New 'Go Play' project launched in Borders
THERE was a buzz of excitement at Springwood Park Showgrounds recently as the Scottish Borders Out of School Care Network (SBOOSCN) launched their exciting new Go Play project.
The project is part of a wider Go Play programme run by Inspiring Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government to promote and encourage free play opportunities for children in Scotland.
SBOOSCN were one of only 24 successful applicants across Scotland for the funding. The Go Play project will provide children aged 5-13 years attending out of school care in the Borders with the opportunity to experience challenges, explore their natural surroundings, use their imagination, learn how to manage risk and at the same time improve their amount of daily exercise.
SBOOSCN is a registered Scottish charity which provides vital support to out of school care providers across the Borders offering access to a toy library, providing one off grants for various purposes such as travel, training and running fun days etc.
With this new funding they hope to tackle the growing concerns that children are not getting enough exercise and that they are becoming less capable of managing risks leading to a 'cotton wool' culture.
SBOOSCN have addressed this by employing Kirsty Stephen as an Outdoor Free Play specialist. Kirsty will be offering support and inspiration for childcare providers across the Borders encouraging them to make more adventurous use of local outdoor areas.
The launch was attended by a wide variety of out of school care providers and other interested parties. There was a great atmosphere throughout the evening which included encouragement from Lesley Birney of the SBOOSCN committee, Elaine McLelland from Inspiring Scotland and Kirsty Stephen herself.
The evening highlighted the importance of outdoor free play for children's development and emphasised how much benefit this funding will bring to communities living in the Scottish Borders.
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Weather for Duns
Saturday 18 May 2013
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