Playboard NI empowering children with Spaces to Be programme

PlayBoard NI is currently engaging with 9 to 11-year-olds through Spaces to Be, a mental health and wellbeing programme for children and young people. The programme is delivered as part of the OUR Generation project in primary schools, community groups and school-age childcare settings across Northern Ireland and the border towns of County Louth and County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.

Spaces to Be empowers children through play to Increase mental health literacy; enhance emotional resilience; develop self-help and coping sills; encourage inclusivity and acceptance of difference; and Increase knowledge of community.

The programme involves staff training and children’s play sessions. The play sessions include a range of practical and playful exercises for children to support them to build characteristics closely associated with high levels of resilience, support their positive mental health, and as a mechanism for positively addressing differences. These complex issues are explored in an indirect and playful way by providing an exciting and free-flowing play environment, filled with a range of fun and exciting invitations to play.

Playboard NI said: “We believe that when children and young people are provided with the time, space and permission to play, they will explore and learn in a way that best suit their needs and interests, helping them to reach their full potential.