Lands cape & Am e ni t y
December 2017 Spotlight on the vibrant play industry
www.l a n d s c a p e a n d a m e nit y.c om
API supports Power of Play Appeal The Association of Play Industries is supporting the Power of Play – a Children in Need appeal in partnership with Asda. The appeal will enable 30,000 disadvantaged children across the UK to develop vital life skills through play. API Chair, Mark Hardy says: “The importance of play is often underestimated. It’s absolutely central to children’s healthy physical, emotional and social development. We’re delighted that Children in Need is recognising the power of play. “The API’s Nowhere2Play report revealed an alarming decline in playgrounds in England. Between 2014/15 and 2015/16 local authorities across England closed 214 children’s playgrounds, and when asked about future plans they admitted their aim was to close a further 234.
“These closures will disproportionately affect children in the most deprived areas, many of whom will, quite literally, find themselves with nowhere to play. We welcome the fact that the Power of Play appeal is targeting some of the most disadvantaged children in the UK. “Children are becoming increasingly isolated and sedentary. The lure of technology, parental attitudes to children ‘playing out’ and, of course, the decline in spaces in which children can play, are all contributing to a national crisis for our children. “Opportunities for free, unstructured and unsupervised play are shrinking and at the same time the childhood obesity crisis worsens and the number of children with mental health problems is on the rise. Children
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deprived of play are being denied an essential aspect of childhood. “Access to safe and free areas to play is crucial for a healthy and happy childhood, as fundamental as getting enough sleep and having a good diet. Playgrounds are especially
Gerflor and Judy Murray rise to community challenge Inchgarth community centre in the ‘Granite City’ of Aberdeen is the city’s biggest, busiest and most successful centre with some 2000 users, 150 sessions of activity per week and delivers services for people of all ages including; music, fitness, sports, education, leisure, recreation, the arts and social projects including many outreach services. Mother of tennis superstar Sir Andy Murray, Judy Murray wanted to do something tangible to assist the centre. Eighteen months ago, she delivered a large coaching session for fifty adults and forty children to introduce them to tennis,
FIVB, US Youth Futsal, USA Volleyball and Premier Euro League Teams.
Working with Kris Souter through Tennis on The Road, Judy Murray remembered Inchgarth and offered the centre an amount of PowerGame outdoor modular sports flooring from Sport Court which had been originally donated by international flooring specialists Gerflor to Judy Murray to further her tennis initiatives.
The safest modular outdoor court in the world PowerGame from Sport Court features the lowest skin abrasion of virtually any outdoor court surface and is made of the highest quality materials and UV stabilizers to protect the customer’s investment.
Back in 2005, Connor Sports joined industry leader Sport Court to form Connor Sport Court International, Inc. (CSCI). Sport Court has built systems for many elite associations including the NBA, NCAA, FIBA, USTA,
The patented Double-Tier shock absorbing grid and Lateral Forgiveness reduces joint strain and fatigue to help users play longer and more safely than ever. The PowerGame system supplied by Gerflor is now a permanent fixture at the Inchgarth community centre where it’s playing its’ role in providing on-going tennis lessons for a new generation of possible Wimbledon stars, all thanks to Gerflor and Judy Murray. Gerflor
and wish it every success – not just in terms of raising funds, but also in raising awareness of the crisis many children are facing and the importance of play.” API Enquiry 44
Ensuring the safety of Britain’s playgrounds
passing on the basic coaching skills in order that tennis could grow in the community.
In 2015 Gerflor announced their acquisition of Connor Sports and their Sport Court brand in a move that subsequently expanded the company’s global market reach.
important in deprived areas where, for many children, they represent their only opportunities to be active and socialise with peers. Without them, we are driving children indoors, onto their screens and away from each other. We back the Power of Play appeal
Enquiry 45
The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) has released its new brochure highlighting the importance of using accredited inspectors to ensure the safety of playground equipment, play areas and inflatables.
By using accredited playground inspectors, providers can be sure that they meet the strict criteria set by the RPII and that they’ve been fully trained to conduct inspections to the required levels of competence.
The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) is the official UK body for examining, accrediting and certificating inflatable, indoor and outdoor play inspectors.
The RPII provides industry updates, continuing professional development and industry updates for its members.
The RPII examines, accredits and certificates inspectors across a range of job roles, from post manufacture inspection to regular routine inspection. Ensuring play safety is essential - both for the protection of the children using the equipment and to mitigate risk for the councils, schools and organisations in charge of these play areas.
READER ENQUIRY 47
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It also works year-round to promote the benefits of using accredited inspectors to relevant user groups. The RPII is a UK based organisation, which has international members who wish to work to the high standards of the UK voluntarily.
Zaun Speculaist sport fencing
RPII Enquiry 46
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