Nelson Child Development Services Therapy Playground

When Child Development Services moved to a new site on Nelson’s Braemar Campus they were delighted with their new location.

There was, however, no funding for an outdoor play area in the small concrete courtyard.  The staff could see the extra development opportunities that this space would create as a playground, not only as a treatment, assessment, and therapy space but also as an area to have fun in.

The Care Foundation was keen to help this vision come to life and provided funding, with help from local law firm Duncan Cotterill, for the specialised play equipment for the area.

The new therapy playground was officially opened with a blessing ceremony in November 2022. "It's a place where children can have fun while doing therapeutic intervention with the Child Development Services staff," said Paediatric Occupational Therapist Christine McKennan. "The equipment will be great for spatial awareness, co-ordination and creative play skills. It will be built into therapy programmes for children and can also be used by whānau," she added.