8
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism,He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with tolerance,He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,He learns to find love in the world.
Chief Executive's Report
It is a great honour for me as the newly appointed Chief Executive of PlayBoard to organise the 2001 Annual Review and AGM at PlayBoard.
PlayBoard is now 16 years old and has definitely ‘come of age’ as play has been included in the Programme for Government.
Overall, this has been a year of many changes with many valuable and long-servingstaff and Board members moving on to a wide range of challenges, and some new faces arriving - my own included – along with some baby arrivals for members of staff.
To make room for all new arrivals and to allow the organisation to develop its potential, PlayBoard openeda new training suite in June. The second floor extension was grant-aided by the Department of Educationand Learning - a huge ‘thank you’ to them for investing in PlayBoard.
More good news for PlayBoard came when the agency was designated as an Intermediary Funding Body forPeace II for Measure 1.5, focusing on mainstreaming the PlayCare Initiative. We also hope to develop ourrelationship with the Childcare Partnerships and the New Opportunities Fund through the work of our Out ofSchools Hours Childcare Team.
Next year we look forward to rolling out our Quality Assurance Programme and developing our membership andservices to the Play Community.
“The right to play is a child’s first claim in their community. No community can infringe that right without doingdeep and enduring harm to minds and bodies of its citizens.”
Lloyd George (1924)
Marguerite Hunter Blair (Chief Executive)
Chairman's Report
PlayBoard experienced another year of great change in 2001. The agency recruited a new Chief Executive in Marguerite Hunter Blair, whosedrive and vision will help direct PlayBoard’s work in improving both the quality of children’s lives in general, and their play opportunities inparticular.
PlayBoard’s stance in campaigning for a Children’s Commissioner paid dividends this year when the Northern Ireland Assembly announcedplans to consult on the establishment of a Commissioner’s office here. PlayBoard will continue to be involved in the development of keypolicies impacting on children’s lives, including plans for a Northern Ireland Children’s Strategy for 2002.
The key priority for PlayBoard in the coming year is again to identify sources of core funding. The agency’s current standards of excellencecontinue to be challenged through lack of core funding and recognition from government departments. I am confident, however, thatPlayBoard’s work with government departments will provide the opportunity to put children at the centre of building peace and prosperity forour communities by stimulating creativity and confidence in our children. Thanks to all of you who have supported PlayBoard through anotheryear of achievement and I wish the agency all the best in tackling the challenges and opportunities that 2002 has in store.
Prior to Marguerite’s arrival at PlayBoard, Board member Billy Boyd acted as Executive Director, providing support to staff and making surethe work of the agency continued apace. Sincere thanks to Billy for his valuable contribution during what was a time of upheaval anduncertainty for staff.
Conor MacSherry (Chair)
PLAYB
The PlayCare Team
The main achievements for the PlayCare Team for 2001 include:
* assisted 40 playwork candidates in successfully completing their NVQ award across both Level 2 and Level 3
* continued to support the 112 operational clubs funded under the PlayCare Initiative* helped 22 clubs access approximately £300,000 gap funding* continued to actively develop partnerships with playworkers by:
* holding 26 network meetings across Northern Ireland* inviting guest speakers to attend network meetings* networking with the Training Team to deliver training sessions
* supporting PlayClubs by:* carrying out support visits to all PlayClubs* sitting on interview panels for recruitment within clubs* advising management committees on management issues* helping playworkers to identify training gaps and advising them on direction* disseminated relevant information on best practice to PlayClubs through mail-outs
* sustainability:* worked closely with Out of School Hours Childcare Development Officers to help PlayClubs to access
New Opportunities Fund* helped PlayClubs to look at other sources of funding* advised PlayClubs on appropriate marketing strategies to ensure long-term sustainability* worked on the application form and guidelines for Peace II
Training Unit
Over the past 12 months, the Training Team have achieved the following objectives:
* assisted 40 playwork candidates in successfully completing their NVQ award across both Level 2 and Level 3
* successfully piloted the ‘Introduction to Playwork’ course in the Southern Board area, with nine playworkersgaining OCN accreditation at Level 2
* forged a number of cross-border links through the delivery of training sessions and representation on theWorking Party for School-Age Childcare
* reviewed training partnerships, helping to direct future work as new NVQ classes are planned for theautumn/winter term
* continued to establish working partnerships with key agencies across the 0-14 services sector
Training Matters
The training department at PlayBoard can tailor and deliver sessions or courses to meet your individual needsand requirements, as we work together to enhance the quality of children’s lives through play.
PlayBoard currently offer training on all aspects of children’s play including:-* Introduction to Playwork (11 sessions)* NVQ Level 2 Playwork (35 sessions)* NVQ Level 3 Playwork (52 sessions)
as well as the following short courses:-* What is Play? * The Role of the Playworker* Programme Planning * Games* Equal Opportunities * Promoting Positive Relationships* Arts & Crafts * Basic Administration* Child Protection * Quality Assurance
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BOARD
Calendar of Training Events
A ‘Calendar of Training Events’ is planned for the coming year, which will highlight the proposed courses foryour area. Booking information and further details will be available from January 2002. Additional informationon all courses is available from the Training Development Officers at Belfast and Armagh.
PlayBoard Training Rooms
PlayBoard would like to enable other organisations to benefit from the excellent training facilities we have onsite, therefore we are offering the training rooms for hire at the following rates:
Training Suite Members: £20 per session / Non-Members: £25 per session(max. 60 participants - Morning, afternoon or evening sessions available)
Training Room £7.50 per hour(max. 15 participants)
Board Room £5.00 per hour(max. 15 participants)
Bookings can be made by contacting Deborah Judge. Tel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381
Out of School Hours Childcare Team
Since April 1999, the New Opportunities Fund “Out of School Hours Childcare” initiative has gone fromstrength to strength.
With the support of our development officers, 7,226 new childcare places have been created through grantsamounting to £4,007,591. These figures confirm that we are on target within each of the four Board areas tomeet the objectives set out in “Children First”, the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy.
The Out of School Hours Childcare Team at PlayBoard have worked at a local level to support 130 groups asthey planned provision, accessed the funding and started delivering the places. Witnessing the vision of acommunity transformed into a reality has been a privilege. We continue to assist these and other communities asthey realise their aspirations.
The New Opportunities Fund have changed their criteria considerably since 1999. Initially the Fund was onlyopen to projects that were creating new places; this automatically excluded those time-limited projects that werein effect at risk of closure if financially unaided. Many groups had difficulties with this and other original criteriaas set by NOF. Development Officers related these concerns to NOF and as a result NOF have reviewed theirpolicy to include funding those who had reached the end of time-bound funding as well as delivering longerterm funding for those projects in the most disadvantaged communities.
As a team we are indebted to the co-ordinators and Chairs from each of the four Childcare Partnerships who wehave worked closely with over the last 18 months. We are seeing at first hand the difference that the NewOpportunities Fund is making in neighbourhoods throughout the area and we value the support of NOF’s officein Belfast.
From Portaferry to Portadown, from Donemana to Draperstown, communities are building in capacity as theydeliver much needed services to their neighbourhood.
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PLAYB
Information Unit
The past year has been a busy year – again – for PlayBoard’s Information Unit, especially on the children’spolicy front.
The year got off to a great start with the announcement from the Northern Ireland Assembly that the Office ofthe First Minister and Deputy First Minister had committed themselves, in principle, to the creation of a Children’sCommissioner for Northern Ireland. This was literally the culmination of years of work for PlayBoard andnumerous children’s organisations who had been campaigning for independent representation for childrenwithin Northern Ireland’s political structures under the guise of Putting Children First. As part of the pre-consultation exercise, PlayBoard was nominated to sit on a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Forum, setup to offer advice and guidance to OFMDFM on the appointment of a Commissioner and the development of theNorthern Ireland Children’s Strategy. Along with other organisations, PlayBoard also gave evidence to theCommittee of the Centre at Stormont and made a presentation to Assembly Members and party workers in theLong Gallery, also around the issue of the Commissioner. PlayBoard is also a member of an All-Party Children’sGroup at Stormont, made up of representatives from children’s organisations and political parties, to ensurechildren’s issues are kept high on the political agenda.
Years of work also paid off on the Home Zone front, with the contractor finally starting work at the beginning ofthe summer. When completed, the pilot Home Zone in the New Lodge area of north Belfast will offer safe playopportunities for children in the streets where they live, as well as enhancing the local environment andimproving quality of life for all residents. The Executive have stated that the evaluation of the New Lodge HomeZone will influence decisions as to whether the concept should be extended to other housing developments. Inanticipation of this, PlayBoard is supporting a number of residents groups, community associations and localCouncils who are all interested in developing Home Zones in their areas.
The Information & Campaigns Officer also represented PlayBoard on a committee set up to advise the NorthernIreland Human Rights Commission on the specific inclusion of children’s rights within a Bill of Rights for NorthernIreland.
PlayBoard’s Information Unit continued to receive and process requests for information on a variety of issues,including the issue of environmental play which is high on the list of priorities for community groups providingfor children’s play. It is hoped to relaunch PlayBoard’s reference library in the new year, helping us to help ourmembers gather information and research on issues impacting on children’s play.
Finance & Monitoring Team
The Finance and Monitoring Team have continued to monitor those projects funded under Peace 1. Work hasbeen progressing on the winding up of grant awards under Peace 1. The later part of this year has mainly seenthe preparation of final claims and the release of final payments.
The PlayBoard Finance and Monitoring Team have also been monitoring gap funding on behalf of DEL. Inaddition to this, the team have been preparing for the monitoring of Peace II funding. This has involved externaltraining in funding regulations and it is hoped that we will be able to pass this information onto projects, duringworkshops/training sessions when Peace II funding is eventually released.
The team has also continued to provide a full financial support service to the organisation.
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BOARD
Quality Counts
If you tried to list ‘building blocks of quality’ you would almost certainly include – shared aims and objectives,committed staff, quality assurance, accessibility, equal opportunity, good practice, clear policies, training andqualifications, etc… Playwork quality assurance is a process for improving the quality of children’s playexperiences in a range of play settings, and thereby, assuring the highest quality of experiences for children inthose settings.
Why Develop a Quality Assurance Scheme?With the expansion of ‘out of school’ provision, we believe that clubs and their users want to aim for evenhigher standards of quality in the care they offer. The quality assurance scheme has been developed to helpclubs and providers achieve the best standards of provision for children, young people, parents and the widercommunity.
How Can Quality Be Identified?Quality can be identified in a variety of factors:-* the environment of a club
* premises * materials* equipment * general atmosphere
* the behaviour of staff towards each other and towards the children, young people and parents* the communication between managers, staff, volunteers, children, young people and parents
* verbal contact * handouts* letters and notices * consultation with children, young people, parents
* the capability for maintaining and improving quality* staffing and procedures * training* routines * meetings* financial systems * management arrangements
* clear values which lead to quality* policies and procedures * belief in the value of play* commitment to quality
* The scheme has three levels of quality which clubs can achieve* Level 1 - Bronze * Level 2 - Silver * Level 3 – Gold.
The PlayBoard ‘Quality Assurance Scheme’ will be available from January 2002. Clubs interested in registeringfor the scheme should contact - Deborah Judge: Tel. 028 9080 3380 Fax. 028 9080 3381
WE MUST MAKE QUALITY OUR PRIORITY IN 2002 AS WE STRIVE TO MAKE QUALITY COUNT!
Sources of IncomeYear ended 31 March 2001
£Childcare Partnerships 173,755District Partnerships 8,822DSS:- Local Authority 20,374Training & Employment Agency 1,402,278Youth Council for NI 57,832Training for Women Network 10,029Proteus 77,574Membership Fees 5,330Conference Fees 8,530Consultancy 4,568Sponsorship 27,723Rent 7,940Group Insurance 8,579Miscellaneous Income 8,351Play for Peace 29,165Total 1,850,850
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PlayBoard, 59-65 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AATel: 028 9080 3380 Fax: 028 9080 3381 Email: [email protected]
PlayBoard Staff Team(as at November 2001)
Marguerite Hunter Blair . . . . .Chief ExecutiveSuzanne Bergin . . . . . . . . . . . .Out of School Hours Childcare Development OfficerJoan Blain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Training Team LeaderCaroline Butler . . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Assistant (PlayCare)Tracey Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . .Finance & Administration AssistantJanette Gray . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PlayCare Development OfficerBarbara Hawkes . . . . . . . . . .Out of School Hours Childcare Development OfficerClaire Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . .ReceptionistDeborah Judge . . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Assistant (Training)Kim Leebody . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Out of School Hours Childcare Development OfficerLouise McAree . . . . . . . . . . . . .Finance & Monitoring Team LeaderSeamus McCann . . . . . . . . . . .Finance & Monitoring OfficerJoan McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . . .PlayCare Development OfficerSiobhan McGrath . . . . . . . . . .Personal Assistant to the Chief ExecutiveJoanne Magee . . . . . . . . . . . . .Out of School Hours Childcare Development OfficerCaroline Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Information & Campaigns OfficerMaura Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . .Finance & Monitoring OfficerJennifer Murphy . . . . . . . . . . .Training Development OfficerRuth Murphy . . . . . . . . . . . . .Finance & Monitoring OfficerCiara Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Assistant/PersonnelMia Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Training Development OfficerLisa O’Connor . . . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Assistant (OOSHC)Jackie O’Loughlin . . . . . . . . . .Training Development OfficerAnne Rafferty . . . . . . . . . . . . .PlayCare Development OfficerAngela Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . .PlayCare Development OfficerMairead Watters . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Assistant (PlayCare)
PlayBoard Board of Directors(as at November 2001)
Conor MacSherry . . . . . . . . . .(Chair)Amanda Lilley . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Treasurer)Pat BowenWilliam BoydGerard McGlynnNancy OrrBill ShawNiall SmallCathy TaylorRyan Williams
Contact Details
Head office: Derry office: Armagh office: Irvinestown office:59/65 York Street 26/28 Bishop Street Melbourne House Enterprise ParkBelfast BT15 1AA Derry BT48 6BP 16 Marlborough Terrrace Market YardTel: 9080 3380 Tel: 9080 3380 Russell Street Mill StreetFax: 9080 3381 Fax: 9080 3381 Armagh BT61 9AA Irvinestown BT94 4GR
Tel: 3751 5910 Tel/Fax: 6862 8825Fax: 3751 5919
Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteacht Phoiblí
European Union-N.O.W
