MATHER ENCOURAGES PLAY FUND TAKE-UP

Jim Mather Argyll & Bute MSP, welcomes the announcement by Scottish Government Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram MSP of funding totalling £4 million for the ’Go Play’ programme, to improve play opportunities among 5 to 13 year olds, which will run over two years, and will help improve facilities and services in areas where children have the least opportunities to develop through play. For example, through, creative approaches to play using Scotland’s natural environment and play workers working within the community. The programme is being managed by ‘Inspiring Scotland’ in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Jim Mather said: “ Voluntary groups in Argyll and Bute and elsewhere will be able to submit funding bids from mid-September, with support available for regional bodies, small grassroots community organisations and medium and large scale charities. Inspiring Scotland – the national charity which uses skills and money to improve the lives of Scotland's most vulnerable people - will manage the fund and work with these groups to increase their capacity for providing play opportunities.

Play is crucial in the development of children and it is the realisation of this that has motivated the Scottish Government’s Early Years Framework and Equally Well – the Health Inequalities Framework, to include a commitment to work with Inspiring Scotland to support the voluntary sector to increase opportunities for play.

When children experience, through play, the joy to be motivated; challenged; enthused; respected and show respect and encouraged to appreciate the outdoors; these are the building blocks upon which Scotland’s future will be built.

I would urge local organisations to visit Inspiring Scotland website and seek information on how the programme could benefit them. Bids into the fund will be accepted after 18 September when the programme is formally launched.”