Here is the timetable for our play sessions during half term week.  Hope to see you!

Half Term Play Sessions Tues 28 May to Fri 31 May

All sessions are 10am – 4pm unless shown otherwise

The school Easter break is over and our Play Rangers got out to play in 22 locations throughout Gloucestershire in one of the coldest Easters in 50 years! From snow to sunshine over 650 children and young people wrapped up warm and came out to play no matter what the weather.

The extreme winds brought a whole new element to play this holiday.  Kites and wind play of all varieties  has been enjoyed throughout the county from toddlers and their wind wands to teenagers building kites in hope of getting lift off.

With Winter still here outdoor cooking continues on Play Ranger day camps.  Various varieties of soup have been prepared, cooked and enjoyed by kids throughout the county – we’re finding some budding chefs for sure!

Dens were built for fun, not protection (as the wind just blew them down anyway) and hammocks were too cold to sit and relax in so they became trampolines!

Making our own fancy dress and junk modelling was adventurous on some sites as you had to chase what you wanted as it was blowing across the field – despite this we managed to turn many a little girl into a fairy with wind wand, tiara and the tutu to match and it felt like we were at Comic-Con at one play session with various superheroes dressed up and flying around the field.  A cardboard flat screen TV was created and taken home for big sister, who promptly sent her little brother back when she realised the sponge remote had been left behind.

Alongside all of this we took part in a Community Day run by VCS in Kingsholm where the local residents came out in snow showers to get together and share in a great day and we played out at the Community Participation event in Northway in the glorious sunshine.

As always our Young Volunteers have been with us every step of the way – you know who you are, and you are amazing!

It has been a fun filled, extreme weather, active, creative and very sociable fortnight.  It has been great to see new faces as well as play out with our regulars – thanks everyone!

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Director of Play Pip Levett writes…

Our supporters often show their gratitude with lovely comments, or arty creations or by posting messages on our website, Facebook or Twitter. This Easter as well as all the above I had five interesting presents to tell you about.

1: Leon presented me (and the other two Rangers working with me) with a One Direction Easter Egg. Yum. Chocolate always enthusiastically received to consume whilst lying on the sofa, recovering by the fire, moaning about how tired I feel after all that active outdoor play in freezing conditions at my age. He was slightly embarrassed about the One Direction branding on mine. His Mum said that was all that was left on the shelf. I think he knows Tom Jones is more my thing!

2: Ellie’s just moved and she now has to walk about 15 minutes to get to us rather than 30 seconds. She’s a regular and rarely misses a session. Undeterred by the cold, she arrived on site last week and presented me with a rather glitzy little cross, studded with gems. Giving her a quizzical look, as I’m not known for attending church on Sundays, she explained that her cat had dug it up in her new garden and she thought I would like it. Sweet. I promised if the bling turned out to be real diamonds that she could have it back.

3: Phoebe made me a lovely penguin with scrap out of our arty box. We were chatting about that fab penguin documentary on telly, and how stressful it was watching the chicks and parents brave all those predators and extreme weather. Before I knew it, if she passed me the little penguin she’d created with a big smile on her face.

4: Cory’s just been on holiday and in a creative moment, similar to things we’ve made at play sessions, he made a balloon face complete with bright yellow wool hair and happy face. Somehow the balloon survived its long trip back to Gloucestershire, and ended up being given to me at our community play gathering.

5: Last but not least a rather uplifting gesture from Riverford – the organic vegetable box company. Their local delivery person was passing through the community and saw us in action. One of our friendly Play Rangers called out hello, as we do to everyone in earshot, and we got chatting. He tweeted that he was going to drop off some freebies for us the following week and presented us with a scrumptious organic fruit box. How lovely to put a fruit box in our tent and spend the rest of the day munching away. A lovely gesture to end a cold, busy and enjoyable Easter holidays. Check out the photo to see these presents in their full glory!

Here are the play sessions planned for Easter.

Well now’s your chance…Play Gloucestershire are recruiting for new Play Rangers to work with us as we move into our busiest time of year.  Why not join us?