Sample activity of integration – Leisure

You are the Secretary for Children, Youth, and Leisure on the parish local council. Having bought the day’s local newspaper, you take particular interest in the article below, which you think you can use to speak up on the needs of those you represent. Read the article and complete the tasks.

Lack of maintenance causes safety issues at local play park

It’s been five years since the new park was built in our little town. It has also been five years since any of the equipment saw a drop of oil to keep parts moving smoothly, or a spanner to tighten a loose nut. Maintaining our leisure spaces is a problem faced by the residents of many towns. Lack of resources and staff to repair and preserve what has been built results in safety hazards. These are critical when the users of the park are largely young children. Last week a six-year-old girl was badly injured when the chain of the swing she was playing on snapped. The child’s father has raised concerns about the safety of the park and put notices up warning people to stay away. When this reporter visited the scene, she noticed that the grass had not been cut, posing hidden dangers to barefoot toddlers. The paint on most of the equipment was peeling, and more than one swing chain was dangling lose. Rust was evident on the equipment and some rotten wood was also obvious. This is Chapter 7: Leisure unacceptable to parents and to the community. We need and appreciate our leisure parks, but maintaining them is vital. If the local government cannot do this, it is up to the community to solve the issue.

1. Explain why it is important for leisure parks to be safe.

2. You intend to make a speech at the next council meeting. Your aim is to persuade the council to approve some funding for the repairs required at three leisure parks in the parish. Use some facts in the article to plan five major points that you will present in your speech. Use some wh- questions to make your speech strong.