Community Activities

Salisbury City Council continues to work in partnership with Wiltshire Council, Action for Children, Salisbury International Arts Festival and Shine to deliver play facilities throughout the city and some of the surrounding areas.

In 2008 Salisbury District Council received a grant award of £208,342 from the Big Lottery as part of the Children’s Play programme to deliver projects over 3 years.

The partners continue to deliver on the three projects which are:

Play Rangers 

Play Rangers currently deliver free open access play activities to four areas – Bemerton Heath compound, The Friary, Harnham and Bishopdown. Qualified play workers offer child led after school and holiday activities including face painting, basket ball, cake making, icing biscuits,  ball games, glitter & craft activities, competitions (with prizes), music, and water fights, cardboard and paints etc.

The presence of Pay Rangers inhibits bullying and anti social activity and enables children to develop new friendships, coping and solving problem skills. The free play helps them to develop, explore and use their imagination to their full potential

How Shine Playbus 

The Shine Playbus is a converted Library van that takes play to those who otherwise may have difficulty accessing play facilities. The bus currently visits five locations in and around Salisbury after school and during school holidays. The Playbus offers all sorts of activities for the young people in a safe and friendly environment where children and young people are encouraged to have fun play and be creative. A varied range of play and craft activities are available including indoor and outdoor games, puzzles, arts and crafts resources, toys, a library and computers with internet access. The bus is staffed by experienced playworkers and volunteers who oversee and encourage free play

Salisbury Children's Festival 

The Children’s Festival is delivered on an annual basis during the Spring Half Term. As part of the Children’s Festival there is a Big Play Day which includes play activities, including craft and dance as well as new innovative activities for children and young people to try. All of these activities are free to attend. The theme for the day follows the theme for the Salisbury International Arts Festival. In addition to the Big Play, a range of play activities are available during Spring half term.

Wii Intergenerational Project

The Community Development Officer in partnership with students from Salisbury High School and Wiltshire Council is delivering a Wii Sports Intergenerational project. The project has been taken to various care homes across the city and feedback has been really positive from all involved.

The students use a ‘Wii kit’ supplied by the Council which incorporates a large screen to show the interactive images.  The project provides residents with an opportunity to participate in low-impact exercise and to socialise with other residents and members of the wider community. The students gain experience of working in the community by coaching the residents. Most importantly everyone has fun!

The residents of Pembroke House in the city are also set to benefit from the project on monthly basis as this is to be added to their program of activities.

How can  your organisation or Group benefit from the Wii Project? 

If you think your venue/group would like to take part in this project or you have ideas for a similar project please contact Annie Scadden on 01722 342866 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click   here  for a brochure that can be distributed amongst  your members

What is Wii Sports?

For the uninitiated Wii is a video game console from Nintendo (pronounced "wee"). It and features a wireless motion sensing controller that looks like a TV remote rather than a game controller. The unit is strapped to the wrist and swung like a tennis racket, golf club or other sports equipment
People who’ve played the actual sport before trying it in the Wii game will have an advantage initially over other players, as they will be able to call on their body memory to execute the movement required to swing the control successfully. However all skill levels can pick up the controller and play immediately, and participants have the opportunity to develop and refine their technique as they gain more experience. Instructions on how to proceed appear on the screen to coach players in the correct use of the console.
 The best attribute of the Nintendo Wii Sports games is that they are easy to use. Each game is simplified to allow players to focus on perfecting the motion of swinging the controller – travelling movements are performed automatically by the computer itself (taking the player across the court in tennis, or fielding in baseball, for example.) The games are not lifelike – but the handling of the motion sensitive controller allows for increasing levels of skill and sophistication – keeping the player interested in developing their capacity in play.