Download PDF - Fair Play For Children

learning, where imprisoned parents and children have positive activities which they can do
together, enabling parent and child to learn at the same time. Children’s Centres and schools
can have a role in this by working with their local prisons to help improve the quality of these
play schemes and child-centred visits, and the training of staff and volunteers.
Young people
2.38
2.39
2.40
We want all young people to participate in positive activities in their leisure time, as we know
this can make a significant difference to their life chances. Aiming High for Young People 20 set out
a vision for improving places for young people to go. Along with the capital investment in
facilities for younger children’s play, the Children’s Plan announced an additional £160 million of
DCSF investment in youth facilities over the next two years, on top of the £60 million funding
announced in Aiming High. The Youth Taskforce will ensure that £22.5 million of this investment
is focused in 50 of the most deprived neighbourhoods. Our long term goal is to support all
young people to participate in exciting, positive activities no matter what their background or
income.
Play-based activities can provide a route for younger children into youth provision, and a route
for young people into more structured positive activities. All children and young people need a
balance of structured and unstructured activities in their lives, and enjoy both. Aiming High set
out strong evidence that all young people, particularly the most disadvantaged, benefit from
taking part in activities that involve structure and close adult engagement. But we know that
children also need the space and freedom to play on their own terms and that this is important
for their development. We want to provide enjoyable opportunities for both structured and
unstructured activities locally, and support children, young people, and parents in making
positive choices about how children and young people spend their leisure time.
The link between play and youth provision is therefore a key consideration for local authority
strategies for improving local facilities for young people and for the preparation of their bids for
capital funding.
Case study – Islington
In Islington, the play and youth services are integrated, and traditional youth work practice in
delivering recorded and accredited outcomes for participants is being drawn down into
playwork.
For example, there is an Audit Commission target that 60 per cent of all young people using
youth projects should achieve a recorded outcome. Islington use the same criteria for children
using adventure playgrounds to achieve a recorded outcome which involves a clearly defined
goal inspired by the child – such as a craft project, better interaction with other children or
confidence to use a challenging piece of equipment – and a simple, subtle programme of
work with the child to reach this goal.
20 See www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/tenyearyouthstrategy/
Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy
23