Playful pirates bringing communities together
Playful pirates are bringing family play opportunities to Swansea communities this summer thanks to a £42,000 grant from the Gwalia Trust.
The pirate play ship is sailing into six communities during the summer holidays as part of a bigger project to develop ‘Playful Communities’ for local families.
Playful Communities aims to bring together all ages and abilities through play, and help lessen social isolation, exclusion and issues of anti-social behaviour.
Working across Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Powys and Carmarthenshire, a Swansea based consortium led by Dynamix, will provide staffed play sessions out on the streets, and adult play training to improve community relationships, reduce anti-social behaviour and encourage mutual respect between neighbours.
Gwalia Trust Chairman John Morse said Gwalia Housing, part of the Pobl Group, has pioneered the importance playing has on children, their families and the wider community.
He said: “The Trust is delighted to be supporting such a flagship project which is having a positive impact of the lives of local children, their families and the wider community.
“The Trust exists to support and enhance the lives of local people in the communities we work, and what is clearly evident from the Playful Communities initiative is that the community spirit shines in so many of our neighbourhoods.
“Gwalia Housing is committed to providing clean, safe and friendly communities for all of our tenants and Playful Communities is just an important initiative which supports our vision.”
Nancy Brown, a consortium member said the playscheme is always met with delight by local children, whatever the weather.
“Playworkers run four hour sessions each day, on open green spaces or in the street,” she said. “We have already signed up community members who wish to learn about development through play and to help us make their communities a little more child friendly”.
Last year three tenants undertook Agored level 1 Playwork training to facilitate further sessions without the need for support.