Balintore Playscheme has been traditionally run by parent volunteers over the past 30 years or so during the summer holidays. After the covid pandemic, for the safety of the young people and wider community the BDRG secured funding to take on 3 youth leaders from within the community to lead the activities.
We now run playschemes within the Summer, Autumn and spring school holidays, with the offer of free activities including arts and crafts, games, sports and specialists like past partners TCD Dance, Explosive Entertainment, Youth Highland, Soccer Skills, music, Homestart, Circus Skills and so many more to give experiences and opportunities to the children from the Seaboard Villages and surrounding area.
Our offer is universal, meaning that it is open to all from birth to S1. Older young people have been supporting the playscheme through their volunteering to gain saltire hours and in support of their youth achievement awards. In the past couple of years, we have provided free healthy snacks and drinks during the morning sessions.
gallery.
October 2023 gallery.
Summer 2023. We ran 20 sessions of playscheme during the holidays and ended our program with a family outing to Landmark Adventure Park in Carrbridge. Keep scrolling for past playschemes.
Easter 2023
October 2022 pictures of some of the fun this year.
Here are some pictures from Summer 2022
Here’s a selection of photographs from 2021 Summer and Autumn playscheme.
2020 the year we would all rather forget, the pandemic put a stop to our plans for Play scheme activities.
Traditionally the playscheme is run by volunteers over the Summer holidays: During 2019 we ran the playscheme activities during the Spring, Summer and Autumn holidays, thanks to funding from Highland Council – Care & Learning and MFR Cash for Kids.
In 2018 we took 120+ to Landmark for the day.
This year (2018) we were fortunate to receive funding from the Families and Children Service to deliver the playscheme during the Summer, Autumn and Spring holidays.
The playscheme is open to all unaccompanied primary aged children however pre-school children are welcome with a guardian. This is not to say we don’t welcome teenagers! We are part of the Saltire scheme for which young adults receive recognition for their volunteer work.. . they have some fun too…!
Our aim is to bring old favourites and brand new activities and experiences to the children within our district: From arts and crafts to games, sport and cooking all at affordable prices for local families.
This summer we were supported by the Tesco Community Champion – Kelly; who not only gave us donations for the free breakfast but she gave up her time to help out as well. We missed Kelly during the October holidays;(
So far this year, over the summer and autumn play schemes we have welcomed ….
- Kimberly – Hi Life Highland sports coach
- David Ramage – Bush craft
- Bookbug – Highland Libraries
- Youth Highland
- Highland Castle Entertainment – festival
- Isla & Jamie – music
- Clay Studio – pinch pots
- Debbie Stainke – Boogie Bounce
During October instead of the free breakfast, we decided to introduce a free lunch club for the children. We were delighted with the turnout of approximately forty children each day.
The playscheme team haven’t shut up shop for 2018, in addition to the Halloween party which we ran on the 2nd November we are also planning a Christmas party with special guest.
The Scout Hut 