Gatherings

Our gatherings (listed below) are open to all who resonate with, or are curious about, our guiding principles and would like to be part of a wider community. Gatherings may include play dates; workshops; meals; field trips; reflective events where we wonder about an interesting topic together; opportunities to refresh and recharge; and simply spending time in the park.

To enquire about any of the events, or to join the WhatsApp group, email atplayheap@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events:

RIDDLE & REASON

Alternate Fridays – 9^th January, 23^rd January and 6^th February 2026 – 2pm to 3.30pm – Whitchurch, Cardiff

Join us as we play with maths, engaging with it as a beautiful and creative practice – exploring ideas, following our interest, and problem-solving together. There are no wrong answers, only invitations to curiosity and jumping-off points into new trains of thought. Although we will develop maths skills and touch on topics that arise in typical maths curricula (Key Stages 2–4), this isn’t a maths lesson. Rather, we hope it will help participants to find the joy in maths and build their own individual relationship with it.

This half term, the loose theme is geometry. We will provide activities, and we warmly invite you to bring your own ideas and questions too!

These sessions are for children who are curious and creative, and who can engage for approximately an hour in interesting group conversation. We have found that the sessions have been most engaging for 9–13 year olds, but please do not be put off if you have an interested young person outside that range.

We understand some bodies need to move to think, and other people will need other forms of support, and this will be happily accommodated. If needed, we should be able to provide one designated quieter room.

Parents must be present in the building. They are not required to engage with the session, but are very welcome to.

To help us cover the cost of the building, we ask for a contribution per session of £6 for the first child, £3 for the next sibling, and £1 for any further siblings – but please get in touch if this is difficult, as we would not like cost to prevent a child from attending.

Numbers are limited. New attendees can reach us by email on atplayheap@gmail.com for further information and to sign up.

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Previous Events:

RIDDLE & REASON

Join us for a pilot run of Riddle & Reason – a club where we engage playfully with maths, logic and wider creative energies. There might be a place for workbooks and drills – but it isn’t here! Instead, we will play with ideas, problem-solve together, explore interesting concepts, and engage brains and bodies. There are no wrong answers, just invitations to curiosity and jumping-off points into new trains of thought … and there won’t even always be numbers!

These sessions are for children who are curious and creative, and who can engage for approximately an hour in interesting group conversation. (We understand some bodies need to move to think, and some kids will need other forms of support, and this will be happily accommodated.)

The pilot runs on Tuesdays 11th November, 25th November and 9th December, 2pm-4pm, in Roath, Cardiff. Parents will need to be present in the building, and are welcome to join in but need not be engaged in the session.

Spaces are very limited. Please sign up only if you can manage all three dates.

£10 per child (total for all three sessions) to cover resources.

Enquire by emailing atplayheap@gmail.com; please let us know your child’s age and any particular ways we can support them to access the group.

LET’S MAKE!

23rd October 2025 – 11.45am to 3pm (Scout hall, North Cardiff)

Join us from 11.45am if you’d like to eat lunch together (bring your own picnic) and have a play, and then from 12.30pm, get stuck in with one of our crafting spaces –

(weather permitting) use real woodworking tools to build owl/bird boxes or animal shapes;
create your own design with pyrography tools;
let your imagination run free on giant cardboard constructions using makedo tools (www.make.do);
build with Magna-Tiles.

Parents/carers remain responsible for their children at all times at this event. The woodworking and pyrography is open to kids aged 6+; kids must be accompanied by a parent/carer who can provide support as required. Makedo (cardboard construction) is suitable for kids aged 5+.

Spaces are limited. Please email atplayheap@gmail.com to sign up (and get more info about the location), specifying whether you’d like to work with wood or cardboard.

We do not want financial means to prevent anyone from joining us, but if you are able, we invite you to make a contribution of £3-6 per child (at your discretion) towards the costs of the day. Please bring cash.

LET’S BUILD!

25th September 2025 – 11.45am to 3pm (Scout hall, North Cardiff)

Join us from 11.45am for lunch (bring your own picnic) and a play, and then from 12.30pm, get stuck in with one of our building spaces – construct a pallet climbing frame using real woodworking tools, or let your imagination run free on giant cardboard constructions using makedo tools (www.make.do).

Parents/carers remain responsible for their children at all times at this event. The wood workshop is open to kids aged 6+; 6-8 year olds (and anyone else who needs the support) must be accompanied by a hands-on parent/carer. Makedo (cardboard construction) is suitable for kids aged 5+.

Spaces are limited. Please email atplayheap@gmail.com to sign up (and get more info about the location), specifying whether you’d like to work with wood or cardboard.