Dennistoun welcomes more adventures in play

Youngsters in Dennistoun have welcomed a major play initiative with the release of 500 balloons and a special wall fresco. Through learning to have a good time, their future prospects are improved.
Reidvale Adventure Playground Association (RAPA) and the Scottish Government’s Inspiring Scotland programme has launched ‘Go Play’, a scheme which targets five-to-13-year olds and aims to increase the amount of play time the youngsters have, boosting their mental and physical health.
Reidvale hopes up to 500 children will benefit from Go Play throughout 2010 and 2011, while adults will learn to appreciate the significance of recreation time and activities in a child’s development.
The investment means RAPA has created jobs for three play workers.
RAPA Project Manager, Anne Marie Todd, told LOCAL NEWS: ‘We had a fantastic day. Lots of visitors, new faces and plenty of our regular children, young people and families. A good mix on the day.
‘The aims of the project with the Go Play investment means we’re hoping to bring in hundreds of new children. So, through 2010 and 2011 we’re aiming to engage a minimum of 500 new children in free play. We’re involved in a lot of marketing to make children and families aware of the free play programme and that we’re here to deliver that,’ Ann Marie added.
‘The investment was simple in staff – three full-time play workers for the next two years. Inspiring Scotland and Go Play asked how they could assist and we said we needed the people to deliver than and they’ve invested the staffing costs. It’s brilliant.’