How an inner city adventure playground is challenging stereotypes

A girls-only coding club not only provides participants with a chance to learn new skills but also has the potential to open up job opportunities for the future.

It is one of the latest initiatives by Felix Road Adventure Playground, a place that has been central to east Bristol for the past 51 years and continues to adapt to its surroundings. There are over 28 different ethnicities represented at the playground.

Creating equal play and skill-sharing opportunities is a focus for Felix Road, which launched the coding club a year ago, following on from the success of its all-girls play sessions.

“We noticed in mixed-gender settings, certain activities like the football pitches were dominated by the boys. They weren’t allowing the girls to join, or the girls didn’t feel comfortable joining. We needed to provide an opportunity where the girls could enjoy the playground without the boys there,” said Jaiya, one of the workers facilitating the empowering space.

Speaking about the importance of creating dedicated sessions for girls, she continued: “The girls’ sessions allow them to talk about issues without boys around. I’ve overheard conversations about mental health and girls navigating their culture’s traditional paths.”

Creating equal play and skill-sharing opportunities is a focus for Felix Road Adventure Playground – photo: Eastside Community Trust

No males are present at the sessions, which are facilitated by female staff members. This means the girls are free to take off their hijabs, able to enjoy the full freedom of the adventure playground without having to think about being around men.

Jaiya said: “A lot of the girls don’t have gardens, the adventure playground has become their garden. It’s their go-to hangout space. They could live in overcrowded, high-rise buildings, so this is a real chance for them to let off steam.

“Sometimes in the mixed-gender sessions we see the girls try and access activities like rollerblading. They will often be interrupted by the boys, who might take the rollerblades, or ask to swap use of them. It’s great for the girls to know they have a time and space where they can try activities without the influence of the boys.”

The coding group was set up as part of the playground’s wider aim to challenge stereotypes, which sees the girls learn carpentry and playground building techniques, have water fights and create bug hotels, among other activities.

“The girls are always keen to stay for the coding club,” said Jaiya.

“I think, because we’re in one of the most deprived areas of Bristol, not everyone has access to a computer or a phone at home. For some of the girls it means they get to play on the computer for an hour. The only other time they might have computer access is during their breaks at school.

“Another reason for this keenness might be they could be the only girls in their family, apart from their mothers, they might have several brothers. This is a chance for them to spend time among a large group of females.”

Speaking on why the girls love to go to the coding classes, Jaiya added: “It allows them to learn something new every week. In the long run, it opens doors. There aren’t a lot of female workers in the industry full stop, let alone from deprived areas.”

Andy Leake is reporting on the Lawrence Hill community as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo: Felix Road Adventure Playground 

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