Testimonials

Case studies are a fantastic way for us to find out more about our members and people who have used our services or facilities and to find out exactly why they chose to use us and why they have stayed with us.

We hope you can take the time to read through our case studies as they really highlight our ethos and aims and how we have managed to withstand decades of change.

John Williams – MPAC Chairperson

“MPAC is a chameleon; it changes with the times and is able to adjust. That’s how we’ve survived.”

Background

John has been working in the voluntary sector for almost 40 years. His interest in charities first became apparent whilst he was still at school achieving his Duke of Edinburgh Award. From then on John began to get involved with local communities helping to set up summer Play Schemes in the Speke, Garston and Aigburth areas of Liverpool. It was working with these summer Play Schemes that John first became acquainted with MPAC.

The Relationship

John worked with Play Schemes from around 1967 when there were no amenities to support such organisations and schemes. As the years passed other organisations began to emerge and offered to work alongside the existing organisations.

However, it wasn’t until 1974 that MPAC became fully established. This new organisation offered so much support to local and smaller groups that it became known as the umbrella scheme. MPAC dealt with the financial and administrative sides of charities and became the main organisation for play in Liverpool.

It was 10 years later, in 1984, when John became fully associated with MPAC, becoming a trustee and his passionate involvement with play schemes around Liverpool saw him take the position of Chairperson, a position which he has held for 15 years.

Over the years John is proud of the dramatic change MPAC has achieved “from an embryo to what it is now. The majority of our volunteers can now take up paid positions (60-65%); we have a thriving shop and are taking larger steps in working with Local Authorities and like-minded organisations to take play development forward.”

Before MPAC was established organisations were isolated, but when working under the umbrella that is MPAC organisations worked together and had a bigger voice that MPs had to take note of. Play organisations became better and kept children out of trouble on the streets. However, over the last 10 years funding has changed considerably meaning cuts in play schemes. John understands the difficulties that play schemes are facing, but knows “the way forward now is to retrace our steps and swing it back around!”

What makes MPAC different?

There will always be a need for an organisation like MPAC, but what makes MPAC stand out and how has it managed to survive the changes in funding and laws across the decades?

“MPAC is a pioneer. There is no other organisation like MPAC in the city. It’s a one-stop shop for all play schemes offering information, advice, support, equipment and training.”

“MPAC is a chameleon; it changes with the times and is able to adjust. That’s how we’ve survived.”

The number of play schemes in the city has rapidly decreased over the last 10 years with 141 schemes available in 1999 to just 40 last year. Although the figures are disheartening John believes that MPAC’s pioneering abilities can “turn the disadvantages into advantages,” and in the near future MPAC can start to re- build community play schemes.

Proudest moments of MPAC

John is most proud of MPAC’s team and its building:

“The trustees and staff bring stability to the organisation. They are committed and very focused.”

MPAC have been in the building on Bridport Street for 10 years. “It was just a warehouse and printing place before we moved in and now it’s the most fully accessible building in Liverpool.” The building has been developed to encourage like-minded organisations to take part in it, which makes being fully accessible even more important.

So with its fully accessible building, passionate members and ever growing list of services on offer MPAC can truly try to get the “confidence back in the community.”

Maria Hornsby – MPAC Treasurer

“MPAC practice equality not just preach it.”

Background

Maria has over 20 years experience of working with young people, working as a Youth Development Worker in Rice Lane City Farm, which is the only inner city farm in Liverpool. Maria is also the Vice Chairperson of the National Federation of City Parks & Community Gardens giving her a city-wide knowledge of play, youth & community organisations and a strong understanding of the needs and concerns of young people working continually on their behalf to improve facilities and opportunities.

The Relationship

Maria is a strong believer in networking as meeting other like-minded people builds support and a larger voice for the third sector. It was through networking that Maria first became aware of MPAC. In 1971 Maria became a trustee and not long after that the Treasurer. MPAC offered Maria and her different organisations more free play access as well as supporting them with different types of equipment including camping equipment.

What makes MPAC different?

“MPAC is one of the oldest play organisations in the city and helps to regularly set up other schemes across the country.”

Liverpool has always been an extremely vibrant city for third sector development, which Maria believes is a significant factor in MPAC being around for so long. MPAC became involved with Local Authorities at an early stage and so immediately “gave smaller organisations a voice and more empowerment as we now had strength in numbers.”

Maria worked with some regional and national organisation in the past but found MPAC had “the best knowledge of the play sector and offered the widest range of activities and services including arts and training.

Proudest moments of MPAC

Maria is most proud of MPAC’s strength and immovability:

“We’ve survived in the city, which has not always had a future due to property failings. Enough people and local charities had faith in us from the beginning and helped us buy the building we’re in now. Both the building and the amount of faith organisations have in us have given MPAC stability.”

MPAC is still in the forefront of child play, but Maria’s growing concern, which is shared by many, is “How do we turn around society’s negative attitude towards children?”

Carol Bennett – MPAC Trustee

MPAC’s aim to support local community organisations through creative, educational and recreational activities is a “good grounding in behaviour and respect for children and young people, setting them up for the future.”

Background

Carol has been an MPAC trustee for 15 years and has set up a number of play schemes in Liverpool with the help of MPAC. Carol now runs the Granby Toxteth Activity Club. The club organises a range of adventure activities and outdoor pursuits for children and young people from horse-riding to dry slope skiing. Through the Granby Toxteth Activity Club Carol has organised several smaller groups aimed at different age groups including L8 Motivate and Freedom Girls.

As well as developing their interacting and social skills, the children attending the club also have the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Carol explained the importance of this award to young people as it involved voluntary work, which helps to “further an individual’s skills, experience and opportunities.” The award is usually linked, in schools, with academic achievement meaning many children and young people who want to take part are unable to do so. The club is therefore “furthering the opportunities available to young people and helping them to achieve.”

Most importantly to Carol, though, is introducing children and young people to outdoor activities, helping them to develop new skills and giving them the opportunity to experience activities they may never had had the chance to at school. Many of the young people involved go on to become volunteers when they reach 18 and so Carol ensures they have the “option to train and receive certification making them staff members.”

The Relationship

Carol first came across MPAC in 1991. She was a book keeper at the Caribbean Centre, which was only open on weekend evenings for the bar, when she noticed a large number of parents were coming in and enquiring about play groups. Carol got in touch with MPAC soon after to see what was available to families in the area and was surprised when MPAC suggested she could set up a group herself.

MPAC helped Carol to find volunteers to help run the club and apply for and secure funding from the local council, which enabled “a basketball court to be built on the premises, cricket equipment to be purchased and even coaches to come in and teach the children.” They also helped Carol’s group to become a registered charity, training the volunteers to become full-time qualified staff. This aspect was the most rewarding for Carol as it was a group for the local community run by people from the local community.

What makes MPAC different?

The fact that MPAC has been able to adapt to changes inflicted upon the voluntary sector over three decades, ensuring its survival, shows how strong an organisation it is.

“Over the years MPAC have built up connections and are now able to provide quality arts and crafts and equipment for play schemes.” These are opportunities that play groups “can’t get anywhere else,” which is why MPAC is still the umbrella organisation for play schemes in Liverpool, after 30 years.

Proudest moments of MPAC

Aside from the building and quality equipment they are able to provide, MPAC is a “great resource for anyone trying to set up their own play scheme.” They have the knowledge, experience and a database full of play groups across Merseyside ensuring they can “support new groups.”