There are a range of activities available for 5-14s at our play centres and in the local community. 

Some of the other projects we currently deliver and support include:  

• Play Centres 
• Play Pathfinder
• Play4Life
• Inclusion Support
• Happy Days

We have Playwork development officers working in your local area to help people develop and sustain good quality play opportunities as well as supporting volunteers and organising training. If you have a passion for playwork and would like to know how you could set up or assist playworkers to deliver play opportunities in your area then please contact:

Deborah Millar
Projects officer
Tel: 0115 9150573
Email: play.service@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Play Centres

There are five Play Centres in the city where children aged 5-14 years can play after school, on Saturdays and during the holidays. These centres employ staff who are trained to work creatively with children and who can facilitate play in a safe and secure environment. Click here to vist the Play Centre page .

Throughout the year we also run activities and clubs in different parks and centres, where children can have a fun time, be active, make new friends and develop their social skills.

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Play Pathfinder

Children and young people in Nottingham will get a new adventure playground and some exciting and innovative local play areas as part of a £2 million investment from the government through its Play Pathfinder scheme.

These new innovative play sites will be developed with input from children, young people and their communities. By including lots of challenging equipment and natural landscapes they will provide children with the opportunity to play actively outdoors. These new and improved play sites will also improve access for disabled children.

The Play Pathfinder aims to address some of the objectives of the Children's Plan including:

• A move away from the "No Ball Games" culture of the past so that public spaces in residential areas are more child friendly.

• Improvement of road safety around play parks - road safety was amongst the top issues that parents say is important to them.

• A reduction in childhood obesity

What Does The Play Pathfinder Mean For Nottingham?

• 28 new or refurbished play areas across the city, including a pirate ship themed destination site on the Forest Recreation Ground.
• 1 new adventure playground near to Southglade Primary School in Bestwood. Click here to visit the adventure playground pages . 
• An increase in natural play opportunities and environmental education through the Nottingham Play Partnership and the expanding Park Ranger service.
• Investment in the voluntary sector
• More community involvement in city parks.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Communities said: "The Play Pathfinder programme is helping to bring the facilities across Nottingham City's Parks up to a good standard. We hope these major improvements will make the parks and playgrounds more accessible to all, help attract more people on to the sites whilst fostering community involvement and social interaction."

Click here to vist the Children's and young people's open spaces page.

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Play4Life

A great way to get children up and about is through play. Organised games can be great fun, and are a good way for adults to get involved too,

That's why we've just launched Play4Life, but we need your support. By encouraging  children to play as often as possible, you will be helping them to make a Change4life.

There is lots of advice available on how to support children to play indoors and outdoors as well as ways to keep them safe while they're burning off all that energy.

 Click here to download some fun ideas for outdoor play [625kb].

 Click here to download some fun ideas for indoor play [532kb].

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Inclusion Support

Our aim is to provide Children, young people and families the help and support they need, when they need it. Disabled Children and those with additional needs can benefit from access to extra support and one to one play sessions. Transport can be arranged, if necessary. We will be working closely with schools and families to achieve positive outcomes. If you would like any further information please contact Tracylee Rowe, Inclusion Playwork development officer on 0115 9150741

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Happy Days

This project has been set up to meet the play needs of children temporarily housed at refuges and homeless hostels across the city, at a time in their lives when they are feeling vulnerable and in need of some positive experiences. The project  provides a variety of services including direct play support, assisted visits to local play centres and projects, respite for parents, partnership work to support hostels and refuges to provide more play provision for themselves, and targeted support to mother and baby units.

The Happy Days Play Project held it's Launch event on Wednesday 6^th May 2009 at the Nottingham Ice Stadium. The launch provided a great opportunity for parents, children and staff from across the city's hostels and refuges to come together to celebrate the project launch and showcase some of the fantastic play activities available to them in the coming months.

This 3yr funded project is part of a portfolio of 6 other BIG lottery funded play projects and organisations.For more information contact  Stephanie Williams-Rayner, Playwork Development Officer on 0115 9936015.

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