Playground@Landscape

FEPI in U.K.
At our upcoming meetings, under the diverse Committees
we have the pleasure to welcome different speakers.
Firstly, at the Board, we look forward to receiving Mr. Adrian
Voce, Play England’s Director. Play England aims for all
children and young people in England to have regular access
to and opportunity for free, inclusive, local play provision
and play space. The reason behind this invitation is to understand
if and how these two organisations, FEPI and Play
England, could collaborate.
Secondly, at the Play Techno-Research Committee meeting,
we look forward to receiving Mr. Arun Junai, Specialist in EU
Research Programs at TNO, a Dutch research institute
(www.tno.nl), who will be presenting new possibilities for
cooperation in the field of research. FEPI is trying to find
some possible topics for research of non-competitive nature
from which could benefit the sector as a whole, and therefore
is willing to continue the cooperation with TNO, so as
to benefit from their profound expertise.
The same Techno-Research Committee is working, in
straight collaboration with the European Committee of
Standardisation, on a different project and started the
preparatory works for a harmonisation and registration of
inspectors of play equipment areas within the EU project,
aimed at developing and implementing a European training
and register for playground equipment inspectors.
Coming back to our guests, we are also delighted to meet in
Coventry, Mr. Chris Trickey, Chief Executive Officer at The
Sports and Play Construction Association as to discuss
about the possibilities of a future collaboration.
SAPCA is the UK trade association for the sports facility
construction industry, representing specialist constructors,
manufacturers and suppliers of sports surfaces and related
74
NEWS
FEPI’s headquarters in Brussels are in the midst of an organisational whirlwind. The Board and the specific
Working Committees: Play Techno-Research, Play Statistics and Play Rights and Value will gather on the
23rd and 24th of June 2009 in the United Kingdom. The venue, Stoneleigh Park Coventry is a particularly
exciting one, not only because it is the base of one of our members, the Association of Play Industry
(www.api-play.org), but also our meetings are scheduled alongside the PlayFair, the most important show
of the year in UK, for both playground manufacturers and children. This is the second edition of an event
aimed to illustrate, advise and assist public sector with public funding and commercial play providers on
the optimum balance and mix of natural play and fixed equipment for children’s play.
products and playing an important role in the promotion of
high standards for sports facilities.
Our next few months may look hectic but we anticipate an
interesting and productive round of meetings in UK in June.
Indeed, our association has never been better placed to make
progress, to attract new members and to remain a strong
voice for the industry on the European level.
For further information, please contact us at:
Tel. +32-2/502 28 64
Fax: +32-2/771 87 46
e-mail: assistant@fepi-play.org