Play Work

The Playwork Principles

All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate. Play is biological, physchological and social necessity, and is fundamental to the healthy development and well being of individuals and communitities.
Play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas and interests, in their own way for their own reasons.
The prime focus and essence of playwork is to support and facilitate the play process and this should inform the development of play policy, strategy, training and education.
For playworkers, the play process takes precedence and playworkers act as advocates for play when engaging with adult led agendas.
The role of the playworker is to support all children and young people in the creation of a space in which they can play.
The playworker's response to children and young people playing is based on a sound, up-to-date, knowledge of the play process, and reflective practice.
Playworkers recognise their own impact on the play space and also the impact of children and young people's play on the playworker.
Playworkers choose an intervention style that enables children and young people to extend their play. All playworker intervention must balance risk with the development benefit and well being of children.

Endorsed by the Welsh Assembly Government and Play Wales.

Denbighshire Playschemes

Denbighshire Youth Service is concerned with the SPICE (social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional) development of children and young people. We are Cymorth funded to run open access holiday playschemes in Upper Bodelwyddan, West Rhyl and South West Rhyl and are also developing further Playschemes in partnership with local Town and Community Councils across the County.

The Playschemes provide inclusive play opportunities and a wide range of safe, stimulating and suiatble activities including arts and crafts, sports and non competitive games for 5-13 year olds.