West Oxfordshire Play Rangers

Who are the Play Rangers?

OPA's Play Rangers are playworkers who offer free, open-access play sessions at local parks within West Oxfordshire, come rain or shine. Children and young people aged 5-16 can come and play (younger children are welcome if accompanied by a parent/carer). The overall aim of this project is to provide children and young people with a chance to make full use of local outdoor space, and have fun. This is an exciting project and we look forward to welcoming lots of you to the Play Ranger sessions.

For general info about the

West Oxfordshire Play Rangers,
contact Martin Gillett at OPA on
01865 779474 or email martin.gillett@oxonplay.org.uk.
(To contact the Play Rangers,
see the number below.)

Other Play Ranger Projects in Oxfordshire
As well as West Oxfordshire Play Rangers, there are two other
Play Ranger projects in Oxfordshire:

Oxford City Play Rangers:
Contact Marie Nolan at
Donnington Doorstep:
01865 727721

Cherwell Urban Play Rangers:
Contact Michelle Pollard:
01295 273027

All activities are outdoors and may include den-building, cooking on fires, arts and crafts, sports and a range of playful games. Children are encouraged to play freely and to choose what they want to do. They do not have to do anything if they don't want to.

Why do we need Play Rangers?

Unfortunately nowadays less and less children and young people get the opportunity to play outside.

‘71% of adults used to play near their home everyday when they were a child compared to only 21% of children today.’ - ICM opinion poll for Playday 2007

The decrease in numbers playing outside can be attributed to a number of factors: increased levels of traffic, increased fear of bullying and stranger danger, increased use of modern technology (television, computers, games consoles etc) and lack of ‘play’ habitat.
Allowing children and young people the opportunity to play outside can bring many benefits not least the health benefits it provides (both physical and mental wellbeing).

‘Letting children go out to play is one of the best things that parents can do for their children’s health.’ - University College London, 2004

Witney Gazette - 2nd June 2010:  ‘Children in West Oxfordshire are among the fattest in the county, recent figures have revealed. According to NHS Oxfordshire, one in five children in the county start school either overweight or obese.’

Play Rangers can alleviate some of the barriers to playing outdoors. Their presence steadily erodes the children's and parent's fear of bullying and unsupervised outdoor play. The regular contact and consistent approach builds confidence all round and allows positive relationships to be formed. The excitement and fun generated by the Play Ranger sessions offers an attractive and active alternative to the sedentary appeal of the many electronic devices so popular amongst today's children and young people.

How do Play Ranger sessions work?All sessions are FREE of chargeChildren are free to come and go as they please (open access scheme)Parents/carers remain responsible for their children at all times. All ages welcome (children under 5 should be accompanied by an adult)Parents/carers are very welcome to join inGood play isn’t always clean and dry, so wear something suitable for the weather and activitiesAll Play Ranger staff are CRB checkedSessions are due to take place in any weather but from time to time we may need to cancel them.The Play Rangers are Helen Morrison, Rita Lewis and Xanthe Sturges - see the meet the staff page. 
Oxfordshire Play Association manage this Play Ranger project within West Oxfordshire and are working in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council. This project is funded by Oxfordshire County Council and The Big Lottery Fund.

Contact the West Oxfordshire Play Rangers:

Tel: 07515 191724,  Email: playrangers@oxonplay.org.uk