PlayBoard NI

12/10/2026

Proud to be part of the OUR Generation Project - making an impact to children and communities across Northern Ireland and the border counties. 👇

To mark World Mental Health Day, Northern Ireland’s Mental Health Champion, Ulster University’s Professor Siobhan O’Neill, shares findings from a first-of-its-kind study led by Professor O’Neill and her research team at Ulster University, measuring the impact of the cross-border OUR Generation peacebuilding programme.

Drawing on research involving over 7,600 participants across Northern Ireland and the border counties, the study shows how programmes focused on emotional wellbeing and resilience can strengthen coping skills, empathy and trust, helping build stronger, more connected communities.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/4hOZZMl

| Action Mental Health | Mental Health Champion for NI | Special EU Programmes Body - SEUPB

12/10/2026

A look back at another week of curiosity, creativity and exploration with ! 🧸

10/10/2026

On World Mental Health Day, we're sharing our resources highlighting the power of play for children and young people's mental health and well-being.

Play is crucial to children and young people's health and happiness. Good play experiences can help nurture children’s emotional and mental health.

🔵 Nurture your child's mental health through play - https://bit.ly/4ejn88w
🔵 Fostering resilience through play - https://bit.ly/4ytvDp7
🔵 The power of play for children's mental health and well-being - https://bit.ly/4zgSa99

09/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for our 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘶𝘵-𝘰𝘧-𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘧𝘶𝘭 webinar. It was great to see such interest in our session, delivered by Danielle Crosbie, Play Development Officer.

During the webinar, participants reflected on their own roles and how they could incorporate a playworker approach within their school and improve the play experiences on offer for the children in their care.

09/10/2026

Impacting perceptions of play through staff sessions at Moy Regional Primary School and St John's Primary School, Moy this week. ✨

PlayBoard's Spaces to Be ~ OUR Generation project supports emotional well-being and builds positive cross-community relationships through the power of play.

07/10/2026

Our Inclusive Play team have visited Forge Integrated Primary School, Belfast for their second play working group and play session.

It is fantastic to see such passionate staff with many exciting plans in the pipeline, including extending their resources, hearing the voice of their children, and mastering indoor play for our winter weather!

At yesterday's play session, the children told us that they should manage the resources at play time - and proved their point by setting up the different play areas to look very inviting, and made a great job of tidying up afterwards.

A big WELL DONE, Team Forge!

Discover , supported by the Department of Education NI, at www.playboard.org/resources/everyone-plays

07/10/2026

Last chance to book our FREE webinar - 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹: 𝗔 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀

Join us online to explore how a Playwork approach can transform your school’s out-of-school provision.

📅 Friday 9 October
🕤 9:30-11:00am

This practical session will give staff the opportunity to step back, reflect on their current play provision and consider how small changes can make a big difference to children’s experiences.

The webinar is suitable for school staff running wraparound and out-of-school provision.

Book your FREE place at https://PBMakingOOSPlayful091026.eventbrite.co.uk

06/10/2026

𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹-𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆

SAC providers - help us understand your business support needs by completing our short survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SACBusinessSupport26

As part of the ongoing development of the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, work is underway to better understand the business support needs of childcare providers and to inform the development of a Targeted Business Support Scheme for the sector.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁. Don't miss this chance to share your views! Thank you.

Family Support NI CYPSP NICVA

05/10/2026

Join us for a sector wide conversation facilitated by Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.

The focus will be to agree a roadmap for strengthening and transforming the voluntary youth work sector.

You'll also hear directly from a young person who took part in the process, sharing their experience of youth work and the difference it has made in their life. Their voice will remind us why this conversation matters.

Whether you're involved in delivering, funding, supporting or shaping youth work, this event is an opportunity to reflect on the evidence, explore what needs to change and help shape what happens next.

Register your place here: https://champ.ly/-vr4Z1t0

YouthAction Northern Ireland PlayBoard NI YMCA Ireland NI Youth Forum The Bytes Project Youth Initiatives Youth Work Alliance The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland

05/10/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗳𝘂𝗹: 𝗔 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀

Join us to explore how a Playwork approach can transform your school’s out-of-school provision.

📅 9 October
🕘 9:30-11:00am
📍 Online

This practical session will give staff the opportunity to step back, reflect on their current play provision and consider how small changes can make a big difference to children’s experiences.

The webinar is suitable for school staff running wraparound and out-of-school provision.

Book your FREE place at https://PBMakingOOSPlayful091026.eventbrite.co.uk