PlayBoard NI

Progressing the Play Agenda
2023-06-22 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London)
Online

The first in a series of PlayBoard NI engagements within the Republic of Ireland focusing on enhancing play opportunities.

Play is the main occupation of childhood (from birth through to the older years), providing children with opportunities to develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially as well as developing lifelong skills such as creativity, imagination, self-confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.

Every child, regardless of their background or community in which they live, has a right to play.

This free online information session begins a series of engagements planned throughout 2023 within the Republic of Ireland which aim to explore how we can collectively enhance play opportunities – through play advocacy, policy and strategy development, strategic connections, networking, training, and play delivery across a variety of environments and arenas.

Focusing on PlayBoard’s strategic work in the Republic of Ireland, this first session will showcase a number of approaches aimed at supporting the development of quality play opportunities for children and young people.

Who should attend?

This session is the first in a series of dialogue events and will be of interest to a range of key stakeholders including government departments, councils, CYPSC, County Childcare Committees, community groups, school age childcare practitioners, sports bodies, schools, youth and play providers, and library and museum staff.

Early Years, Care, Education & Play Employers' Forum webinar
2023-06-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
June 7 @ 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Considering a career working with children and young people?

Early years, childcare and playwork roles provide excellent opportunities to nurture and support children’s development, and to positively influence their lives.

Gaining a qualification in early years studies, childcare or playwork is the way to begin your career.

To find out what qualifications you need and what it’s like working in a children’s setting join the webinar.

Book your FREE place at https://bit.ly/3LjK9sO

Read the flyer – Working with children.

IPA Glasgow 2023
2023-06-06 09:00 - 2023-06-09 17:00
Play: Rights & Possibilities

The 22nd International Play Association Triennial World Conference is going to Glasgow.

Scotland is recognised as one of the world’s leading nations for its support and practical action for children’s play. The right to play is backed by policy and practice across all sectors. The conference will examine how UN General Comment No 17 on article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has impacted policy and practice in Scotland, and worldwide, to improve children’s right to play and to create possibilities for the future. As Scotland is setting out to implement and integrate children’s rights into all parts of Scottish life by making the Convention on the Rights of the Child part of the law, there is an opportunity to explore what this means for the right to play. The conference will also explore how play reduces pressure and increases resilience in children’s lives, supporting their positive mental health and well-being.

Children’s experience is woven through the conference, with presentations of visual media, papers, projects and research. Delegates can find out about children’s experiences in Scotland first-hand through the programme of facilitated visits.

For more information go to www.ipaglasgow2023.org

PlayBoard staff will be involved in the event – stay tuned for details.

Childhood Services Week
2023-05-01 08:00 - 2023-05-05 17:00
Shining a spotlight on the work of the childhood services sector across Ireland.

Organised by National Childhood Network (NCN), the campaign runs 1 to 5 May. Services are encouraged to hold their own Festival of the Arts, providing opportunities for children to enjoy different art experiences, enriching their learning and supporting their holistic development. Settings can get involved in NCN’s daily theme or plan their own.

There are also children’s workshops planned and a full schedule of webinars.

Shauneen McCusker, Play Participation Officer, PlayBoard is delivering two webinars as part of NCN’s programme:

24 April – Play in times of hardship

2 May – Supporting inclusion though playwork

Find out more.

Book a webinar.

Toy Swap
2023-04-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Crescent Arts Centre, 2 - 4 University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NH
and 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Help your local community to reduce waste, reuse, recycle, and swap!

Bring along an unwanted, preloved toy to donate to another home and pick up a replacement.

Toys should be in good condition and cleaned before drop off.

We cannot accept soft toys or electronic toys.

A maximum of three toys can be swapped.

Our thanks to Crescent Arts Centre, Asda Shore Road and Lidl NI for their generous support.

Persons taking part in a toy swap event do so at their own risk. PlayBoard accepts no responsibility for items swapped and gives no warranty as to the condition, suitability or provenance of any item swapped. Please take all reasonable measures to check the condition, suitability and provenance of any item swapped for your own protection. PlayBoard accepts no liability for any claim or loss resulting from any transaction taking place at the toy swap.

OUR Generation, OUR Play, OUR Legacy
2023-03-31 10:00 - 14:00 | Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT14 6EG, United Kingdom
A shared learning seminar showcasing the impact and legacy of PlayBoard’s Spaces to Be programme, delivered as part of the OUR Generation project.

Over the past three years, PlayBoard has delivered our Spaces to Be programme in schools and childcare settings within the Urban Village Areas in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

Through PLAY, we have supported children in building resilience and understanding and managing their emotions, supporting their overall mental health and well-being. The project has also supported children to become diverse thinkers by being accepting and inclusive of other communities and cultures.

The seminar will feature impactful talks, testimonials, and a live Q & A.

The event will run 10:00am to 1:00pm, followed by a networking lunch.

There will be an opportunity for organisations to showcase their work at a networking stand during the lunch – numbers are limited and available on a first come, first served basis when registering.

Everyone with an interest in our work is welcome to attend, and we would particularly like to encourage OUR Generation and PlayBoard stakeholders to join us.

OUR Generation is supported by the EU’s PEACE IV programme, managed by SEUPB.

Focus on play
2023-03-20 10:00 - 11:30
March 20 @ 6:30pm – 8:00pm

The 4 Ps of quality in play provision – cluster for school age childcare providers.

This online webinar will be beneficial to those operating in out of school provision including staff, committee members, and providers.

Throughout the session participants will explore what ‘quality’ play entails through the lens of the play environment, the playworkers role, play values and types of play, and children’s participation.

Join this cluster to share ideas, learn from others and look at some of the quality indicators of best practice in play provision for out of school settings.
