Focusing on Youth at Play, in this episode of the Play Pod Maeve McLaughlin, Play Participation Officer with PlayBoard talks with Phil Gyle, Education Authority and Stephen Hughes, St Peter's Immaculata Youth Centre. 

Discussing her role as a playworker, Jess Eadie, North Down YMCA, talks to PlayBoard's Bríd Duffy and shares the challenges currently facing School Age Childcare settings. 

Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People joins PlayBoard CEO, Jacqueline O'Loughlin to discuss children's right to play, the challenges of the past two years, and her role as Children's Commissioner.

Alix Crawford, Chairperson and founder of the Mae Murray Foundation and Alan Herron, Director of Service Delivery and Development at PlayBoard launch Let me play – Inclusive play park study. The report provides an overview of findings from a study undertaken with families in Northern Ireland who have a family member/s with a physical, learning, sensory, medical, undiagnosed or complex need.

PlayBoard's Shauneen McCusker talks with two local teachers who recently led their primary schools in achieving the Taking Outdoor Play Seriously (TOPS) Award. Jenna Lowry, Kilcooley PS and Suzanne Adamson, Ballymena PS, give a fantastic insight into transforming the play in their schools into something magical for the children, and the benefits they've seen in the classroom. 

In episode 2 of The Play Pod, PlayBoard's Peter McCartney talks with Barbara McIlwrath, Lecturer, Assessor & L5 CCLD & Playwork Coordinator at Belfast Met. Topics covered include the components of play, the role of the playworker, the importance of children being bored, and much more!

Welcome to PlayBoard NI's new podcast.