A day of fun, free activities brought hundreds of children to Williamson Park on Wednesday, as Lancaster City Council celebrated National Playday.
Children took part in den and fire building, face painting, arts and crafts and water slides. Lancaster City Council’s Play Rangers were also on hand to teach circus skills and host the brand new ‘Play schemes got Talent’ competition.
Children from around the district who had been participating in Lancaster City Council’s Playschemes battled it out in a closely fought talent contest. There were six very entertaining singing and dancing acts, and the winning Playscheme was Morecambe Youth and Community Centre. They had put together a great dance routine to a musical mash up of hits.
“The six acts taking part were very entertaining and it was a tough decision to pick the winning group,” says Richard Tulej, Judge of ‘Playschemes Got Talent’ and also Head of Community Engagement for the Council.
“All of the children had worked so hard to put on a great show.The standard was very high — especially considering that each group had only had two days to rehearse.
“We chose the Morecambe Youth and Community Centre Playscheme as the winner because they had managed to put together an exciting routine to a great musical compilation and really worked together as a team.”
National Playday is the annual celebration of a children’s right to play, a national campaign supported by Lancaster City Council’s Playschemes. The Council provides free activities throughout summer for children across the district. Playschemes are aimed at children between the ages of 8 – 11 years.
The Play Day is just one of many activities that have been lined up for children across the district for this summer, with sports, games, crafts trips, parties and more running throughout the week until 27th August.
The Council’s Play Rangers are running lots of free activities throughout the summer for children from the age of 4 to 16 years of age. There are den building and fire building days, bug hunting expeditions and fun water slides to name a few.
These are taking place at various parks across the district so there is bound to be something happening near you.
If you’re still stuck for something for your youngsters to do this summer, there’s still chance to book onto the holiday activity programme. These sessions vary in price and activities include trampolining, beach volleyball, skiing, snowboarding, horse riding, cheerleading and lots more. Workshops are available from the age of 4 years so there is something for all ages.
• Copies of the Play Ranger summer programme are available at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Hall or can be viewed online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/playrangers or call 01524 582641.
• For more information about the Summer Playschemes telephone 01524 582827 or visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/playschemes. Leaflets with more information are available at Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls.
• To find out what is available pick up a Holiday Activity Programme from Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls or view one online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/holidayprogramme