Flintshire Summer Playschemes concludes another successful season

The Flintshire Summer Playschemes 2023 have once again proven to be a resounding success, providing an exciting and enriching experience for the county’s children.

This year's programme, which spanned 30 days and encompassed an impressive 56 sites per day, welcomed an astounding 3.7k children who registered for a summer filled with fun, learning, and adventure.

Throughout the 30-day (6 week) program, a remarkable 12k attendances were recorded, with 1.2k daily sessions. Over the course of the summer, an incredible 8k hours of play work were delivered to engage and inspire the children of Flintshire.

One noteworthy aspect of this year's Flintshire Summer Playschemes was the unwavering commitment to the Welsh language. With a dedication to promoting the culture and heritage of Wales, the entire programme was conducted using incidental Welsh on 100% of all playscheme sites.

In keeping with our commitment to health and well-being, the playschemes distributed over 5k bottles of water and 3k nature bars to ensure that every child that needed them stayed hydrated and energised during their summer adventures.

The success of the Flintshire Summer Playschemes would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of the remarkable team of 100 staff members. Their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the county’s children have made this year's program truly exceptional.

None of this would have been possible without the ongoing financial support from the Town and Community Councils across Flintshire. We thank them wholeheartedly for the continued support to a well establish, well supported, and well attended provision. We also thank Welsh Government for their annual financial support to ensure that we as an authority can provide play provisions to all children in Flintshire.

"We are very proud of the team and the incredible work they have done this year. Their dedication and passion have shone through, and it's evident in the smiles on the faces of the children who participated," said Darren Morris, Lead Officer for Play Development. "The Flintshire Summer Playschemes have once again proven to be a vital resource for our community, providing a safe and nurturing environment for children to learn, grow, and create lasting memories."

"Staff clearly held a deep commitment to upholding children's rights to open space and play. It was heartwarming to witness children relishing their summer alongside their peers, truly embracing the chance to bask in the fresh air, regardless of the weather." - Matt Hayes, Youth Services Senior Manager.

"It was truly brilliant to witness how the Welsh language was seamlessly integrated into these summer provisions, bridging the gap between classroom learning and community engagement and this without infringing on the rights of a child to play. Every opportunity children have to use their Welsh during school holidays is vital to its continued success here in Flintshire." - Claire Homard, Chief Officer for Youth and Education.

As another successful summer season comes to a close, the Flintshire Summer Playschemes team looks forward to continuing their mission of enriching the lives of the Flintshire children in the months and years to come.

About Flintshire Summer Playschemes:

The Flintshire Summer Playschemes are a county-driven initiative supported by Welsh Government and Town and Community Councils across Flintshire, aimed at providing children with enriching and fun-filled playful summer experiences. With a focus on promoting the Welsh language and culture, wellbeing, health, access to safe play, the program offers a wide range of activities and opportunities for children to learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment.