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• Play development
• Playcentres
• Find my nearest playcentre
• Help and resources for play staff
• Child Protection Policy

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Play development

Contact information Call us on 028 9027 0470 or email play@belfastcity.gov.uk You can also write to us at: Community Services, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP

Play is an important part of childhood, and helping children grow and develop is a key part of our job.

In this section, you can:

• view our playcentres on a map
• view our playcentre opening times
• find out about our play clubs
• download our Child Protection Policy
• get information about the training and resources we provide to play workers

Playcentres

Our six playcentres, for three to 11-year-olds, offer playgroups, after-school and Saturday clubs and seasonal schemes.

Map of our playcentres

Opening hours

Avoniel Playcentre opening hours

Day	Time
Monday to Thursday	9am to 5pm
Friday	9am to 4.30pm
Saturday (last Saturday of every month)	10am to 12pm

Loop River Playcentre opening hours

Day	Age group	Time
Monday	Primary one to three	9am to 5pm
Tuesday	Primary one to three	2pm to 4.30pm
	Primary five and six	3pm to 4.30pm
Wednesday	Under 5s club	12.15pm to 1.45pm
	Primary four and five	2.45pm to 4.30pm
Thursday	Under 5s club	12.15pm to 1.45pm
	Primary six and seven	3pm to 4.30pm
Friday	Primary one to three	2pm to 3.30pm
	Youth group	4pm to 5pm

Olympia Playcentre opening hours

Day	Age group	Time
Monday	Primary one to three	2pm to 3.10pm
	Primary four to seven	3.20pm to 4.30pm
Friday	Primary one to seven	2pm to 4pm

Ballysillan Playcentre opening hours

Day	Time
Monday	2pm to 4.30pm
Tuesday	2pm to 4.30pm
Thursday	2pm to 4.30pm

North Queen Street Playcentre opening hours

Day	Time
Monday to Thursday	9am to 5pm
Friday	9am to 4.30pm

Whiterock Playcentre opening hours

Day	Time
Tuesday	2pm to 4.30pm
Friday	2pm to 4pm

Saturday Morning Play Club - Avoniel Playcentre

Do you have a child or children with disabilities? Our monthly Saturday morning club gives children aged four to 12 years old the opportunity to have fun, enjoy new play opportunities and make new friends in a safe environment.

Admission is free. It takes place from 10am to 12 noon on the last Saturday of every month.

Siblings and friends are also welcome! They'll have the chance to enjoy indoor and outdoor play, arts and crafts, messy play, active games and much more.

Contact Janet on 028 9045 8988 or email stillj@belfastcity.gov.uk for more information.

Under 5s Club - Loop River Playcentre

Loop River Playcentre hosts an Under 5s club on Wednesdays from 12.30pm to 1.45pm for children aged three to five.

Children must have reached their third birthday on or before 1 September 2009 to take part in the sessions, which are limited to 16 youngsters and include outdoor play, circle and table top games, floor toys, simple cookery, songs and nursery rhymes, 'messy' play, dressing up and Nintendo Wii games.

For more information, call Ann Beattie on 028 9045 3289.