install all of the equipment and surfacing to meet the requirements of the client and their own rigorous quality standards.

Rob Williams, area manager at Chester-based Creative Play, said the project was his most challenging to date but also the one that has given him the greatest satisfaction. He said: “I went down to meet with Frank and at the time they were

renovating a vast area of the pub and had an idea of a theme.

“We looked at having a bit of a traditional playground but with a modern twist so that’s why we went for the sunken ship as the area is by the sea.

As well as the ship there are little islands around it with a treasure chest, play tower and tunnel. The ship has slides and climbing nets. It was a very diffi cult project. The area of the build is at the bottom of the cliff so there was no road access.

“We worked with Frank who organised cranes to lift everything down to the site. It was quite a challenge but once we overcame that the build was completed within three and a half weeks. We had pretty cold weather during the build and had to soldier on in high winds, but I’m delighted with the outcome. It’s amazing. It’s one of the best I’ve done.

“Thedesignoftheshipistheonly one in the country – you won’t fi nd it anywhere else. Given the challenges with the logistics of the build it was a very rewarding project to complete. It’s been wonderful to use its official opening to raise awareness of Alfi e’s terrifi c charity which is clearly so well thought of in the local area.”

Alfie’s mum Sarah, 40, who is also mum to Harry, six, and Louis, four, with husband Dean, visited the new play area during a recent visit home and has thanked Frank for all his support over the years.

The Alfi e Gough Trust raises funds so other families can have access to the same services.

Creative Play

A deserving winner of Proludic’s 30th anniversary Springer competition

The Ripple Retreat, the brainchild of Lynne and Ian McNicoll, and built and managed by the charity ‘Its Good 2 Give’, was designed to help heal and offer respite for families.

The main aim is to provide support to young cancer patients and their families while undergoing treatment.

The couple have created an amazing place for young cancer patients to stay and escape the daily challenges of their illness and enter a calm and caring environment in an otherwise difficult time.

The Retreat is situated on the shores of Loch Venachar, near the Trossachs National Park.

Designed by award winning architect Tony Kettle, who also created the Falkirk Wheel, The Retreat is sympathetically rooted to the shoreline, with a majestic backdrop of Scottish pine adding to the amazing views.

Lynne and Ian wanted to provide the brave children with a fun environment which would bring families together, so they can enjoy time together away from their usual surroundings. Proludic were delighted to help and provided The Ripple Retreat with playground equipment for all the visitors to enjoy.

The young patients are often not able to attend a public park and this equipment has enabled them to enjoy what their peers get to experience.

As part of Proludic’s 30th Anniversary competition, The Ripple Retreat were also one of the12luckycustomerstoreceive a ‘Puppy the Dog’ Springer, installed for free, for the children and their families to enjoy.

Lynne and Ian have been overjoyed with the happiness the Proludic play equipment has provided to the many brave young patients who visit.

Proludic

Playdale Playgrounds’ MD features in business leaders list

Playdale Playgrounds’ Managing Director, Barry Leahey MBE has been named in the ‘World Beaters’ category of the LDC’s Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders list, supported by The Telegraph newspaper.

The ‘World Beaters’ category features business people who have taken their businesses into new and untested international markets which takes courage and perseverance (particularly

in unsettled times). Barry is featured alongside a diverse group of fellow ambitious and dynamic business leaders.

Barry, who lives in Samlesbury, Lancashire is the 43-year old MD of Playdale Playgrounds.

He’s taken six-hundred flights in the last eight years to broaden Playdale’s original UK-only focus and look to the international market.

Equipment designed and built by the company is now featured in more than 20,000 play areas across 49 countries. Approximately half of all equipment manufactured in their factories in Haverthwaite and Ulverston is shipped overseas. Turnover has tripled under his leadership, and Barry has the ambition to turn the firm into the global market leader.

Playdale

Blue plaque unveiling by Secretary of State for Health & Social Care

It was 100 years ago that Charles Wicksteed made the first swing and so began manufacturing play equipment from his Engineering Works in Digby Street, Kettering.

Having donated Wicksteed Park, the first children’s play park for the community, Charles Wicksteed went on to manufacture exciting and appealing play equipment.

To celebrate the life of Charles Wicksteed a blue plaque was unveiled by the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP who is Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Now trading as Wicksteed Playgrounds, the play, sports and fitness equipment manufacturing company, based on the original site, is still the leading outdoor play company in Great Britain.

The event took place under a misty, grey sky but the light patter of rain on Wicksteed umbrellas did not dull the sense of excitement and occasion. Lord Howard, Chairman of Wicksteed, also welcomed The Mayor and Mayoress of Kettering and other notable guests to the ceremony which marks a feel-good celebratory story to commemorate a local benefactor

and a company which has been going strong since it fi rst opened its doors as an engineer in 1876.

Theoccasionwasgreatlyenhanced by the presence of several staff who have been with the Company for over 40 years and a large number of others who have been thereformorethan25years.

Oliver Wicksteed, great grandson of Charles Wicksteed and ChairmanofWicksteedPark,was also present as were members of the Kettering Civic Society

Whilst this event commemorated Charles Wicksteed and his great contribution to Kettering it also recognises a company which is constantly evolving and consistently producing innovative, imaginative and exciting products and design services for today’s competitive market.

This blue plaque – fi xed to the brick wall of the factory founded by Charles Wicksteed in 1876, is a fi tting tribute and one of which he would be immensely proud.

Wicksteed

Tennis the first priority for London park transformation

The redevelopment of tennis courts in a London borough park are the first priority in a 15-year masterplan.

The London Borough of Hounslow’s planning committee approved Gunnersbury 2026 in January 2016 to unlock the potential of sports facilities at Gunnersbury Park – with tennis courts the first priority and a new indoor community sports hub.

Essex-based ETC Sports Surfaces has completed the eight outdoor tennis courts with floodlights, while the sports hub is scheduled to open in summer 2019.

ETC worked alongside Zaun Ltd, who manufactured and supplied 414m of 3m high Duo6 Advantage tennis sports fencing with six single leaf gates and two divider fences with a central 3.5 m wide walkway between courts.

Zaun’s Advantage tennis court fencing system can withstand heavy use with a 42.85mm x 200mm twin wire mesh pattern that won’t let balls through yet allows a great view of on-court action.

It offers better whole-life value than chain-link fencing, which is easily cut with pliers for unauthorised use, and deforms quickly when people lean against it.

Ten grass football and rugby pitches, four cricket pitches and two full-size 3G artificial grass pitches with floodlights are also planned.

Gunnersbury Park, jointly owned by Hounslow and Ealing councils, features one Grade I listed and one Grade II listed Georgian mansions, as well as many historical buildings all set within the stunning community park.

The site is undergoing major transformation since the councils secured two grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014 to overhaul the museum and make major improvements to the park landscape.

The aim of the project is to transform Gunnersbury Park

Funding for social action projects

Sport England has announced two more awards from our Potentials Fund for 10-20-year-olds.

Whether it’s local surfers helping young people to improve their emotional health or a youth club acting as a springboard for social mobility – the latest funding awards are aimed at getting young people involved in social action.

More than £400,000 has been split between two projects through our Potentials Fund.

The fund was set up in December 2016, along with our Opportunities Fund, as part of Sport England’s new volunteering strategy. With a total of £3 million to be allocated to help 10-20-year-olds get

involved in volunteering, the first recipients of awards were announced a year ago. The remainder of the fund – made up of match-funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Big Lottery Fund – is being awarded to The Wave Project and UK Youth.

In total, 37 projects have been given awards from our Potentials Fund. The Wave Project began as a pilot in Cornwall, using local surfers to work with young people, teach them how to surf and, in the process, reduce anxiety and improve their emotional health.

While UK Youth is a network of more than 5,000 youth clubs across the country which engages

young people in physical activity and uses social action to improve their lives.

A concept that Sport England’s executive director of sport, Phil Smith, is a great admirer of:

“Through social action young people can help others get active and benefit themselves in lots of ways; social action can do wonders for job and career prospects, mental health and making friends.

into a sustainable, high quality public space that serves the local community. The plans include the creation of a diverse mix of culture, heritage, events, sports and recreational activity to add to a rich history that the councils want to preserve.

Zaun

“That’s why we pledged to support the #iwill campaign and made volunteering and social action a key part of our strategy.

“We’re delighted to be helping these two projects enable more young people to be the catalysts for change in their neighbourhood.”

Sport England

Pedestrian training, swimming lessons and updated PSHE needed

All children at Key Stages 1 and 2 should receive pedestrian safety training – including real-road environments and modern-day scenarios such as mobile phone distraction –according to a new national accident prevention strategy for England.

As part of the strategy, schools and local authorities are being urged to teach pedestrian safety and promote safe and active travel to tackle serious injury on the roads.

Safe and active at all ages: a national strategy to prevent serious accidental injuries in England, published by RoSPA, also calls for the inclusion of accident prevention within any new compulsory health education curriculum, and urges that every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and receive water safety education at primary school.

There are also recommendations to support the role of early years practitioners and health

The strategy aims to achieve a step-change in the delivery of evidence-based accident prevention programmes across England, promote safe and active lives and reduce the burden of serious accidental injury on society.

Its 25 recommendations for action address the major dangers faced by people across their life course, from birth to older age, and wherever they may find themselves –in their own homes, at work, in education, on the road, or during leisure pursuits.

Representatives of the following organisations participated in the National Accident Prevention Strategy

professionals in working with families to address the safety of under-5s, particularly in the home where they are most at risk of accidental injury.

The strategy, which has been developed by a wide range of partners including Public Health England and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, seeks to address the rising number of accidental deaths in England and the heavy toll these place on the health and social care services, as well as the personal heartache that serious unintentional injury can cause.

Errol Taylor, RoSPA’s chief executive, said: “Serious accidental injury to children is a significant health issue that often gets overlooked as a public health issue – in England each

Advisory Group, under the chairmanship of the Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell: Public Health England; Association of Directors of Public Health; Blackburn with Darwen Council; Faculty of Public Health; Institute of Health Promotion and Education; Institute of Health Visiting; Royal College of Emergency Medicine; Royal College of Nursing; Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; Royal Society for Public Health; University of Nottingham; and University of the West of England. Contributions were also made by RoSPA’s national committees, including the National Safety Education Committee.

year, an average of 132 children aged 0-14 die, and more than 100,000 are admitted to hospital – but this doesn’t have to happen.

“For under-5s, the home is the key area of concern from an accident point of view, and it is vital that there is support and training for practitioners working with young families. Road safety becomes increasingly important as children get older – as children gain more independence their risk of being injured as a pedestrian grows, particularly around their transition from primary to secondary school. Safer road environments are vital to encourage safe and active travel, but we must also ensure that we are providing our young children with the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe on the road.

“To prepare them for their lives ahead, schools must also provide safety education with a ‘learning about safety by experiencing risk’ approach to promote resilience. We must not wrap our children in cotton wool – instead, we need to provide them with the real-world skill of recognising and assessing risk as they start to make their own decisions.

“Despite swimming and water safety being a statutory requirement at Key Stage 2, we know that 45 per cent of children aged 7-11 cannot swim the required 25 metres. This has to change if we are to prevent the 300 accidental drowning deaths that happen in UK waters each year.”

ECB approves Notts Sport’s monofilament grass surface

Notts Sports pioneering new cricket surface NottsGrass Ultra has been recognised by the ECB as a component in the ECB Approved Non-Turf Pitch System.

Incorporating a state of the art texturised monofilament yarn brings huge advances in cricket surfacing technology and catapults cricket surfacing into the 21st Century.

Combining the NottsGrass Ultra with proven non-turf cricket systems combines the best of traditional system technology with new surface and fibre advances and sets new parameters for how a cricket surface & system performs.

Creating consistent performance is at the heart of all our research & development for cricket systems and NottsGrass Ultra has been developed to maintain performance at all times. This ensures that coaches and players are confi dent that ball to surface interaction will be as consistent as possible resulting in better teaching, coaching and playing experiences.

Independent laboratory test results show that the NottsGrass Ultra fibre maintains critical performance characteristics for longer when compared to previous NottsGrass surface technology. This significant development will provide coaches, players and customers with improved playing performance over a much longer period of time which, in turn, creates more realistic and consistent performance throughout the life of your cricket facility.

By creating this advantage, life costs will also reduce because

performance is maximised for longer, meaning resurfacing and remediation works will be required with less frequency maximising your strategic investments in cricket facilities.

Lord’s Cricket Ground and leading independent schools have already chosen NottsGrass Ultra for their cricket facilities, with many more schools and clubs contacting the Notts Sport cricket design specialists to discuss how Notts Sport can provide their club or school with state-of-theart cricket technology.

Notts Sports

eibe’s Shakespeare plays with a difference

No Macbeth, no Hamlet, but plenty of Midsummer Night Dreams at the delightful Shakespeare Infants in Hampshire this year, as the school upgraded its playground, courtesy of eibe Play. With a broad based curriculum, the Eastleigh school focusses on six key learning values: thinking, independence, creativity, spirituality, collaboration and emotional intelligence.

Each one is represented with a puppet which helps the

children to develop those learning values throughout their junior school journey.

With the right play provision essential to their integral ethos, eibe worked with Head Teacher, Jane Skinner, to install some new equipment, maximising the space and featuring some fabulous wooden equipment, all upgrades from our the original scheme in 2001. Key products include new Balance Beam, Dinghy Play Boat, replacement eibini bench slats and a Mayan Chair.

At a cost of just £4,000 the refurbish will certainly prove a wise investment for Shakespeare School, with products that are built to last and come with longlife warranties.

Thankfully, despite a few issues with the hard ground due to the extremely hot summer, we managed to avoid a potential Comedy of Errors; in fact in the end, it was Much Ado about Nothing.

eibe

RoSPA