Playcentre takes a lead on environmental sustainability

PRESS RELEASE

New Zealand Playcentre Federation

28 May 2012

Playcentre New Zealand takes a lead on environmental sustainability

At their annual national conference in Waikanae this weekend, the New Zealand Playcentre Federation made a formal commitment to integrating environmental sustainability throughout its organisation.

Playcentre, which has 489 parent-led early childhood education centres around New Zealand, agreed by consensus to develop a framework which will empower all levels of the organisation, from children to trustees, to adopt sustainable best practice.

The project will be led by Canterbury Playcentre Association, which is coordinating the national working party that will develop the initiative.

“The experiences we’ve had here in Canterbury in recent months have focussed a lot of people’s thinking on what’s really important,” says Lou Warren, Environmental Sutstainability Coordinator for Canterbury Playcentre Association.

“What kind of world do we want our children to inherit, and what skills and values will they need for that future? Playcentre aims to step up to its responsibilities in this regard – sustainability is a natural extension of Playcentre's core values, and our continued commitment to biculturalism.”

The environmental sustainability framework will provide guidelines for centre best practice, as well as policies to help Playcentre associations and the Playcentre Federation make informed decisions about the careful use of resources, and will guide life-long environmental education among Playcentre members, starting with the youngest children.

“Playcentre has always been about building healthy communities and supporting and educating parents alongside their children” said Maureen Woodhams, Playcentre Federation Co-president. “So we’re perfectly placed to make a far-reaching and significant contribution towards a sustainable future – socially, culturally, economically and environmentally – for the peoples of New Zealand.”

Playcentres are parent-led early childhood and parenting centres located throughout New Zealand. Playcentres are driven by the needs and interests of enrolled families, and empower their members is a highly democratic decision making structure.

For more information on Playcentre see www.playcentre.org.nz.

ENDS

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