Community / SIC aims to deliver ‘summer of play’ activities for bairns
SHETLAND Islands Council is planning to deliver a range of activities for bairns as part of a wider “summer of play” initiative in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Children’s services director Helen Budge said the aim is to offer a “geographically spread” programme of activities in Shetland.
Last week the Scottish Government announced it would commit £20 million in funding to give children an enhanced summer experience as Covid restriction ease.
It said this would be aimed at providing children opportunities to “socialise, play and reconnect within their local communities and environments”.
Deputy first minister John Swinney said the government does not underestimate the “physical and mental health impacts which children and young people have experienced throughout the pandemic, and that the impacts have fallen unequally across society”.
“This enhanced range of summer experiences for children and young people will help address the impacts associated with extended periods of isolation and reduced participation in normal activities”.
Budge said that the council welcomed the news of the funding.
“We will work in partnership with all providers during the next few weeks to ensure we offer a comprehensive programme which has breadth, is balanced, and geographically spread with timescales coordinated to support families and their children during the seven week summer break,” she said.
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