NICCY call for 'play' policy in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People today called for a province-wide policy and strategy on the necessity for playtime for children.

The Commissioner's Office has joined forces with NIPPA, the Early Year’s Organisation, Playboard, and the Derry Children’s Commission to call on Government to take the need for "play" more seriously.

Barney McNeany, Acting Commissioner at NICCY, today said: “This conference is calling on everyone involved in children and young people’s lives to think carefully about improving the opportunities for play.

“Our research has shown that there is simply not enough good quality play provision. And children and young people have told us many times the difficulties they face in finding and using play and leisure facilities right for their age.”

Mr McNeany continued by saying that the conference helped all involved in play to look at what was currently going on in Northern Ireland and share in good practice.

He added: “Everyone who had taken part in setting this conference up is convinced of the need for a Northern Ireland Play Policy and Strategy. At NICCY play is one of our priorities; and play is quite literally something we take very seriously.”

At today's gathering, local delegates were joined by speakers from England and Wales.

Workshops were also held on influencing national play policy, the outcomes of play, the Toybox project, physical play, inclusive play, influencing local policy, rural and environmental creative arts and challenging all involved to develop a common understanding of children’s play needs.

(EF/SP)