Posted on: Friday 29 July 2022
More than 340 staff and volunteers at Torfaen Play Service are getting ready to hop, skip and jump into delivering an action-packed summer playscheme for children throughout August.
Starting on Monday 1 August, children aged between 5 - 12 years will be able to take part in the open access playschemes that will run every day up until 25 August.
Children can expect to take part in lots of art and crafts activities, sports, team games and lots of free choice play that aims to keep them fit and healthy throughout the summer.
Gemma Boalch, from Cwmbran, whose children Pippa and Rory will be attending the scheme for the first time, said: “After hearing so many amazing things about the playschemes, they are both really excited to take part, having been too young to attend in the past.”
"As a working parent, this really helps benefit me as I know they are being supervised by trained volunteers and staff.”
There is no need to pre-book, parents simply need to complete the registration process on the first day their child wishes to attend.
In addition to the Playschemes, a series of fully booked Laugh, Learn and Get Active camps are also running in local primary schools, seeing 1,300 children attend each day.
The popular Play in the Park sessions also make a return this year, after being introduced in summer 2021. The sessions will run during the afternoon in nine parks across the borough. Full detail can be found here.
Playworkers Ieuan Thomas, Rhys Cousins, Alex Jones , Jasper Davenne are all looking forward to starting their summer.
They all attended the schemes when they were younger. Knowing how much fun they can have,they decided to get involved to make new friends and gain new qualifications.
Jasper, who has volunteered with the service for the past two years, said: “I really enjoy volunteering, it keeps me fit running around constantly with the children.
"I've made lots of friends and it has helped me with writing my personal statement for University as I could talk about working as part of a team, problem solving and the benefits of keeping children fit and healthy.”
Julian Davenne, Play Service Manager at Torfaen Council, said: "We have had a fantastic week training the staff and volunteers, they are all raring to go to offer play opportunities to children and young people across the borough.
"I know we are going to have a memorable summer, with lots of smiley faces and great friendships being formed."