INTERPLAY
INTERPLAY
INTERPLAY F.A.Q
Questions asked by everybody
- WHERE DOES INTERPLAY GET ITS MONEY FROM? Core funding from Social Services, extra money from Trusts, charities or one-off grants from Social Services.
- IS INTERPLAY PART OF SOCIAL SERVICES? No, we are an independent voluntary organisation, now registered as a charity (but have Social Services reps and workers on our Trustees' management group)
- WHO ORGANISES THE PLAYSCHEMES? This depends on the scheme - some are organised by local authorities, some by residents group or church parish councils, some by leisure centres etc... Choosedays are organised by Interplay. We will try to keep the playleaders informed of the scheme organiser.
- WHY DOESN'T INTERPLAY STAY WITH A SCHEME LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS? Because we have limited funding and many more children requesting places than our core grant would allow . . . so we try to offer a fair share to all. (Many schemes are only 2 weeks long).
- HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR INTERPLAY? Interplay has two permanent staff and takes on up to 90 sessional workers and approximately 25 volunteers during the summer. We also have part time sessional staff working on the Joiners project throughout the year.
- HOW MANY SCHEMES ARE INTERPLAY INVOLVED WITH EACH YEAR AND HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE PART? In 1996/99 it was over 30 schemes including Choosedays and 200+ young people
- WHY DO WE HAVE TO FILL IN THE SAME "ALL ABOUT ME" AND "FACTFILE" YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN DETAILS OFTEN HAVEN'T CHANGED - WHY NOT USE A COMPUTER? Because children's needs, likes and medical info can change radically year by year and it is good for playleaders to meet the young people and their parents (we believe the fact file provides a good outline for information needed) and develop/renew relationships.
- WHAT SHOULD A PLAYWORKER DO IF ANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR SCHEME DOESN'T WANT TO GO ON A TRIP OR CANNOT JOIN IN WITH AN ACTIVITY? Change the activity - adapt it, run parallel activities for all kids not just Interplay kids, run more adaptable trips. Do not just exclude, sideline or ignore children's needs - it's not good and it's not clever.
Questions asked by volunteers
- CAN VOLUNTEERS GO WITH PLAYLEADERS TO VISIT THE YOUNG PEOPLE BEFORE THE SCHEME STARTS? It's at the discretion of the Playleader - there may be a good reason why they wish to visit the young person alone.
- HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO ATTEND PLAYTRAINING? VERY! - to meet other volunteers, share your skills, renew rusty ones and have fun in a big bunch.
- CAN MY FRIENDS ALSO BE VOLUNTEERS ON A SCHEME? If they fill in a volunteer form and meet Sarah before they start in the scheme (it would be good if they participate in the 3 day training too!)
- CAN VOLUNTEERS TAKE THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO THE PLAYSCHEME? If they do not require supervision by you.
- IS THERE VOLUNTARY WORK AVAILABLE WITH INTERPLAY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? Yes - loads. There's the Performing Arts Project in Neath every Thursday evening during term time and Chooseday weekends that are currently on regular basis throughout the year.
- WHY DOESN'T INTERPLAY PAY FOR THE DAILY PLAYSCHEME FEE AND FOR DAY TRIPS? It was a hard decision to make but we have to channel our funds into paying for staff to enable us to run as many schemes as we do. If we paid for trips and entrance fees we would have to run less schemes and therefore some young people would miss out altogether.
- HOW MUCH INFORMATION DOES A PLAYLEADER GIVE TO ASSISTANTS AND VOLUNTEERS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN? As much as is appropriate, they recognise the right for privacy and dignity and individual needs. We try to alleviate labelling and the possible stigma and bullying, whilst keeping the assistants informed so they do not feel helpless.
- WHAT IS AVAILABLE THE REST OF THE YEAR? Again this depends on funding - we have the Joiners project plus occasional Blue Light discos and Chooseday weekends for the over 12s, Easter playschemes, Christmas parties and whatever else we can manage - There are often special events like the sandcastle build etc.