Playday 2008 unwraps the cotton wool from children's play

This summer Manchester children will get the chance for some adventurous fun during the school holidays.

Playday 2008, is the annual celebration of a child's need to play and is taking place on Wednesday 6 August. This year's theme - Give us a go! ­­- calls for a return to more physical activities so that children are better equipped to manage risk in their lives.

Manchester Playteam, part of Manchester City Council, is marking the day by holding an exciting event in Piccadilly Gardens from 12 - 4pm where there will be a climbing wall, assault courses, extreme arts and crafts, a trampoline and the chance to learn circus skills, to name just a few of the events.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Chidren's Services for Manchester City Council, said: "This will be an exhilarating day for children and a chance for them to experience new situations, which will not only develop their confidence, but also help them with other life skills like judgement and teamwork."

The day's activities will run alongside the Piccadilly Gardens Outreach Scheme, also run by Manchester Playteam daily from 28 July - 22 August.

Playday 2008, which is supported by Persil, will also be held by the following organisations at venues across Manchester:

Manchester Young Lives - Hulme Adventure Playground, Longsight Adventure Playground, Moss Side Adventure Playground, The Addy.

4CT - Crumpsall Park, Delamere Park.

Family Welfare Association - Miles Platting and Ancoats Children's Centre, Gaskell Street Park.

Wythenshawe Community Initiative - Painswick Park.

Brunswick Parish Church - Brunswick Parish Church Trust.

To complement the day, Play England, an organisation which promotes good practice for children's play, will be releasing new research on the benefits of challenging activities and how they help youngsters gain experience of risk assessment.

Adrian Voce, Director of Play England, said: "This year we want to help children shed some of that cotton wool they've been wrapped up in. Challenging and adventurous play is integral to children's development and helps them to grow up as happy and confident individuals."

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Penny Shannon, Press Office tel: 0161 234 332