Playschemes
MAP runs playschemes during the summer holidays for disabled children and their brothers and sisters. We currently support eight playschemes across the city. They take place in Wythenshawe, Moss Side, West Didsbury, Blackley, Moston, Cheetham Hill and Longsight. The schemes run for two weeks of the summer holidays and include many trips and activities that are accessible to children of all abilities
Places for the summer 2008 schemes are limited, but to get on the waiting list, get in touch with MAP and ask for one of the play/youth development workers.
Playscheme guide
Map has produced a guide for groups running playschemes. It outlines the role of the management committee and OFSTED and discusses issues of finance, staffing and venue.
Feedback
In the summer holidays in 2006 Map worked with parent groups to run playschemes in various locations in Manchester. The schemes provided play activity for children with disabilities and their friends and/or siblings.
This is some of the feedback from the schemes
Wythenshawe playscheme - Play for all
What did you enjoy most about the Play Scheme?
- All activities - she really enjoyed herself.
- My daughter able to carry on mixing with other people.
- Children loved the staff and the trips and I enjoyed the only real respite I get all year.
What did you dislike most about the Play Scheme?
- Worrying that they won't get a place.
- Maybe not enough trips out.
- I would have preferred an approach like last year where kids should choose their 3 favourite trips so they didn't miss things they most wanted to do.
Were you pleased with the work/organisational skills of the Play Scheme volunteers, workers and co-ordinators?
- Yes, the staff was great.
- I was extremely impressed with the professionalism that the scheme workers have shown in their job. They were a very friendly and approachable bunch.
- I thought it was better run than in previous years.
What did you think of the trips/activities on the Play Scheme?
- The trip to the baths was good.
- He enjoyed himself and really took to Katie and Razia.
- All of my children enjoyed the trips especially the cinema and donkey sanctuary.
Do you feel the venue was appropriate for the Play Scheme?
- It was not very homely but practical and my children enjoyed using the gym and having different rooms to go in so it worked well.
- For myself the location of the venue was perfect. The high School was not only local but also provided gym use along with the astroturf.
- Yes but we would benefit more from it being held in Chorlton/South Manchester so that he could meet his peers from his own locality.
Whalley Range playscheme
"I enjoyed the playscheme at Whalley Range. I really liked the trips I went on. I went on lots of trips such as: canoeing, People's History Museum, Manchester Museum, Alexander Park, Gulliver's World and Chester Zoo. "
"I enjoyed them all but my favourite one was Gulliver's World because there were lots of rides. I found the canoeing hard at first because I hadn't done it for ages but after a bit I liked it. Even though I got, soaked it was still fun."