Solihull to hold National Play Day

National Play Day will be coming to Solihull on 5 August 2023, as the Youth Opportunity Board Solihull (YOBS) is taking over Meriden Park in Chelmsley Wood with an array of play opportunities for local families, of all ages, to take part.

The free to attend event is inviting organisations from all sectors to have stands with free activities to showcase their service to local families, with the only caveat being that they have to encourage people to play.

National Play Day is being recognised by organisations across the country on the first week of August and this year it is about showing how play can be done on a 'shoestring.' Play is essential for helping in time of crisis, building resilience, support with stress and anxiety and ignites creativity and imagination.

Meriden Adventure Playground Association (MAPA), one of the organisations from YOBS who are organising the event, is passionate about the importance of play, so much so that they have dedicated Play Workers alongside Youth Workers.

Ali Wood, chair of MAPA, commented: “Play is about giving kids time, space and permission to be themselves and play in the ways they want and need, without us adults trying to do it for them by constantly organising and teaching them. If we remember how we played when we were young, it helps us reconnect with how important self-directed play is. So come and have a reminder and join in with us for a day of play and family fun!”

YOBS is a Board that has been set up by five Solihull-based voluntary and community organisations (VCSE), as a peer support group for the vast and vibrant youth VCSE in the borough. It has a network of nearly 100 people from across all sectors and serves to support, network and influence about the youth sector in Solihull.

Charly Slater, CEO of Urban Heard CIC, and a founding member of YOBS said: “Play Day is one of the many opportunities YOBS are holding in order to connect sectors and families, to ensure that there is a fantastic youth offer across Solihull. It is tough running a not-for-profit organisation when the need is so vast but resources is often sparce. Providing opportunities to support these local VCSE organisations is so needed in order to reduce social exclusion and inequalities, thus breaking cycles so that all children and young people can live happy, healthy and safe.”

There are still opportunities to get involved in Solihull Play Day by having a stand, sponsoring the event or volunteering on the day. If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more about YOBS please contact youbsolihull@gmail.com