AWARDS

Nancy Ovens Awards for Play

AWARD FOR NEW FACILITIES IN IOCHDAR

The new facilities for children around Iochdar School have been recognised for their appeal and consultation with user groups. The group has been highly commended as a finalist in the category ‘Best Community Award for Play 2007; rural Scotland’ in the Nancy Ovens Awards for Play.

Although the area was only opened in June 2007, it already provides a lovely sheltered play area for younger children, a ball court, and has built in capacity to expand depending on consultation with children and parents.

The group that co-ordinated the development is Sgoil an Iochdair agus a’Choimhearsnachd, a community organisation. Secretary Kate Dawson explains: ‘We are delighted to have been recognised for all our hard work. This award is judged on the involvement of children, young people and the community, as well as on our physical achievements. Consultation with children, the school and user groups is very important to us, we are always looking for more ideas to incorporate. This particular project has been designed with an active collaboration between several local groups, children, the school and the council.’

The Nancy Ovens Awards for Play were established in 2004 by The Nancy Ovens Trust to commemorate the life and work of Nancy Ovens MBE, founder member and first Chair of Play Scotland. Judging is carried out by the Trustees of the Nancy Ovens Trust, who came out and visited the play area just before it was completed.

The new facilities are a fantastic resource for the school and community. They include a ball court, Croileagan play area, play equipment and a meeting area for older children, an out-door teaching area and a shelterbelt of trees. Already, children in the area are able to make good use of the facilities, which are open all year round.