Play 

Every child has a right to play 

• Aims of the Play Partnership 

  The aim of the group will be to act as the borough's lead body and reference point for all services making decisions that may have an impact on children and young people's play; and to be responsible for implementation and monitoring of the Barking and Dagenham Play Strategy.

  If you would like to find out more about the Play Partnership contact Toby Kinder, Strategic Children's Centre Manager, at toby.kinder@lbbd.gov.uk or David Theakston, Manager Parks and Leisure Development, at david.theakston@lbbd.gov.uk.

   

• The Play Strategy 

  The first National Play Strategy was published in December 2008. The strategy is backed by £235 million of dedicated investment.

  This funding will support its aims of creating safe, welcoming, interesting and free places to play in every residential community and giving children and young people an active role in planning these areas.

  The Barking and Dagenham Play Strategy forms the basis upon which an organised approach to delivering free play opportunities will be developed by the Council.

   

• London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Play Rangers 

  The Parks and Countryside Ranger Services were set up in 1996 to:

  • Manage Eastbrookend Country Park
  • Arrange school visits, events and activities
  • Provide a uniformed presence and undertake patrols and inspections in parks and open spaces in the borough

   

• Adventurous Play 

  Adventurous play provides a crucial role in developing and providing a wide range of risky play opportunities for children across the borough.

  The council plans to continue play sessions for children. There will be play sessions in 6 parks across the borough over the next 2 years and 4 more parks will benefit from adventurous play over the same period.

   

• Play builder 

  Play England is supporting local authority play builders and play pathfinders to deliver the government's £235m investment in play and transform local areas into innovative and adventurous play spaces.

  This programme is a major part of the National Play Strategy, launched in April 2008. In Barking and Dagenham we are planning to create 22 playable play spaces over the next 3 years.