PLAY RANGERS UPDATE
EDPCN PLAY RANGERS KIM AND LIZZIE WILL BE WORKING IN VARIOUS VENUES INDOORS FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH 2011.
TRIMDON VILLAGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRIMDON GRANGE COMMUNITY CENTRE
FISHBURN PRIMARY SCHOOL
DEAF HILL PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOL
PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR PUBLICITY AND POSTERS
WITH TIMES AND DATES…
Please note ages 5 – 12 years
ALL Children unders 8 years must be accompanied by a adult
PLAY RANGERS INFORMATION
WHO IS A PLAY RANGER?
Play Ranger are defined as qualified play worker who facilitate children and young people’s play through open access provision in local parks and other open spaces.
WHAT DO PLAY RANGERS DO?
Play rangers work in public spaces within communities, enabling and encouraging all children to play freely outdoors.
To encourage children to play outside and make more use of parks and open spaces all year round.
To reduce children’s fears of bullying.
To help children to feel that they have someone to listen to their needs and turn to for advice.
Play rangers have found that many children are more likely to come out to play if there are play rangers around because they feel safer and there is someone to talk to.
WHEN DO PLAY RANGERS WORK AND WHERE?
East Durham Play & Community Rangers work from 4 – 6p.m. during school term, 1- 3p.m. during school holidays, in various locations. Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Village and Fishburn.
HOW DO PLAY RANGERS OPERATE?
The East Durham Play & Community Network operate an open access policy which means that children are free to come and go as they please and there is no charge. The Play Rangers cater for ages 5yrs to 12years. Families, children and young people.
We recruit older young people to volunteer as peers for the younger children/young people. Play rangers aim to keep children safe at the same time as providing challenges and risks with lots of fun outdoors come rain or shine.
Children and young people are encouraged to use the sessions in a way they choose. Certain activities will interest and motivate different groups and they will come every day for a while, then drift away again only to return a few weeks later. Relationships are developed over a long period and need consistency of staff and time to grow and mature.
The play ranger project is proving to be very successful in bringing together children, parents, carers and other organisations to develop opportunities in the local community.
Although the project is not a childcare service it demonstrates a respect for and an understanding of children and young people which parents and carers recognise and value. It is a service which provides opportunities, builds trust and respect, keeps children safe, uses local facilities more effectively and develops community cohesion that previously did not exist. Play rangers provide a community service with children’s play at heart.