A Summer of Smiles to make Cardiff’s children and young people beam is in store, starting with a fun-packed city centre playscape set to open this week.
A trip to town is about to get a whole lot more exciting for children, with the creation of a family-focussed setting on Churchill Way, with a large ‘Roly Poly Hill’ as its centrepiece.
The playscape, which will open on Friday, June 25 is the forerunner for a host of activities and events that will take place across the city throughout the school summer holidays.
‘Summer of Smiles’ is being organised by the Council, with support from key partners, as part of the Council’s Child Friendly pandemic recovery agenda and to commend the achievements and resilience of every child and young person in the city throughout the difficult past year and more.
The programme of activities is designed to encourage children to play, move and actively enjoy themselves after the long periods of lockdowns and distance learning.
This recovery, and summer plans, closely align with Cardiff’s ambition to berecognised as a Child Friendly City, and its preparations tosubmit for Child Friendly City recognition later this year, as recommended bythe UK Committee for UNICEF.
Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: “There’s no doubt that Cardiff’s children and young people have been through a lot this past 15 months and for a long time, there hasn’t been an awful lot to smile about.
“It’s time to change that and we’re going to do our best to put smiles back on faces, by celebrating our young people and saying thank you to them, just for being themselves, and giving them a summer to remember for all the right reasons.”
Roly Poly Hill on Churchill Way will provide a natural play area for children, surrounded by art installations, an urban play zone, landscaped areas and trees, picnic tables and seating. A green oasis in the middle of the city centre’s shopping areas, families will have the opportunity to visit, play and enjoy the creative setting.
Cllr Merry said: “Roly Poly Hill is going to be fantastic. Works are planned for Churchill Way later this year so we are taking the opportunity to use that space to create an exciting attraction for children, young people and families, encouraging them all back into the city centre.
“This is just a small part of an action-packed summer we have in store but we’re keeping the wraps on our bigger plans for the school holiday period at the moment and are asking everyone to stay tuned – we’re very excited about it all and will be sharing details very soon.
“I can say that we’re planning to deliver events and activities based around four main themes -Creative & Arts, Science & Technology, Sport & Adventure and Play & Family Fun. We want our events to appeal to everyone so from toddler to older teenager, there’ll be something suitable for all.
“We are all committed to embedding the rights and needs of children and young people in everything we do. Our summer plans are a fantastic way to demonstrate our ambitions of becoming a UNICEF UK Child Friendly City while giving our children and young people something really good to beam out.”
