REGIONAL NEWS

Calling all Playwork Employers!  Following on from the Train to Gain events we held earlier in the year, we will shortly be holding a repeat series of events across the West Midlands for Playwork employers to engage and identify the qualifications requirements of their staff.  Invitations will be sent out in the next 2 weeks.  We hope to see you at an event near you soon!  If you have not already joined the WM Playwork Employers Network please complete the sign-up form and return to us.

Success stories wanted! Do you have a play-related success story you would like to share?  Let us know and we will publish in future E-zines.

Playday 2008 - Tell us how your event went and we will publish your story.  Visit Playday website for findings from this year's playday.

Level 3 Qualifications Initiative - For full details of funding opportunities for Level 3 NVQ in Playwork from September 2008 visit SkillsActive website for further info.

When the World Was our Playground - Read Keith Waterhouse's article from Daily Mail Online 6 August 2008 .

West Midlands Employers Network - We are currently developing an Employers Network page on our new website where employers will be able to view agendas and minutes of meetings and dates of forthcoming meetings, plus other information.  If you would like to join the SkillsActive Playwork West Midlands Employers Network please complete the sign-up form and return to us and we will add you to our database.

SkillsActive – SkillsActive has a Playwork Regional Development Manager in each of the 9 English regions.  For further information about SkillsActive visit SkillsActive website.

Get SkillsActive! Get involved! Build your organisation with a skilled and motivated workforce.  SkillsActive Membership starts from £25*.  Be part of the organisation that is leading the way in raising skills standards, ensuring a highly skilled and motivated workforce.  Visit SkillsActive website or call 0207 632 2000.*All prices are plus VAT and capped at £250 plus VAT.

Activepassport As a result of a generous donation from the Association of Playworkers (England) SkillsActive has launched a UK wide bursary scheme offering playworkers, who are registered members of the Community and Youth Workers' Union (CYWU), the opportunity to have a FREE activepassport for one year, subject to criteria. In total, there are 60, one-year activepassports up for grabs for CYWU members, on a first come first served basis.  The second part of the bursary scheme has 40 FREE, five-year activepassports to offer the sector across the UK and is open to all playworkers in any setting. The activepassport™ for playwork is an online tool that delivers fast and easy access to verified records, "it plays an integral role in professionalising the sector," says Paul Bonel, Playwork unit director at SkillsActive, "and is a unique way of confirming a playworkers identity, qualifications, employment history, professional achievements and planning your career."  For the full criteria and an application form for a free activepassport click here.  For more information on the activepassport for playwork visit SkillsActive or email: activepassport@skillsactive.com.  LAST DATE FOR ENTRY:  31 OCTOBER 2008.

Upskilling the Playwork Sector - SkillsActive looks at the succesful first stage of the latest Government initiative designed to upskill the playwork sector, which has seen 2,000 Government funded training places being assigned to applicants on the NVQ Level 3 in Playwork. Read the full article or click here to find out more about the scheme.

Full events listing can be found on Playwork West Midlands website.

15 October - YP-in (Young People's Inclusion Network) Roadshows 2008. BVSC, Birmingham.  Sharing our learning to help you find answers.  Aim: to challenge discrimination and provide a model to help youth and leisure services be more inclusive.  Series of events across the UK.  Contact Carly Brown at KIDS info@yp-in.biz or tel 0207 359 3073.  Further info and online booking form.

21 October - The Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull LLN first anniversary Annual Conference.  The Village Hotel, Dudley.  The focus of the conference will be to showcase some of the developments and successes of the LLN over the past 12 months and to look at developments going forward into 2009.  Further details from Rebecca Pine r.pine@ucb.ac.uk Tel. 0121 622 6384. BBCSLNN website.

5 November - Play WM. Britannia Hotel, Birmingham.  For booking details and further information email play-wm@ncb.org.uk.

6 November - Just Empty Words? or Real Support in pre-school and early years provision. Postgraduate Centre, City Hospital, Birmingham. Facilitated by Peter Limbrick, this seminar will explore the phrases - 'Famil-Centred', Child-Centred', 'Needs-Led', and 'Flesible'.  Are they empty words, meaningless aspirations and jargon? or do they bring real opportunities to disable children and their families? Further information and online booking visit Interconnections - IC Service.

27 November - Quality Inclusion in Play and Childcare.  Worcestershire.  This autumn, PIP Network Seminars will focus on quality in play and childcare.  The PIP Seminars will be presented in partnership with KIDS associate trainers and with regional organisations working in play and childcare.  For further information and to book your FREE place contact pip@kids.org.uk.

4 December - National policy seminar: Managing risk in play provision.  Birmingham. Buidling on the upcoming publication of guidance on managing risk in play provision, these three national policy seminars will explain the new approaches and how providers can strike a balance between the risk and benefits of offering children more challenging play opportunities.  For more information visit Play England.

6 December – Play and Health: Investigating the Links.  Lakeside Centre, Aston University, Birmingham.  Free national policy seminar to investigate the potential for joint work between the play sector and children’s health services.  Enquiries tel. 020 7843 6042/6441, email conferences@ncb.org.uk.

Common Threads – Latest newsletter now available from Common Threads.  Website updated with lots of new training and publications, including: Training for Play Rangers, Summer Playscheme Training for Playworkers.

Children’s Play Update – Latest edition now available to download from Children’s Play Information Service website.

PlayAction OnLine - Regular news service from Fair Play for Children in the UK.  Working to promote the Child's Right to Play.  Not because it's "cute" but because we believe in a world fit for all our children to play in.

Kids NDD –The National Inclusive Play Network E-bulletin latest edition now available.  To subscribe email rachel.scott@kids.org.uk or go to Kids website.  

Playcare News and information for early years and childcare providers from Worcestershire County Council – latest edition, now out.  See website or contact Julie Stevenson, email JStevenson@worcestershire.gov.uk to subscribe.

Common Threads – Latest edition of Playwords, the unique independent magazine for everybody working in children's play, now available to download from website.

The West Midlands Regional Observatory – Latest E-bulletin now available.  The E-bulletin, aims to provide a quick overview of research activity within the West Midlands with contributions from members of the Regional Data and Intelligence Network.

Play Abstracts and Play Conferences & Events publications now downloadable.

The National Inclusive Play Network latest E-bulletin from KIDS is now available.  Contact Rachel Scott at rachel.scott@kids.org.uk to subscribe.   National Inclusive Play Network (NIP Network) membership application form available.

Play in the West Midlands Newsletter – Latest issue from Play England is now available to download from publications link. 

Kids NDD – Accredited inclusive play training courses, see website for further information.