Highland Wins National Play Awards

At a recent awards ceremony in Coatbridge, Patricia Ferguson MSP for Culture Sport and Tourism awarded prestigious Nancy Ovens Play Awards to two separate play projects in Highland.

The Ormlie Community Association from Thurso won the Outstanding Contribution to Play Award and the Lochaber Play Forum won the Best Design of a Play Experience for their site at Inverlochy, Lochaber.

Two young people from Ormlie - Jodie and Cassandra McPhee gave speeches on how the play area has benefited Ormlie and the wider community and Mrs. Tracey Findlay accepted the award on behalf of the Inverlochy Save our Swings Group(SOS).

Highland Councillor Brian Murphy said: "Lochaber Play Forum has proven to be an excellent partnership tool for levering in more funding for play areas throughout Lochaber. This innovative approach empowers communities to take responsibility for their local play areas, supports their fund raising activities, fully involves the local children in the design of their play areas, and choice of equipment, and commits the Council to take on the ongoing maintenance once the new equipment is installed."

Malina MacDonald, Highland Council’s Play Development Officer said: "It’s a real achievement for Highland to win two of the four Nancy Oven Play Awards. Both the Ormlie & Inverlochy Play Areas have shown a real commitment to community consultation and great innovation in design, which serve as excellent examples for other groups wishing to upgrade their local play areas."