APIA shortlisted for an award

Rob, Simon and Sarah, 3 of APIA’s founding members and approved inspectors attended the Playwork Conference in Eastbourne recently.

APIA were shortlisted for the Training and Professional Development award at the Playwork Awards for the training offered to those seeking to be adventure playground specialist H&S inspectors and for playworkers on their playgrounds.

We were really delighted to be nominated and then shortlisted for this award. It was a real pleasure to hear about all of the inspiring work going on in these difficult times. You can find out more about the awards and the shortlisted projects here.

Congratulations to Playful Futures who are very well deserving recipients of the training and professional development award.

Risk and Safety in Play exclusive discount

Risk and Safety in Play is recognised by the Health & Safety Executive as being the industry led guidance for the adventure playground sector.

It’s full of practical advice and guidance on everything adventure play; structure building and using woodwork tools with children, having campfires on playgrounds, being able to identify hazards and carrying out regular checks, loose parts and more.

APIA recommends that all adventure playgrounds have a copy to hand and that Playworkers are referring to it regularly.

If you need a new copy, we can offer you an exclusive 22% discount when you buy paper or digital copies direct from the publisher. Click here and use the code RSP22 at check out to get yours!

Adventure Playground Inspectors – APPROVED

APIA is pleased to announce that 2 trainee adventure playground inspectors have been approved by APIA. 

The 2 are Simon Rix and Sarah Wilson who both have considerable experience as playworkers on adventure playgrounds. 

To achieve the approval status they assisted at many adventure playground inspections and demonstrated knowledge and competence.

Chris Guy and Rob Wheway, probably the 2 most experienced adventure playground inspectors in the country, are pleased that APIA is building towards the future. Sarah and Simon are ‘much needed additions to help promote & assess Adventure Playgrounds – keeping them safe but still adventurous’.

Chris says “it’s really encouraging to see enthusiastic younger inspectors joining us, who are fully committed to Adventure Playgrounds”.

Adventure playgrounds absolutely need inspectors who understand the ethos of adventure playgrounds otherwise playgrounds are likely to be closed by over-cautious inspectors who don’t understand about adventure playgrounds.

Safety inspections damage adventure playgrounds

“Incorrect safety inspections are limiting the adventure in adventure playgrounds”

This is the experience of two inspectors who have over 90 years’ combined experience in children’s play.

They are also concerned that years of underfunding have led to a high turnover of staff. The field is losing playworkers who have enough experience to defend adventurous activities from misinformed inspections.

Having fires and building dens are encouraged on adventure playgrounds whereas they are not permitted on unsupervised conventional playgrounds.

The two inspectors, Chris Guy and Rob Wheway, are nearing retirement and are keen to ensure that playgrounds are “Keeping the Adventure”. They, together with experienced playworkers, have formed a new association “APIA” to ensure adventure is still encouraged on adventure playgrounds.