Training Programme for 2008 - 2009

We have a selection of new courses: around developing yourself, the team and organisation; which include Appraisals & Supervision; Assesetiveness; Better Budgeting; Building Teams & Working Together; Dealing with Diffucult Staff; Fundraising more Successfully and Managing Emotional Parents & Adults.

Click here for the full training programme or call Chris Pinches on 01908 263033 for more details

Hundreds of children “Give it a Go”

at National Play Day 2008

Last Wednesday (6th August) saw over 1,500 children have loads of fun at Furzton Lake taking part in MK’s National Play Day event.

The annual event had a theme this year of risky and challenging play and there was plenty of that on offer.

Children were able to make fire pictures, build dens, explore the nature trail, go pond dipping, trust a friend to guide them through the woods blindfold, tackle the climbing wall and loads of other stuff.

Even the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Jan Lloyd joined in learning some circus skills. Here she is seen spinning a plate!

The day was co-ordinated by Milton Keynes Play Association, MK Council’s Play Development team, MKC’s Sports Development team, the Parks Trust, the Community Mobilisers service, MKC’s Early Years and Children’s Information Service.

Summer Sessions 2008

MKPA will be running their open access summer play sessions throughout the school holidays. Sessions are open to all children and young people, although children under 8 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Click here for details of locations, dates and times

MOOOOOOVE over here come the world record breakers!

If you go down to the woods today …

You and your children or children in your care, could be having fun taking part in our Forest Play activities. The activities can include scavenger hunts, den building, rope swings and using the natural materials for arts and crafts.

These will be running on Wednesday afternoons in Linford woods. The sessions will run 1:30 – 4:00 on Wednesday 30th July, 20th and 27th August.

For more details just call 01908 263 033

MKPA Supports

The Willen Hospice 2008 Pancake Race

This years Pancake Day was a highly eventful one for The Play Association team.  Joined by our newest member Timmy, currently on his work experience, the team set up and entered Middleton Hall’s pancake race.

  Promptly arriving at 9:15 the team had the responsibility of creating a challenging yet fun obstacle course that other organisations from Milton Keynes, along with ours, would race through later in the day.  The obstacle courses included a mini sack race, then through tunnels, netting and in traditional MKPA style an assortment of bouncy castles… All this was to be done whilst holding and flipping pancakes. 

A range of registered businesses such as John Lewis, BoardMK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Waitrose and Woolworths entered teams into the race, with the special guests for the day being the MK Lions basketball team and look-alike Mr. Bean. 

The day was designed as a fundraiser for the Milton Keynes charity, Willen Hospice and coverage through out the day was provided by local radio station Horizon MK.  All in all the day was a huge success with loads of fun activities going on and the money raised for Willen Hospice being somewhere in the hundreds. 

Click on this link for ASKMK's coverage

http://askmk.tv/index.php?option=com_seyret&task=videodirectlink&Itemid=27&id=50

Recent research has shown that in the UK, 71% of adults said they played out on the street everyday when they were children. Only 21% of today's children said they do. A Demos report "Seen and Heard" argues that children have been written out of public space. For more information, visit www.demos.co.uk.

The Seen and Heard project is commissioned by Play England and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

Annual General Meeting

Ian Brown, Chairman of The Board of Trustees, “Thanked everyone: Volunteers, paid staff and trustees for their hard work and support, which has enabled MKPA to grow in leaps and bounds.”

25th September 2007

Big Bucks for Play in MK …..

The reason Sue Payne (Children Youth and Play Manager for Milton Keynes) and these people look so happy is that Sue is seen here receiving a cheque for just over ½ million pounds from the Big Lottery.    

Sue (on the right of the cheque), shared the celebration with representatives from the Children’s Centres, Milton Keynes Play Association, the Community Mobiliser service and others.

The money will be applied to a number of play projects across the city outlined in MK’s Play Strategy.

To hear more about it come along to the MKPA on September 25th at 7.00pm where Sue will be giving a presentation about how the money is going to be spent.

MKPA Summer play session

gets full marks in the Sun

MKPA recently hosted a local family supported by the Sun's adopted charity NCH, at a play session in Campbell Park. The family thought it was a top day out. Read the article by clicking on this link

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007370142,00.html

Free Summer Play Sessions

This summer MKPA hosted over 200 free summer play sessions, which were open to under's 8's accompanied and the over 8's across the city, with a variety of fun activities, including bouncy castle, craft activities and a variety of sports.

MKPA have been awarded £41,539 by the Children’s Workforce Development Council over the next 12 months.

The project will enable all who are working or volunteering as part of the children’s workforce in MK and the surrounding local region to learn exciting new skills, gain new knowledge and experience.

To find out if you are eligible for support from this project just call Chris 01908 263 033

Living in villages around Milton Keynes? Look out for our new play rangers visiting your area with fun activities and games. MKPA are keen to provide activities in all areas of Milton Keynes, including the rural locations. Play is important to all children and easy to participate in out in the open fields and woodland areas. Check our programme today and get ready for your rangers next visit.