Youth Lobbying Initiative
What We Do » Projects » Youth Lobbying Initiative
Youth Lobbying Initiative
PlayBoard's Play Advocacy Programme has been funded through Atlantic Philanthropies, to undertake work in North Belfast with local people, groups and agencies. The focus of this work has been to build local capacity to lobby and advocate for children and young people's right to play and leisure opportunities.
The Youth Lobbying Initiative in Cliftonville North Belfast is led by Julie Holmes and supported by Eamonn Keenan PlayBoard's Play Development Officers.
Following initial contact in November 2010 with the Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum (CCRF) a group of young women from the 'Let Youth Lead (LYL)' project who are from the area agreed to work with PlayBord staff. The young women, all mothers, had serious concerns about practical, environmental and ecomonic constraints which were restricting local children's ability, opportunity and right to play in the area they lived. The group believed that the provision of designated play spaces was very important; but equally important to them and what became the focus of their work with PlayBoard was to realise the vision of reclaiming their streets as a space for children and young people to play.
To achieve this vision PlayBoard supported LYL to design and carry out a survey with over 200 residents from the newly build Torrens housing development in cliftonville. With a high number of responses the material was analysed and provided detailed information about resident's views.
The result showed concerns about the safety of children playing unaccompanied in the street with 70% reporting concerns about traffic and 95% reporting that at present their children do not have enough places to play outdoors in the Torren's area.
The finding and proposed actions to address the issues identified in the surveys were shared at a public meeting and a newsletter disseminated to all households.
Throughout the summer of 2011 LYL and PlayBoard worked with the residents and local agencies to set up and deliver a pilot 'Reclaiming Streets' play project. The project involves street closures supported by PlayBoard, LYL and local residents who were living in these streets, to provide a safe space for children to play outside their own homes.
Five streets were identified bo be involved in the pilot and every household was visited to assess support for the project and address any concerns residents may have had. LYL and PlayBoard were delighted with the high level of support shown by residents and were able to commence the first pilot play session in August 2011. As one parent living on the street said: "Its just great, with the road being closed off you don't have to worry about cars coming along. The kids love it and it gives them a chance to play with each other and for parents to meet."
By November 2011 eleven sessions of the Reclaiming Streets play project have been piloted. Streets are closed off the traffic with traffic cones and brightly coloured bunting, local residents support PlayBoard staff and LYL volunteers to provide an environment for children to play. Residents assist with the closure and re-opening of the street, while others join in and play with the children or chat with their neighbours. More recently local young people from projects in CCRF who are also local residents have volunteered their time to support the work of the young women from LYL.
In December 2011 a reveiw survey was carried out to assess the impact of the project. We received overwhelming support for the project. Comments included:
"It is fantastic, I have teenagers and this is the first time I have seen something like this. It includes everybody, you don't have to belong to a certain group to be involved."
"This is the first time my five year old has played beyond the driveway. Great idea."
Ove the coming months we will continue to deliver Reclaiming Streets play project with the aim of building the capacity of local people to do this independently. We also have plans to meet with local politicians and relevant bodies to share the research findings and prgress the vision of the Reclaiming Streets as a place to play in other communities.
If you would like further information contact Julie Homes, Play Development Officer
