Come and join the Play Rangers in the Cotswolds this Saturday. We’re teaming up with Bibury Play, a committed team of Bibury residents, to provide some free, fun outdoor play.

“Play Gloucestershire are experts at encouraging children and adults to play outdoors in a creative and imaginative way. Now that spring has arrived and lighter nights are ahead of us there are plenty of opportunities for children to play outdoors,” said Ann Haigh, Secretary of Play Bibury.
“Due to the smaller numbers of children living in rural communities there is a danger that they can miss out on opportunities to play together and have fun. We want our village playground to become a community hub for families and see our den-making event as the start of exciting things to come,” added Mrs Haigh.

Hope to see you there, and don’t forget to wear your play clothes and a waterproof!

by Pip Levett

Click here to see a poster.

Rural Team Leader Katie Spencer is currently on sabbatical leave from Play Gloucestershire and is working for six months in a school in Zambia. Ben Morris, Urban Team leader, has news from her:

Grade Seven

Katie has been in constant contact with Play Gloucestershire during her time in Zambia, but now she has just finished her mid term break it seems like a good time to update everyone on what is happening in Katie world.

The school she teaches in LOVE her (as if they wouldn’t huh?) and she has been given a bit more responsibility than she initially planned for… But in true Katie style out come the lists and the organisation and before long she was teaching teachers in computer studies and writing mid term exam papers!!!

She has been primarily working with grades 6 and 7 in the school and there are photos below of the kids in both classes. Due to all the hard work she has put into the school in the last few weeks when the opportunity came up for a rest and the chance to do some touristy things she grabbed the chance and with her friend Liz who was visiting from the UK they visited Ndola, and hired a beast of a vehicle (think the size of a Play Ranger van – with massive wheels) to get around in. Booking into their lodgings became an issue when they were told that no booking was made in either of their names… out came the Katie folder and a few printed copies of emails and booking confirmation later they were resting up and going for relaxing swims and enjoying lie ins.

It wasn’t all fun though; Katie and Liz visited other schools and managed to buy some educational books to take back to Katie’s school. Liz then had to head home and this meant Katie was back to being alone in a foreign country which is never easy… But the smiling faces of the kids in the school and the brilliant hospitality from her host family are making her positive and looking forward to the next challenges.

She has recently had a three day weekend as in Zambia they have a National holiday called National Youth Day to celebrate all the brilliant young people they have in their country… wouldn’t it be great to have that in Britain?

Grade Six

Our Trustees have published Play Gloucestershire’s Annual Report following the recent AGM. An exciting year was reviewed in a slide show presented by Director of Play, Pip Levett. The Rangers have delivered outdoor play in 34 rural and urban communities during this year recording more than 12,591 play visits by school-aged children and young people. We have provided more than 2,473 hours of outdoor play during this year.  We know how much our users value our reliability which we are proud to tell you is rated this year at 99.6%!

Our full Play Roll of Honour for the year includes:

• Cheltenham: Hesters Way, Springbank, St Marks, St Pauls, St Peters & The Moors, Whaddon
• Cotswolds: Avening, Bourton on the Water, Cirencester (Chesterton), Northleach, Withington
• Forest of Dean: Brockweir, Drybrook, Primrose Hill, Lydney, Parkend, Sling
• Gloucester: Barton, Coney Hill, Kingsholm, Linden, Matson, Podsmead, Tredworth, Tuffley
• Stroud District: Frampton-on-Severn, Kings Stanley, Stonehouse, Stroud
• Tewkesbury Borough: Innsworth, Northway, Priors Park, Shurdington, Woodmancote

Matt Arthur, our Chair of Trustees said:

“This year has seen the end of Big Lottery Fund money and the extraordinary levels of energy and passion the staff have shown during Play Gloucestershire’s formative years is now reaping rewards. We have an unrivalled reputation for good quality, reliable and unique outdoor play that has a wide appeal across ages and generations. From toddlers to teenagers to grandparents, whole families and communities love what we do.

We are now fully mobilized in developing a play menu which we can use to generate commissions from Parish, Town, District Councils and the County Council, community groups and neighbourhood partnerships. We have a great range of outdoor play to offer from one-off events to year round community based play delivery. Play days, fetes, festivals, outdoor cooking, and our pedal-powered smoothie bike are just some of our fantastic play products on offer.

This has been a year of transition and one that leaves us well set for continued success with a reduced reliance on grant Funding. This is being developed as part of our overall Business Plan and Vision. Thank you to one and all for your support and friendship in 2010/11″.

Please click on this link to read our Annual Report.

You lot really do LOVE OUTDOOR PLAY!

What a week that was! February half term and more than 350 children and young people visited our Play Rangers in 11 rural and urban communities across Gloucestershire. Not forgetting all those parents and grandparents who also joined in with an awesome range of active and creative play activities. Highlights of the week included our return to Chesterton in Cirencester (and young volunteer Jack coming back); more than 20 litres of scrummy soup cooked on campfires across the county; a Big Play Ranger Wedding in Northway; Bridezillas in Tredworth; pasta lunch for 30 in Archway Gardens; hoards of families playing in Frampton; and the Rangers providing activities in Podsmead for the opening of the lovely new play area in Scott Avenue. Thanks to everyone who chose to ‘Get Out and Play!’ It just shows how important it is for our Play Rangers to deliver free, fun outdoor play all year round.

by Pip Levett

Click on the pictures to enlarge them – click again to close.

The Play Rangers love outdoor play, especially when it snows! This is our snow-van, pictured at a children’s birthday party in Cheltenham last weekend when 30 six year olds enjoyed some chilly outdoor fun with Rangers Ben, Charlie and Pip. By home time it was a white out! Zombie tag and sizzling sausages on our celebration fire pit kept spirits high. Happy birthday Lolly and thanks for inviting us!

by Pip Levett