Members Opportunities

The Somerset Outdoor Play website – www.somersetoutdoorplay.org.uk (Opens in ne window) - is full of fantastic places to enjoy and explore, all of which are completely free.

The first of its kind in the country, it has been funded by Barnardo’s Somerset Play & Participation Service together with the Somerset Play Forum, Somerset County Council, the National Trust, Natural England, Quantock Hills AONB, The Forestry Commission, Mendip Hills AONB, Exmoor National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund and Play England.

The partners have spent a year gathering information on exciting outdoor spaces which are not typical parks - but instead offer natural, wild and adventurous areas for the whole family to visit.

They hope it will break down the ‘cotton wool’ culture which threatens children’s physical and emotional development, denying them access to a key part of a normal childhood.

The website contains almost 35 sites all across the county, from hilltops and headlands to picnic spots and pebbly beaches.

Barnardo’s children’s services manager Debbie Jones said: “We created the website in response to the changes in society – such as increased road traffic and the fear of strangers - which have resulted in a dramatic decline in young people playing outdoors.

“Lots of children aren’t allowed further than their own garden or the end of their road. They are ‘wrapped in cotton wool’, meaning they have less chance to play freely and develop their independence.

“We want families to see what’s on their doorstep, and for children to enjoy the same experiences that we remember from our own childhood.

“Play is a great way to keep children active and healthy. It helps them to develop friendships and social skills, and makes them feel a part of the local community.

“In many ways, play is how children learn all of the things that can’t be taught – and it’s a lot of fun!”

The easy-to-use website is full of photographs, maps and directions.

It also includes outdoor play ideas from racing ‘pooh sticks’ and laying trails to making leafboats and building dens.

There is also a link to the Barnardo’s play ranger service which runs free play sessions every week, featuring a list of regular events held across the county.

Debbie added: “We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of this important new service.

“Now we hope that families will take the time to explore the website. Somerset has many natural outdoor spaces that are free to play in every day.

“Children might even have their own suggestions for other places that ought to be included.”

For further information on the Barnardo’s Somerset Play & Participation Service, call 01749 330533 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last year Barnardo’s South West supported 14,000 children and young people challenged by poverty, abuse, disability and discrimination.

Visit www.barnardos.org.uk

Debbie Jones
Children's Services Manager

Barnardo's
Somerset Play and Participation Service
The Winery
Kilver Court
Kilver Street
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5NF

Tel. 01749 330 533
Mob: 07824 366256
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education has announced that the Local Government Association (LGA) and the ADCS would be part of a new ministerial group to advise on the role of the local authority in education and children's services. Gove told the LGA's annual conference in Bournemouth he was keen to hear what they had to say about the role of local authorities "as the government's policies on education and children's services develop".
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/07/09/114879/Children39s-services-budgets-at-risk-from-academies.htm (Opens in new window)

The Local Government Association has published Local Freedom or Central Control? Why councils have an important role to play in local education. The report  says that local councils should be given a clear role as commissioners of education and training provision in their local areas.
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/12296454 (Opens in new window)

Local Government Improvement and Development (previously the IDeA) has published research conducted by the Young Foundation. It examined the vital role the voluntary and community sector (VCS) plays in fostering and promoting strong community cohesion. Equally importantly, the research also highlighted the role that local government plays in supporting this through effective partnership, engagement and funding arrangements.
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/20528985 (Opens in new window)

The Centre for Social Justice has published a Criminal Justice and Addiction Green Paper. The report calls for a radical shake-up of the criminal justice and addiction treatment systems. It calls for an urgent review of crime prevention and education programmes for young people with a view to immediately developing interventions in schools and for vulnerable young people.

http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/CSJ_Green_paper_criminal_justice_07%2007_WEB.pdf

The Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour has published a report Time for a Fresh Start calling for the introduction of restorative justice across England and Wales to halve the current number of juveniles in custody. Following an 18 month long study the commission has found that restorative meetings known as "youth conferencing" are the best way to deliver justice for the victims of crime, while cutting re-offending rates and custody numbers.
http://www.youthcrimecommission.org.uk/attachments/076_FreshStart.pdf (Opens in new window)

The Royal Society of the Arts has published The Woolwich Model: how citizens can tackle antisocial behaviour. The report recommends that residents of high-crime housing estates, youth workers, teachers and housing managers should be trained to tackle anti-social behaviour as part of a "Big Society" drive.
http://www.thersa.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/327082/0882RSA_21CE_benrogers_web.pdf  (Opens in new window)

The NCVYS policy team is continuing to update the Financial Monitoring Service in response to the number of new details emerging around government spending and cuts, and we will continue this service until the Comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010. This part of the site also includes a briefing on the Budget and links to other resources. NCVYS Policy Officer, Dominic Weinberg would welcome any feedback on the financial monitoring page.

Please contact:

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http://ncvys.org.uk/financial.html (Opens in new window)