Resources to support play

Play To Go

Play to Go hire kit has been created by Vale Play Development Team to support communities to develop sustainable play provision in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Our Takeaway Play Menu illustrates the wide range of play equipment which is available to hire.

Although there is no charge for this equipment, any donations will be gratefully received. Any funds raised will be used to further support community play and contribute to extending the range of equipment available.

If you are a business or profitable organisation and would like to hire equipment or hire our services, please contact playdevelopment@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Loose Parts

While children can and will play with almost anything, there are resources we can provide that facilitate and encourage play. Items such as, fabric, buckets, boxes, rope, tyres, wood and scrap materials used for playing are known as loose parts.

Loose parts are used widely by children in play settings, schools and childcare centres. Sourcing and re-using materials as things for children to play with in settings is a small and simple way to help the environment, whilst improving opportunities for play and creativity.

Anything used as a loose part can offer limitless play possibilities. For example, a stick may become a fishing rod near real or imaginary water, or a spoon in a mud kitchen, or a tool to nudge a football that’s stuck in a tree; it can be thrown, floated, snapped, pinged, bent, hidden, added to a pile, tied to something else, split, catapulted, or used to make a fire.

There is a theory of loose parts. It states that: ‘In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.’

Healthy, Active and at Home

The pandemic highlighted the positive impact play has on the lives of children, young people, families and the wider community, in developing resilience and supporting mental health and wellbeing.  

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vale Sports and Play Team worked together to develop low-cost/no-cost activities and ideas for families to try out at home.

Re-create Scrapstore: Cardiff and Vale Play Resource Centre

Re-create is Cardiff and the Vale’s Play Resource Centre. If you are looking for low-cost materials for play opportunities, then visit this hidden gem!

Re-create provides a range of services to families, students and various community groups and settings.

Re-create provide:

• A scrapstore - waste and surplus materials collected from local firms and factories, available for creative re-use
• Cut price art and craft materials
• Play equipment for hire

For a sneak peak at the scrapstore, watch this video:

Re-create Scrapstore

Play Wales

Play Wales is the Welsh charity dedicated to helping children play. Play Wales work to raise awareness of children and young people's need and right to play and to promote good practice at every level of decision making and, in every place, where children might play. Play Wales provide advice and guidance to support all those who have an interest in, or responsibility for providing for children's play so that one day Wales will be a place where we recognise and provide well for every child's play needs.

Visit the Play Wales website: www.playwales.org.uk 

Playful Childhoods is a Play Wales campaign that aims to help parents and carers give children time, space, and support to play at home and in their local community. The Playful Childhoods website includes advice and ideas for Playful Parenting and Playful Communities.

Visit the Playful Childhoods website: www.playfulchildhoods.wales

For more information please get in touch:

• playdevelopment@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk