MSP CONGRATULATES MIDLOTHIAN ASSOCIATION OF PLAY ON FUNDING

Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, today submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament congratulating Midlothian Association of Play on its recent award of £110,432 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Based at Woodburn Road in Dalkeith, Midlothian Association of Play provides a range of activities to improve and increase children’s opportunity to play, based on how important play is for their health, wellbeing and development. Their projects include:

• Sharing play ideas and skills with parents through community groups
• Running a monthly Dad’s group and open-access park sessions during the school holidays
• Holiday play activities
• Administering a programme of grant giving for organisations, in partnership with Midlothian Council, to support the inclusion of children with additional support needs in mainstream childcare
• Providing drop-in outdoor play sessions in Woodburn in Dalkeith, twice per week, facilitated by their team of Community Playworkers
• Working with Midlothian Council on the development of a play strategy for Midlothian
• Researching disabled children’s access to opportunities to play in Midlothian
• Holding an annual play event
• Running a variety of training courses

Mr Beattie today wrote to Susan McIntyre, MAP’s Development Manager, congratulating the team on this funding.