Since 1974, charitable organisation Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA) has been working hard to increase play opportunities for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years across the county. They want to champion and support the rights of all Children and Young People to have access to high quality, inclusive play opportunities to improve their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Each year, OPA organise a series of Play and Activity days at various venues across Oxfordshire.
On 6 July their South Oxfordshire Playday will take place at Southern Town Park, Lambrick Way, off Preston Road, OX14 5TJ from 11am until 3pm. The day will bring families from the local community together through a day full of play and fun. Activities have been selected to provide opportunities for both physical and fun learning, with something suitable for young people of all ages and interests. Admission and activities are all free, although refreshments do need to be purchased. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic along.
Martin Gillett, Oxfordshire Play Association manager, said: “The aim is to get families out playing together, being physically active and get them off the sofa. It is free, so it is a great day for no money.”
The event is funded and supported by Abingdon Town Council, SOHA, Sovereign Network Group, Abingdon Vineyard Church, Tesco Stronger Starts and Oxfordshire County Council.
The Playdays which OPA run have also been held in Didcot, Carterton and Faringdon over the summer. These free, family fun playdays are becoming increasingly important with the savage cuts previously imposed on Children and Families services in Oxfordshire (including the closure of local Children’s Centres and Youth Services) over recent times. With the unprecedented Cost of Living Crisis, there has seen an unprecedented increase in children’s mental health problems, loneliness and reduced physical activity. Therefore, the need for charities such as OPA who are one of the Oxfordshire’s lead organisations promoting play for young people.
Not only do they arrange Playdays, but they also help support Parents and Carers as they can demonstrate how play can be achieved on a minimal or zero budget using natural and recycled materials. Information on such activities is available on their website oxonplay.org.uk/families. They also provide information on services and activities available in the local and wider area. The charity also works closely in communities encouraging a greater sense of belonging to promote Active & Engaged Communities, promoting local clubs, groups and societies. It is equally important that local groups and organisations consider the needs of children and young people when they are organising events and activities.
OPA also offer play equipment hire, they run junior youth clubs to creating play strategy and policy for Oxfordshire. One phenomenally successful project developed in partnership with the late Gordon Sturrock is Oxford Therapeutic Playwork (OTP). Gordon was an internationally renowned playwork theorist and OPA have adopted Sturrock’s model of Therapeutic Playwork to create a high quality play space which offers children and young people opportunities to heal through self-directed Play. This is enhanced by complex interventions and specific tools and resources used by the OTP specialist.
‘Through play the child can re-negotiate material that is causing difficulty in life elsewhere. Much of this material has been, previously, hidden, and is expressed through symbol, and covert meaning. The bullied child, bullies, in turn, her dolls. The abused child plays out narratives of abuse on the surrounding containment of the playspace.’ (Gordon Sturrock 2001)
The Therapeutic Playwork sessions are facilitated by Play specialists who offer a non-judgemental and empathetic approach to Play that centres around clear and consistent boundaries to enable children and young people to act out and express their emotions in a safe way. OTP also supports children and young people faced with challenges, to increase their resilience, develop a positive sense of self and improve their self-confidence. This project has been successfully delivered to children in local primary schools with outstanding results. If you are a headteacher and interested in OPA running this therapeutic project in your school, contact OPA. They are often able to fundraise so that there is no cost to the school.
For further information about Oxfordshire Play Association, please visit oxonplay.org.uk
