News & Events

A new service offered from this month is Membership Inductions for new and existing members.  If you have just joined or renewed your membership why not come along and find out how to get the most from your Play Resource membership, discover all the benefits available to your group, have a tour and collect your free Play Resource shopping bag and cup of tea or coffee!

Inductions are friendly and informal, run on a drop-in basis every Thursday morning at 10am, commencing on 7th January.  Take advantage of this new service and receive a warm welcome on these chilly winter mornings!

If you missed out on previous courses now is your chance to sign up to the BMC Community Arts & Crafts Training Course Level 2 as the course returns, starting at Play Resource on Tuesday 26th January at 10am to 12.30pm for 12 weeks.

The aim of this course is to build artistic skills and confidence, to help develop creativity and generate new ideas for those working (or wishing to) work with community groups.  Entry requirements: No formal qualifications are necessary to join the course, Level 1 is an advantage but not a necessity.  Anyone who has already successfully completed the first two units can come back again to work towards the L2 Award in Art.

For full course details download the flyer. If you think this course is for you register now or for further information call 9035 7545 or email aokane@belfastmet.ac.uk

Help cut down on the number of plastic bags in circulation choking up the environment by investing in the new Play Resource cotton shopper bag.  Improve your green credentials instantly by buying one from the Art & Play Shop for only 99p!

Keep it handy; wear it loud and proud and in one easy move you are helping to protect the environment and spread the word about Play Resource!  We think they are gorgeous…. what do you think?!

Play Resource recently ran a series of training sessions for staff and community artists to develop their knowledge and understanding of both the Youth Curriculum and Child Protection issues.

The sessions on Youth Curriculum Training facilitated by the Curriculum Development Unit www.youthworkni.org.uk gave staff and artists insight into working in the youth sector and a greater understanding of the Youth Curriculum.  It also provided a forum for participants to share their own experience and insight gained from working on arts projects in the youth sector.

A series of Child Protection Training sessions were run by the Keeping Safe Project for those working with children and young people.  This training was tailored for artists and Play Resource staff with each session very well attended, demonstrating the importance placed on having an awareness of such issues.  It was invaluable for anyone having to design or implement Child Protection Policy and Guidelines.  If you wish to organise free Child Protection and Safeguarding Training for a community or voluntary group in Belfast contact Sheina Rigg on 9056 5310.

An important recent Evaluation Report conducted for Play Resource, which looked at the Creative Paths Arts Programme has now been published.  To see how Creative Paths could benefit your group simply download the information leaflet.  The programme is flexible, easy to access. You simply have to be a member of Play Resource, working with children and young people aged 3yrs – 25 yrs.

The comprehensive report looks at: the operational effectiveness and policy relevance of the programme, how it meets the needs of members and funders in equal measure.  The quality of life outcomes section makes interesting reading as it is often difficult to quantify the value of the arts in this context.  Gaining qualitative feedback from participants in their own words as to the value of the programme has been very useful to Play Resource.  Last but by no means least; it addresses just how the arts programme offers value for money.

You are most welcome to read the report in full.  Or for a snapshot of the findings simply look at Section 8.7 of the Evaluation Report.  Play Resource is very proud of the conclusions of this evaluation and keen to embrace the recommendations made in the document so that we can keep improving the arts programme on offer to members.