Community Collaboration Brings Play Pod Chwarae to Merthyr

Through a collaboration between Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Play Department and EggSeeds, a community development and outdoor education company Play Pod Chwarae has been developed through funding from Welsh Government’s All Wales Play Opportunities Grant.

The project began by creating a secure, wooden structure in Clwb Crown CiC, where professionals in Play, Youth and Education can book out and borrow a variety of play resources by obtaining a yearly membership. The Pod includes Fire Play, Water Play, Earth Play and Wind Play with lots of exciting activities to accompany the elements. The activities incorporate forest schools, widen access for neurodiverse participants as well as encouraging community and group work.

Chris Hole, Head of Community Wellbeing said, “The Play Pod will enable communities across Merthyr Tydfil to access a wide range of play equipment, supporting organisations to provide indoor and outdoor play opportunities”.

The project is working in partnership with Active Merthyr and Community Focused Schools who have donated sports equipment, Keep Wales Tidy who provided litter picking packs and Benthyd Cymru and Egin who provided the mentoring to get the pod set up.

Twyn Community Hub has been one of the first local organisations to get involved and are motivated to putting items in the pod for everyone to utilise. A representative from Twyn Community Hub said “The Play Pod reduces storage costs of infrequently used bigger items. It provides better play access for the kids by sharing resources. I hope that through joint bids in the future, play organisations can get better quality larger items they all can use”.

For more information on the Play Pod Chwarae, follow the link Eggseeds: Sustainable Growth and Community Engagement Solutions | EggSeeds

Alternatively, you can contact the Play Development Officer: enquiries.play@merthyr.gov.uk or Project Manager: sam@eggseeds.com