Play Strategy
Introduction
A Play Strategy (4,831 Kb) 
for the borough of Fareham has been developed in conjunction with other local groups and agencies. This strategy seeks to inform the shape and direction of policy priorities and proposed service developments for play and young people’s facilities in Fareham over the next five to ten years. The Strategy provides an overview for the development of play facilities and services within the borough and complements existing strategies and studies.
The Strategy has been produced through an extensive consultation process. Consultation has included key stakeholders such as partner organisations, play providers, disability groups, parents and local residents. In addition, direct consultation has been undertaken with children and young people through schools and outreach work.
Scope
The scope of the strategy is sufficiently wide to encompass informal facilities and activities for children and young people including play areas, open spaces, supervised play schemes, out of school provision, youth facilities, play centres and informal activity programmes. The Strategy includes all children and young people up to 19 years; and up to 25 years for those with disabilities. The Strategy is for Fareham as a whole – not just the borough council.
The Policy Statements within the strategy are structured in relation to the five key themes of the Hampshire Children and Young People’s Plan. The five main outcomes for children and young people are:
- being healthy,
- staying safe,
- enjoying and achieving,
- making a positive contribution and
- achieving economic well-being.
Community Engagement
Various methods have been employed to establish the needs and aspirations of children and young people, parents or carers and the wider community in relation to play provision in Fareham. Consultation and engagement was carried out with Hampshire County Council, Police, Hampshire Youth Service, Residents Associations, young people and children, parents/carers, disability groups and other associations involved in play provision within Fareham.
Key issues identified from the Consultation
The strategy addresses how the play partnership can respond in order to improve play provision across the borough. The main issues arising from the strategy are:
- Lack of provision for young people
- Impact of play on healthy lifestyles
- Improve disabled access
- ‘Safe’ play environments
- Access to play sites and facilities
- Consultation in design of play spaces
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Identify priorities for play areas
- Use of extended schools sites
- Lack of young peoples meeting areas
- Promote and develop informal play spaces
- Coordinate promotion and publicity of play spaces
- Training and staff development
Action Plan
The Action Plan sets out actions that are planned over a five year period. It addresses the key issues highlighted through the consultation and where resources should be directed. It is anticipated that many of these actions will be facilitated by a Play Ranger, who can engage with communities and develop projects with play providers and children/young people.
Conclusion
It is hoped that the Play Strategy (4,831 Kb) will be a continually evolving document which brings together all agencies that are involved in play provision in Fareham and that the action plan will ensure that issues identified as part of the consultation exercise can be implemented in a collaborative manner which will ultimately improve the play provision in the borough.
|.
|.
