NHS We have designed two new play areas with the Humber NHS Foundation Trust: an exciting, imaginative playground at the West End Children’s Unit and an inclusive play area for all abilities at The Children’s Centre on Walker Street.
The West End Children’s Centre is available to children who are experiencing emotional, behavioural and/or mental health problems that require more intensive input than can be offered on an outpatient basis alone.
The centre’s play area has an important role in the children’s lives as an area where they can let off steam, socialise with their friends and push personal boundaries in a safe environment. However, the old equipment was deemed to be no longer suitable and needed replacing.
We created an exciting new playground featuring a unit from Mission, a range designed for older children which encourages children to take part in high energy, invigorating play. The unit is designed around a small circular traverse which encourages children to game play and keep off the ground, as well as a unique open ‘bannister bar’ slide and an exciting pole spin.
The playground also features a Hang Glide, a unique unit where the user hangs on by their hands to a rubber ring as they zip down the cableway, testing upper body strength.
We were also tasked with designing an exciting play area at the Children’s Centre on Walker Street which would be suitable for children of all abilities aged from 2 years to teenagers.
The playground features equipment such as an inclusive Scramble and Slide unit with a secure ‘U’ shaped slide with easy access and egress and a Minizone unit which enables children of all abilities to explore sounds. New full colour safety surface with a bright new paver brick edging has been installed to help differentiate the safety surface for the visually impaired.
Lisa Adcock, Superintendent Physiotherapist for The Children’s Centre, said: “This is a fantastic facility for children of all ages and abilities who use Walker Street Children’s Centre. The specialist play equipment is thoughtfully designed to be accessible for disabled children but also has features to be challenging for more able children.”
