A new programme bringing £790,000 of creative play opportunities to 30,000 families in the Tees Valley has been launched. 'A Place to Play' offers free opportunities for children, including prescribed play and school holiday activities. The opening event took place at the Skelton Family Hub this week, with representatives of local councils, the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Public Health and Arts Council England present.
Theatre Hullabaloo has launched a £790,000 creative play programme for 30,000 families in the Tees Valley (Image: THEATRE HULLABALO) Some £790,000 for creative play will go to tens of thousands of families in the Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland areas. The programme has been unveiled by Darlington-based Theatre Hullabaloo, whose chief executive, Ben Dickenson, said: “Theatre Hullabaloo is incredibly proud to be leading the Place to Play project in South Tees. “Play is the brain’s favourite way to learn, creative experiences can inspire positive change – together these things can transform the outcomes of children and grownups, making healthier, happier, stronger families.
" Theatre Hullabaloo has launched a £790,000 creative play programme for 30,000 families in the Tees Valley (Image: THEATRE HULLABALO) Mr Dickenson added: “We can’t wait to see the positive changes this work will bring in communities that need it the most...
or joy and wonder that will happen every time people engage with fantastic installations and brilliant creative activities.” “A Place to Play” will offer services in deprived communities, particularly those facing health inequality. Its mission is the improve family wellbeing, accelerate childhood development, and strengthen community connections.
The scheme is supported by the National Lottery and Arts Council. Funding also comes from Borderlands Creative People and Places and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Avril Simmons, Community Participation Lead for Redcar and Cleveland Family Hubs, and Shadha Khan, Director of Borderlands Creative People and Places project (Image: THEATRE HULLABALOO) Most read: Medieval castle, near Darlington, up for sale after £500k price reduction North East seaside town with 'wild and beautiful' beach is officially UK's best 'Absolutely appalling': Park lake completely drained after gates removed TWICE Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.
50 a week. Shahda Khan, Borderlands director, said, “These Creative Play installations are such a welcoming space in the Place to Play programmes, it is the perfect way to start, to make sure that our families, our communities, know that creativity is accessible, it’s fun and it’s for everybody.” The initiative will provide 600 days of paid employment for local creatives, as well as specialist qualifications for locals.
Spring 2024 saw the pilot of the 'Place to Play' initiative, which was a resounding success. Middlesbrough Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Council, Public Health South Tees, Teesside University, and Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust are all partners of the project. Councillor Bill Suthers, cabinet member for Children and Councillor Ursula Earl, Cabinet Member for Health, Welfare and Housing - both for Redcar and Cleveland Council (Image: THEATRE HULLABALOO).
