Play Rangers

Barnet Play Rangers are a team of qualified play and youth workers who take play activities to locations where young people need play space.  They work in a non-interventionist way providing play props and loose parts which encourage young people to organise and create their own activities, stretching their imaginations and their bodies, enabling them to take risks and make positive friendships through cooperative play.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

Volunteers:

Would you like to help us provide quality play and youth services to children and young people in your area? We need the help of volunteers willing to give up 3 hours of their time per week during term-time to help us at our play and youth clubs. If you think this could be something you are interested in, then please contact Henry: henry@fairplaybarnet.org.uk or 07736 064 398

Equipment donations:

We also welcome donations of equipment that we can use in our clubs and during our playranger sessions. If you have any unused equipment cluttering up your garage/attic and would like it to be enjoyed by lots of children and young people, then please get in touch! We particularly welcome pool/ping-pong tables, sports equipment, big cushions/beanbags, dressing-up stuff, board games, art supplies, spraypaint, musical instruments, bikes/skateboards etc. Give us a ring and we'll come and pick it up in our van. Thanks! Henry 07736 064 398

History

The Play Ranger team was established in 2008 with a grant from The Big Lottery. For three years they took play resources, props and loose parts to parks, open spaces, housing estates, and school playgrounds to provide opportunities for freely chosen, personally directed play.

They watched and observed, monitored and evaluated and only occasionally intervened, while children and young people planned and organised what to do for themselves. The project provided an opportunity for children and young people to play and socialise in their own way and according to their own ability.

Barnet has significant pockets of deprivation, with many children coming from low-income homes without gardens. At the time the project started many were disadvantaged by being newly-arrived in the UK without English as their first language.

Places to play are being consumed by housing and roads or are polluted with rubbish. Children are less healthy than they were twenty years ago due to the lack of opportunity for outdoor physical play.

During the three years of the project, the play rangers worked with over 1500 children and young people; set up and established 3 Youth Clubs and 9 Play Clubs; and worked with over 500 children in after-school clubs, introducing them to new play experiences. They consulted with 200 young people about their play activity, desires and experiences and they helped launch 11 new playgrounds in Barnet funded by the Borough.

They became recognised and trusted play workers on 21 housing estates in the Borough.

Hiring

The Play Rangers are sometimes available to provide play activities for private functions.

  • Children’s parties
  • Fetes, fairs and festivals
  • Street events
  • Weddings and barmitzvas
  • Corporate events

Prices on application. Please email: henry@fairplaybarnet.org.uk
Or telephone 0208 203 1257