We are delighted to announce that, following a successful bid through capital funding, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has installed new floodlights in the multi-use games area (MUGA) at Serennu Children's Centre in response to a recent request from our young people.

Sparkle is committed to listening to the children and young people who use our services and prioritising their needs in order to continuously develop our facilities.

Every year, a group of young people who regularly attend Serennu Children's Centre are invited to both the Regional ISCAN board and Sparkle trustee board meetings to convey their needs in person.

During a recent Sparkle trustee board meeting, two young people in attendance requested outdoor lighting so that they could access the outdoor facilities in the darker winter months.

These two individuals spoke on behalf of the 45 young people who attend the weekly youth club at Serennu Children's Centre. The centre's premises are currently utilised up to five times a week by the Sparkle leisure team, who strive to provide opportunities for activities both indoors and outdoors, despite the challenges of winter weather.

Despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, we understand that it is still safer for children and young people to spend time outdoors where the risk of contracting Covid-19 is lower. This is especially important as many of the children who visit the centre are extremely vulnerable.

The two young individuals themselves pointed out that some of the young people who attend youth club experience anxiety, and they believe that giving them more access to the outdoor area could help reduce this.

This is particularly important considering that many of the young people who attend the centre often have difficulty finding suitable evening activities within their community.

It was also noted that during the last annual evaluation of Sparkle services, more outdoor activities was a common request from families. The Health Board's approval of the light installation above the MUGA means that facilities can be used even more during the winter months, further optimising the use of the facilities at Serennu Children's Centre.

Interim Children's Centre Manager & SPACE Wellbeing Team Manager Tracey Smith said:

"The Health Board is really delighted to have been able to support with the request from the young people who attend Serennu Children's Centre. It is really important to listen to their wishes and we always try to accommodate this in improving their experiences of using the outdoor play space.

We are also really pleased to confirm that the MUGA ground is being replaced in the next two weeks which will really add to the young people's use of the MUGA going into the summer months."