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A fun filled summer – but with a difference

Published: 29/09/2020

Flintshire’s summer play schemes have proved to be a huge success once again, despite having to do things a little differently this year.

The schemes, which have been in existence since 1996, were delivered by the Council’s Play Development Team in partnership with 28 local town and community councils and Welsh Government.

In all, this summer, there were 55 site locations, either morning or afternoon, across the County delivered over 2 weeks of the summer holidays. 

The sessions are for children aged between 5 and 12 years and up to 15 years for children with disabilities. 

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Youth, Councillor Ian Roberts, said:

“In Flintshire, we are very proud of our summer play schemes which provide children with the opportunity – the time, space and permission - to play out locally, meeting up with old friends and making new ones.

“This year, despite some enormous challenges, there were still 1,865 children who attended the play schemes which took place throughout the County, proving them to be yet another huge success.”

This year, 30 children with disabilities were supported via our Buddy Scheme.

Councillor Roberts continued:

“There were two Welsh medium play schemes at Ysgol Gwynedd and Ysgol Maes Garmon.  This is an important strand of our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan that children have the opportunity to access their play scheme through the medium of Welsh.” 

This year there was an online registration process to keep paper copies of registration forms to a minimum.  However, paper copies were needed in some areas where parents or carers did not have access to the internet.  Head teachers have already offered to allow online access to parents and carers to register for 2021. 

Flintshire’s Play Development Officer, Janet Roberts, said:

“At first we thought that we would have to cancel all of our play schemes for this year, but, thanks to the hard work and dedication of many of our committed Council officers and partners from other organisations, we were able to deliver a successful, albeit reduced, programme for 2020, safely.  I have to make a special mention to all the town and community councils – without their support, this summer of play would not have happened.

“Being able to provide these play schemes has, without question, made a truly remarkable difference to all communities involved, as evidenced in emails received from parents and carers and, of course, the children.”