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Mon Jun 18

Details about Coombe Park

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The formal gardens at Coombe Abbey Park.

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Coombe Park - Picnic this Sunday

Just reminder to all that a picnic for the group has been organised on Sunday at Coombe Park just outside Coventry. It’s easy to get to - we’ll post up directions in the next few days.

One of the reasons was to go and have a look at the play facilities they have got there. Timberplay have done an adventrue plyground for them. Peter Short and Nigel (the Health & Safety officer) have apparently been to have a look. At the meeting on Friday (more of which later) Blanche reported that they both liked the equipment but Peter considered it more appropriate to a country park setting than an urban park……

These are the formal gardens.

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Fri Jun 15

Members’ update

Hello everyone

This is the new and hopefully more accessible blog.

Not sure if it will work out as such but……..

Anyway, it’s Friday 15 June and it’s been pouring with rain. Hamstead Village is flooded. The Walsall Road has also got six inches of standing water on it. The froglets seem to have left the pond in our garden. Blanche and Delith have just been to another meeting at the Sons of Rest building with Council officers.

BELOW is the update (thanks Blanche):

Hi everyone, all sorts of things have happened since we last wrote. Didn’t realise it had been so long since we put anything on here. If you’ve got anything else to add, please do so. January Delith and Blanche attended a Play England seminar in Nottingham called ‘Designing Playful Outdoor Spaces’. A very inspirational day that seemed to re-inforce all that we’ve been talking about from the outset. Main message; anything is possible!! February Exploratory meeting with Playtrain, People and Organisation (P+O) and Birmingham City Council (BCC)to look at how the 150K for equipment can be spent. Handsworth Play (HP) feel a wider engagement/participation process should be developed otherwise any ‘consultation’ conducted is meaningless and jeopardises further work being developed. Met to discuss brief of P+O as well as our aims for the project and timescales. Met with BCC again. Further discussions about equipment but HP unhappy about timescale and type of consultation. Not conducive to further work. March Met with BCC officers to try and firm up some of the discussions to date. Capital funding for equipment must be spent by March 2008. HP would like to see a wider engagement participation process to raise further money for developing play throughout the park. P+O have been asked to draft a consultation plan for no more than 10K. City has said they could stretch to that from the 150k budget to kickstart the phased consultation.April Consultation draft: P+O have submitted a draft proposal for discussion by HP and BCC Overall it seems to deliver what we would like to see. Are some points to discuss further. NEC Play Manufacturers: P+O and HP visited the exhibition to gain further ideas about some of the equipment available on the market. Good to see equipment in reality. Some fantastic pieces we would like to see included in the longer term as play is developed throughout the park. Business Plan: this was compiled by treasurer. Needed to open the bank account. External Funding Unit: visit to go through the Awards 4 All application. Needs fleshing out. Ideally would like to submit it by 11/05/07 Handsworth Play Centre: visit to update manager on what we are doing and to get views on how Play Centre might be involved in the work. Birmingham Open Spaces Forum: HP attended Spring Conference at the end of the month. Again a very useful forum to be involved in as it gives us access to different groups citywide doing similar things. Will check membership conditions. Members meeting: updated members on recent events and brought bank account documents together. There was more discussion about Phase I of the consultation as it seems there is only 5K being made available now. This will need to be discussed with Landscape Practice (BCC) and P+O again. Park Use: We thought it would be useful to ask you to document your observations and comments about how you see the park used at different times of the day and by who in terms of age, ability, ethnicity, gender etc. Also, any specific things happening in the play areas you think are worth noting. May Paperwork for bank account sent! Thanks to all members for getting it together. What else is going on? External Funding Unit: Meeting to finalise the application. (Postponed) Meeting with Be Strong: an organisation that assists voluntary organisations with policies and procedures. We need a Child Protection Procedure in place which we will need for applying for further funds 09/05/07. (Postponed but members are looking at a draft to tailor to HP). Meeting with P+O and BCC: to discuss and firm up proposals for the consultation. Agree how move forward with capital spend. Blogsite - re-launch: This needs to be easier to access. Hopefully there will be a new site set up by the end of June. June Neighbourhood Forum: Community conference Hope this will be useful for contacting other groups/organisations in area who may be interested in what we are doing. 09/06/07 at Wilkes Green School. Will send more details as receive them. Anniversary Picnic Visit to Coombe Country Park (Coventry)At the last members meeting we agreed to visit Coombe on 24/06/07. The park has an excellent adventurous play space for children 8+ and a comprehensive space for the under 10s. Designed by Timber play, one of the manufacturers featured in the natural play end of the spectrum. We’re sure it will be a good day out, weather permitting. Parking is £2.00, there is a Visitor’s Centre, lake, formal gardens, and lots of space to run around. If you can make it and or have any space to take others let us know. JulyMembers meeting 02/07/07 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Meeting with BCC May 11 2007Since putting this together, the meeting with the BCC took place. Very productive. The 10K for consultation of Phase I still stands. The money needs to be committed not necessarily spent by March 2008. P+O went through the proposal to clarify some of the logistics of doing the work. The schedule is tight given the contact with schools etc before the end of school for the summer but feasible. There will be a meeting at the Sons of Rest on Wednesday 16 May - 1.00pm to decide on the pictures of equipment to use in the slide shows, exhibition etc for workshops with children and young people. It’s good to feel that the cogs are starting to turn after lots of discussions. We’ve come a long way in a fairly short space of time. It’s almost a year since out first meeting! HAVE YOUR SAY: remember to let us know what you see happening in the park. It will help us in applying for further funds.

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Our Blog resurrected

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Some interesting web sites

Links to sites of interest:

http://freeplaynetwork.org.uk/

http://www.sansehaver.dk/images/Helle%20Nebelong.pdf

http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/14_2/note1.pdf

posted by Blanche & Rob at 1:31 AM 2 comments

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Meeting at Sons of Rest 3/11/06

HANDSWORTH PARENTS FOR PLAY - SUMMARY OF MEETING WITH COUNCILLORS AND COUNCIL OFFICERS AT SONS OF REST - 3 11 06

Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping warm now that autumn and winter are here and mean business!

We’ve had a very positive meeting with Councillor Kim Brom and various council officers involved in the park. This is an overview of what is happening but if you want full details we can send minutes.

They recognise the need to develop the play facilities further and want to work with us to make it happen.

MONEY

Money was applied for and awarded, £200,000. This is to be split 3 ways between the car park, the play area and the youth area (where old play area used to be).

There are other monies that we can apply for: Big Lottery, Awards for All.

EQUIPMENT

It was suggested that we go and see other play areas with young people 7-12 and teenagers. Dartmouth Park (West Brom) and Attwood Green (Ladywood) were suggested.

Materials used would have to be metal not wood.

Also had discussions about more stimulating, imaginative equipment such as the use of sculptures around the park that could be explored and played on and paving stones with sound when trodden on (these would be solar powered).

CONSULTATION

It was agreed that someone should be employed to implement the consultation process to keep all parties informed of what is happening. We are clear that this needs to include users from start to finish. We will be contacting the Handsworth Consortium for Schools and Handsworth Play Centre with a view to engaging local young people and teenagers.

We will raise money to pay for the process through the Awards for All.

CONSTITUTED GROUP

At present we could be a sub-group of Grove Residents Association. It was suggested that if we were constituted in our own right we could apply for other monies. Let us know what you think.

We appreciate that lives are busy but if you feel you can play an active role in the group please let us know. Posting comments on the blog here is enough!!

We are having a meeting at Delith’s house on Monday 14 November @ 8pm to fill out the Awards for All application form and to look into becoming a constituted group. Let us know if you would like to attend. Contact via Delith’s e-mail address or tel: 0121 242 2127 (Delith) or 0121 551 8875 (Blanche).

posted by Blanche & Rob at 4:02 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Handsworth Play!

MOre on equipment concepts.
Rachel sent some links that have got some great stuff on. Also, a different and refreshing approach to play.
HEre’s one. It’s got a great slide show and explanatory captions.
http://freeplaynetwork.org.uk/playlink/exhibition/woepossibility/index.html

posted by Blanche & Rob at 4:55 AM 0 comments

Monday, September 18, 2006

Equipment

Valerie Edwards sent me the list of equipment providers. Some of which have websites. here is a few of the more interesting ones. I want to put a picture of the Spacenet with slide which is from the Sutcliffe Play ltd site.
Here are the sites: www.sutcliffeplay.co.uk
www.proludic.com - does the cableway as seen in Dartmouth park
www.playworldsystems.co.uk - modular
www.kompan.com - check out the Holland Park play area under playgrounds link

Anyway have a browse and see what you think
Above is the Spacenet with slide.

posted by Blanche & Rob at 8:11 AM 0 comments

The Autumn Campaign Starts Here

Hello Everyone
Following a good summer break, it’s time to kick start our campaign for the autumn.

The last staging post was our meeting with Adrian Rourke, Peter Short and Councillors Brom, Green and Hussain in the Sons of Rest building at the end of July.

One action point taken away from that meeting was to contact Valerie Edwards at the Council to get a list of play equipment providers as used by the Council, so we could look at what was on offer. This has been done. Will keep you posted.

Rob has also sent an email out to John Freeman and Rose Dukes (Jewkes?) asking for a copy of the Birmingham Play Strategy and Action Plan 2007 -2012. They have also been asked about the eligibility of our proposals in relation to the Plan. (Shouldn’t really be a problem there looking at the play facilities that have been put in place in the refurbished Park).

Seeking out funding streams was the biggest and most important challenge to come from the meeting. There was a suggestion that there might be some money from SRB6 underspend. We await news from Councillors and/or Adrian about whether funds were available from this.

Adrian and the Councillors agreed that setting up a Consultative Steering Committee for the Park should take place as soon as possible. There are a number of groups who are active: us, Hinstock Road residents, Handsworth Park Association among others. There has been contact via email about setting up meetings for this. Some dates have been proposed, namely:
29 September 2006
03 and 05 October 2006.

We await final confirmation of the exact date.

Finally, a friend of one member of the group was at a Police Community meeting last week where it was said (by a Councillor for Perry Barr district) that a large sum of money had been won / allocated to provide new equipment for the older age group in the Park. We haven’t had this confirmed from an official source. Yet.

The (elderflower) champagne is still on ice……….

posted by Blanche & Rob at 2:47 AM 0 comments

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Meeting on Friday 21st July

We (Rob, Blanche, Delith, Wendy and Kerry) had a really positive meeting yesterday with Adrian Rourke, Kim Brom, Peter Short, Mahmood Hussain and Don Brown. Loads of things discussed, our heads are now spinning! It was great to meet the people we have been communicating with via e-mail. Lots to be done, but realistically we probably won’t get much more done until Sept as lots of people away at differing times over the school holidays, but at least we now know which direction to head in!
Below is an e-mail Adrian sent which is a summary of points discussed. Rob and Blanche will produce more extensive minutes at a later date.

I had a meeting earlier today at Handsworth Park in the Sons of Rest Community Building with the three Ward Councillors, Peter Short, Dr. Rob Smith, Delith Edstrom, Blanche Singh and few other local residents, child and baby, who have formed a group called “Handsworth Parents for Play”. Jackie Ellis was unable to attend. We had, I believe, a very productive meeting.

Rob Smith and the other members of the “Handsworth Parents for Play” group tabled a note outlining matters of concern and interest for discussion, making the point that they very much wanted to work with BCC Officers and Councillors to explore ways and means of moving things forward. In brief the points discussed revolved around the following:
Sources of funding to target in order to secure £200-300,000
More extensive, challenging and exciting play and recreational facilities for children in the age ranges 7/8 - 11/12 and teenagers in general
The formation of and input to a Park Consultative Group/Committee
Request for more local community events within the park

Funding - Possible sources of funding mentioned at the meeting were:
BCC capital bid recently submitted by Perry Barr District - Decision awaited.
Big Lottery Fund - Rob Smith to check this out via the BLF website.
Birmingham Play Strategy & Action Plan - Rob Smith to contact Ian James/John Freeman/ Rose Jewkes and/or Jan Kimber to check if eligible and appropriate.
Living Spaces second round may be announced this Autumn by Central Government - All to watch out for this.
Landfill Tax Credit - May be a possibility, but would have to be submitted by Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull who are registered with ENTRUST.
SRB6 projected underspend - Councillor Hussain to ask at the next SRB6 Board Meeting if they have any underspend funding available and if they need good quality, “fast track” schemes that could usefully “mop up” any such underspend in 2006-07.

Play & recreational equipment - Rob Smith will contact Val Edwards (Technical Manager in The Landscape Practice Group, Parks, Sports & Events Service, Local Services Directorate) to ask for the latest schedule of approved play and recreational equipment manufacturers as the “Handsworth Parents for Play” group would like to see what is available.

Delith Edstrom circulated some mounted photographs of good quality play areas illustrating a range of really interesting equipment for disabled and able bodied children at Banners Gate in Sutton Park, Dartmouth Park in Sandwell, Finsbury Park in London and ANOther facility in Wales.

Handsworth Park Consultative Steering Group/Committee - Rob Smith, Delith Edstrom, the other residents and Ward Councillors present at the meeting were really keen to see the Consultative Steering Group/Committee set up ASAP.

Peter Short and I advised that the earliest that a formally constituted Consultative Steering Group/Committee is likely to be set up by will be April 2007. However, it was felt that an informal meeting of interested parties before that date sometime in September would be useful.

Peter Short agreed to speak to Robin Bryan about moving forward with the suggestion and calling such a meeting in September to involve all interested parties, such as The Handsworth Park Association, Handsworth Parents for Play, Hinstock Road and Philip Victor Road Residents Association, Grove Road Residents Association, The Friends of St. Mary’s Churchyard, the Police, the Probation Service, Handsworth Cricket Club, key officers from the Parks, Sports & Events Service, Perry Barr District Office and Ward Support Officer, Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull, Leisure Centre Manager, Play Centre Manager, Ward Councillors etc.

Community events - Rob Smith and the other residents present were very keen to see more community events happening within the park given the recent success of the Grand Opening of Handsworth Park which attracted a wide range of people. That is a matter that requires further consideration by all involved as such events, although undoubtedly popular, are costly to arrange and the issue of revenue funding needs some further thought before committing to additional community events within the park.

Adrian Rourke
Head of Landscape Development

Hope this inspires you all!
Delith.

posted by Blanche & Rob at 11:02 AM 0 comments

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Meeting : Friday 21 July @ 10am, Sons of Rest Building

It looked as though this wasn’t going ahead. But now it is! (Well done Delith).
Anyway, here are some hastily put together briefing notes for everyone (may yet be amended).
We will email this to those who have said they can attend. We should have a few hard copies tomorrow morning.

Handsworth Parents for Play

Briefing Paper for Meeting 10am, Friday, 21st July 2006

Expected to be present: Councillor Kim Brom; Councillor Mahmood Hussain; Councillor Don B Brown; Peter Short (parks); Jacquie Ellis (parks community liaison); Steve Salt (parks / council); Adrian Rourke (head of parks dept); us.

Our objectives (these are cobbled together and are not exhaustive):

1. We need to get a sense of the funding landscape. We need to find out how to become constituted and who we will liaise with in the pursuit of bids. There are a number of bids in progress. We would like Adrian to provide an overview of these and where the funding for each is coming from.

One of the above is a sum of £70K for play facilities in the coming financial year. Robin Bryan, Park Ranger Manager is the person behind this bid. It is unclear if this is for the whole city or just for Handsworth Park. This may be funding we can build on to meet our objectives. Rachel has asked us to find out: What plans are there for it? Which pot has it come from? Can we have a copy of the bid? Are there match funding possibilities?

2. Our aim is to join forces with Adrian / the parks dept to access around £300K of funding by helping put a bid together. We estimate £200K should go for equipment alone (this figure comes from the idea that the play area in front of the Leisure Centre cost about £90K). A further £100K needs to be added to facilitate consultation (in the way we mean it) and design etc of the equipment (if they are to be designed from scratch). We are aiming high because there is often overspend on projects like these.

We envisage a series of pods (perhaps 4) of play facilities that could be dotted around the park. We want to monitor the consultation and to try to ensure that children, young people, parents and others are consulted in an ongoing, interactive way, rather than through one off events.
If we are successful with the bid, we may want to have some critical input in relation to the proposed designs to check they meet the brief.

3. Rachel suggests: The Council are proposing a new consultative group combining Handsworth Park Association, Hinstock Rd Residents Assoc, us, the Play Centre, can it be set up sooner rather than later?

4. There are also plans for more local events to be put on in the Park. Can we get details on this?

5. Adrian has yet to send the drawings of the original designs that were presented to people as part of the consultation for the recent refurbishment. Without these, the Consultation document does not mean very much, as it isn’t clear what exactly, people were in favour of.

6. There may be other thoughts that need to be raised not covered in this. We can all contribute.

posted by Blanche & Rob at 5:29 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Finsbury Park.

These pictures were taken in Finsbury Park and we think the climbing frame is fantastic. The inner ropes would protect children from falling too far and the more adventurous child can go right to the top! Wonderful.
The smaller climbing frame is set in a huge sand pit and has lots of places for pouring sand. How great is that?!

posted by Blanche & Rob at 9:53 AM 1 comments

Pictures.

Here are the rest of the pictures of the play area in Wales. The swing is suitable for disabled people, something I think we should consider for Handsworth Park.

posted by Blanche & Rob at 9:42 AM 0 comments

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