Project: Neath Port Talbot Play Sufficiency Assessment

 

Client: Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Pleydell Smithyman Limited was commissioned by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to complete their 2013 and 2016 Play Sufficiency Assessments in accordance with The Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 (Play Sufficiency Assessment) Regulations 2012.

The aim of this process was to build a comprehensive picture of the quality and quantity of existing play provision across Neath Port Talbot including play areas, open space, schools, youth clubs, leisure centres, playing fields and other recreational spaces where children and young people can safely play. The sufficiency assessment is also an important means of planning for the future provision of unsupervised and supervised play across Neath Port Talbot.

As part of the undertaking of the assessment we have developed and implemented a programme of extensive community and stakeholder engagement. The stakeholder engagement has included Councillors, Council Officers, Third Sector Play Providers, Schools, Charities and potential funders. Consultation has taken the form of one to one meetings, stakeholder workshops and email questionnaires. This has enabled us to build a comprehensive picture of existing provision as well as understanding the various stakeholder's targets for the future and the ways in which the working relationship between the stakeholders can be improved. We have also carried out a programme of play space assessments which include a review of equipment and facilities.

Alongside the consultation programme we have also mapped the existing provision and demographic data using the Quantum GIS system, resulting in a clear means of the Council understanding current provision and how this relates to the make-up of the population. This will ultimately form a public database so that members of the community can understand what play opportunities are available to them.