The Branching Out into the community project is a cross county strategic play project. In 2006 the Big Lottery Launched the Child's Play Programme as part of the Healthy Families strand. This put an investment of £13million into Children's Play in Wales. The programme was a two round programme with the first round being for infrastructure development which resulted in the Branching Out Project and round two was for Strategic Play projects.

Chwarae Plant have taken the lead in round two working with in partnership with representatives from across the statutory and voluntary sector in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend to develop a project that will work across both local authority areas to provide for children's play needs. Groundwork Bridgend will be the delivery partner in Bridgend who will lead in the delivery of the play opportunities.

The Project will develop teams of playworkers who will work in areas identified as suffering from a lack of play opportunities for children and young people. The teams will work in parks/open spaces/streets etc where the children play to facilitate play opportunities. As well as the development of new play opportunities the project will work with the local communities to raise awareness and understanding of play and playwork. It will encourage volunteering within the project and support the communities to get involved with the project.

More information will follow as the project develops.

For more information you can contact:

RCT
Hannah Evans Senior Playworker
Email: hannah@chwaraeplant.org.uk

BRIDGEND
Lydia Cook Senior Playworker
Email: lydiacook@groundworkbnpt.com