Play activities inspire adults and children

The summer holidays saw many adults and children enjoying a range of exciting events organised by 'Playing It Up' - part of the Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) initiative.

Match funding for CN4C and Playing It Up has come from Engage West Cornwall - the body that distributes Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funds to community projects in Penwith, Kerrier and the Penwerris Ward of Falmouth.

A key aim of Playing It Up is to help interested adults learn how to organise their own local play events. Julie and Steve Cooper from St Ives are shining examples of how this works. Julie attended a CN4C training day, was inspired, and decided to pursue further play training opportunities. Her husband Steve also became interested and both have undertaken Level 2 Playwork Training. Julie has now progressed to a Playwork Diploma, with Steve soon to follow.

The couple set up their own weekly after-school activity club, and then a mobile crèche and childcare business named 'Little Sea Horses'. They also run soft play and activity sessions, involving singing, makaton signing (a sign/symbol language programme for teaching communication skills to children and adults), fitness fun, music, puppets and parachute games.

The project also made use of the couple's new-found skills and qualifications by employing them as paid support workers for this summer's programme of play days across the region.

Playing It Up is run by Tony Andrews of CN4C. He explained: "Our project is about encouraging local people to get involved in running play activities in their own communities. We can provide access to locally based training, together with free use of our mobile play equipment resources. We hope many more will follow Julie and Steve's excellent example."

Engage West Cornwall is equally enthusiastic about Playing It Up. "As well as providing fun activities for kids, the project is genuinely enhancing the employment prospects, education and skills of local people - especially those living in the less prosperous wards - through positive intervention," says Anne Nicholls of Engage. "In doing so, it is helping us to meet our ambitions for this area's communities. We are delighted to be supporting such an inspirational initiative."

For more information on Playing It Up or CN4C, contact Tony Andrews (Playing It Up) on 01736 810749, Tarn Lamb (Community Operations Director, CN4C) Tarn Lamb on 01209 219246 or Barbara Smith (PR Adviser, CN4C) on 01736 786421 or 07801 947897. For details of Julie and Steve Cooper's group activities, call 01736 794455.