Thousands of children have a great summer with Lancaster City Council
Children attending a 2010 council playscheme event
Looking back on a memorable summer of children's activities after getting over 2000 youngsters up, out and active during the school holidays.
Lancaster City Council’s Leisure Development Team has been looking back on a memorable summer of children's activities after getting over 2000 youngsters up, out and active during the school holidays.
On August 4, national Playday saw over 700 people flock through the gates of Williamson Park to enjoy a day of free activities organised by the council’s Play Rangers. Entertainment and activities included a DJ, waterslides, bouncy castles, a children’s entertainer and a talent show. Other activities included bug hunting, den building, arts and crafts and face painting.
The Play Rangers were also kept busy throughout the holidays providing a programme of 34 workshops at various locations. Activities ranged from arts and crafts to giant games, bug hunting to den building and fire building to cooking.
Meanwhile, the council’s popular summer holiday activity programme offered 88 different workshops and saw 454 youngsters brushing up on their skills in archery, volleyball, swimming and cycling or trying something new such as survival skills, skiing, BMX biking and cheerleading.
Free multi-sport sessions were open to all in Happy Mount Park and a mobile skate park also proved a big hit with the council's playschemes and general public when it travelled to both Williamson and Happy Mount Park.
The council’s free playschemes proved popular again this year with 432 children taking advantage of fun filled days with their friends at eight locations across the district. The highlight of this year’s playscheme provision was a trip to Camelot Theme park. The children did a tremendous job fundraising throughout the schemes to contribute to the trip. Other days out included swimming, the cinema, Happy Mount Park and Williamson Park.
Playschemes were also able to go on tour for the first time this year thanks to Positive Activities Funding from Lancashire County Council. Two teams of playleaders were sent out and about in the district to provide 30 sessions each week of sports and games at parks, recreation grounds and community open spaces. An amazing 525 children attended these events, almost doubling the number anticipated. Another great result!
Councillor June Ashworth, cabinet member with responsibility for children and young people said: “The take up of the activities the council provided this summer for young people has been fantastic and given thousands of children the opportunity to get and about in the fresh air. It’s been great for parents and carers too knowing that they are in safe hands, having lots of fun and making new friends.”
The sun may stop shining but the fun doesn't end there. The council's leisure development team and it's partners will be delivering an exciting holiday programme for the October half term which will include a full Play Ranger programme as well as the usual mix of exciting activities.
For more information please see our leisure development pages at www.lancaster.gov.uk/play
Date Published: 07/09/10