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Seafront Play Space designs update
Thank you to everyone who came to our 2nd Seafront Play Space consultation stage in Priory Meadow on Tuesday, 14 February. We had nearly 200 responses and spoke to lots of families about their play preferences and design needs for the space. We've used this information to help us agree final designs for the 3 seafront spaces and are pleased to announce that we have accepted the tender from Eibe Play Ltd.
The winning designs will be displayed at the Beach Retreat café (the small kiosk near the trampolines on the seafront) between 2 and 4pm on Saturday, 25 February and we welcome any further feedback about them.
Once the final design has been agreed it is hoped that the play spaces will be installed ready for this June's half term!
For any more information about the project please contact Laura Beerling, Play Development Officer 01424 451452 or email lbeerling@hastings.gov.uk
Download the designs:
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The Play Strategy
The Play Strategy was adopted by Cabinet in March 2007 and runs until September 2012. The aim of the strategy is to establish a framework for the local authority and its partners to plan, improve, develop and sustain play opportunities within the Borough. The strategy also works towards ensuring that consideration of children's need to play, becomes part of strategic policy framework for all decisions that affect the planning of community services and public space. The strategy highlights the value of play, the strategic context and the extensive local consultation findings. The strategy included an 3 year action plan which has recently been reviewed and updated with a refresh document to ensure the strategy remains current.
The outcomes of the initial action plan included the successful Big Lottery funded 'Make Way for Play' initiative which was managed and delivered by Hastings Borough Council's Play Hastings over 3 years. The successful outcomes included:
- A regular programme of 'Street Play' sessions in areas of deprivation
- Increased Large scale summer Play Days which attracted an average of approximately 3,500 local people per event
- The successful refurbishment of 6 local playgrounds, enabled by match funding with the recent Play Pathfinder grant
- Sustaining coordination of the local Play Forum
- Offering training and a volunteer programme to local young people
Targets within the second action plan which carry forward the Play Strategy until September 2012 include:
- Provide Play Day events Summer 2011 and 2012
- Seek further funding to provide Street Play Sessions in areas of high deprivation
- Further develop opportunities for inclusive play
- Continue to support the new Hastings Adventure Playground
- Work with Active Hastings and Street Games to secure funding to launch further play sessions with a health focus
- Provide a créche service to support local parents and internal/external agencies needs
- Support the Parks and Open Spaces team in actions arising from the Play Space audit and strategy
- Support the cultural strategy to ensure inclusive local family involvement
- Co-ordinate Play Forum meetings to ensure community/multi-agency working
Download the Play Strategy documents:
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The Play Forum
The Play Forum is a network of play and childcare providers from statutory and community groups and organisations that share an interest in play.
The forum meets quarterly to discuss current issues and to help us deliver play opportunities to children and families across the town.
Each member of the Play Forum brings different skills and views to the group and the guidance it provides is invaluable. The Play Forum also helps to represent the wider play community and promotes the importance of sharing best practice and working together towards shared aims and to ensure best use is made of limited resources and play information is shared across Hastings and St Leonards.
Without the help of the Play Forum, Playdays in the Park could not run. These events depend on the hard work of its dedicated members who provide help in all forms so that play days can continue. We are always looking for new members to strengthen the voice of the forum. Local parents or residents groups who would like to discuss any issues related to play are also more than welcome to attend meetings. We meet quarterly in the Town Hall, usually on Tuesday lunchtime. If you are interested in joining the Play Forum please contact us for details of future meetings.
