The Playwork Foundation

Playing Out CIC formally closed on 31 March 2026, bringing seventeen years of activism, community organising and policy influence to a dignified close.

In their final message to supporters, the team wrote that they were contacting “one last time to say thank you and goodbye” while emphasising that “the movement for children’s freedom and right to play out is alive, well and growing.”

Co-founders Alice Ferguson and Ingrid Skeels offered a powerful reflection as they “prepare to turn out the lights at Playing Out CIC”, expressing gratitude for the activism, collaboration and policy change driven by thousands of residents, practitioners and allies.

One of Playing Out’s final major contributions is the publication of Streets for Play, Streets for Freedom, authored by Alice Ferguson and Tim Gill. The report argues for a radical reframing of transport and street policy in England through a “child lens”, prioritising those most affected yet least considered in planning.

The email summarises the case succinctly: creating streets safe for children to “play, walk and wheel would save children’s lives, restore children’s freedom and transform children’s wellbeing”.

The report includes Ten Good Reasons for adopting this approach and is intended as a tool for influencing local and national decision-makers.

A Refreshed Website for the Future

Although the CIC has closed, the Playing Out website has been rebuilt to serve as a long-term resource hub. The team describe the original site as “aged about 100 in website years” and note that the new platform is designed to support the next generation of change-makers.

The site remains familiar but clearer, more navigable and future-proofed.

Beyond the CIC

Two important networks will continue independently:

1. The Play Streets Network

Hosted by Lucy Colbeck and Alison Stenning, this network offers:

• Monthly email updates
• Optional monthly Zoom forums
• Peer learning and shared practice

Sign up for the network by clicking here.

2. The Parent/Resident Facebook Group

A long-standing, friendly space for parents and residents to connect around play streets and playing out.

You can find the group on Facebook by clicking here.

Not The End

The email closes with a reminder from international allies: “We’re just at the beginning – things will grow and grow – as a system, we all have a role to support children’s right to get outside and play”.

You can also keep tabs on Alice Ferguson and Ingrid Skeels on their LinkedIn profiles.

The Adventure Playground Network is welcoming Angus Gorrie from Outsiders: Play Advocates today from 11:30am GMT to share insights from their forthcoming book Tales from the Playground.

The book captures stories, reflections, and lessons from play spaces that continue to inspire practitioners and advocates across the sector. Hear about the development of the book – from pen to print – and about how adventure playgrounds are shaping up down under.

How to Join

The meeting will run from 11:30am to 1:30pm GMT and is open to all adventure playgrounds, playworkers, and advocates. You do not need to be a member of The Playwork Foundation to attend.

• Zoom link: Join here
• Meeting ID: 838 5272 0226
• Passcode: 650004

No pre‑registration is required, so please feel free to share the details with colleagues, volunteers, or anyone with an interest in playwork and adventure playgrounds.

Why Attend?

• Hear directly from Angus Gorrie about the themes and stories behind Tales from the Playground.
• Connect with fellow advocates and practitioners in the adventure playground community.
• Contribute to ongoing conversations about the role of adventure playgrounds and playwork in shaping children’s experiences and opportunities.

We look forward to seeing many of you online today and to continuing the dialogue that strengthens our collective voice for play.

Children’s Voices in Ireland

This autumn saw the publication of the Play in Ireland Summary Report 2025, a collaboration between PlayBoard NI and the National Childhood Network.

Drawing on the views of 144 children and young people across the Republic, the report paints a familiar picture: play is cherished, but time and space are in short supply.

• 93% said play is important in their lives.
• Nearly half felt they didn’t have enough time to play.
• Four in ten said there were very few places to play locally.

Traffic, safety concerns, and the absence of peers nearby were recurring barriers. The message is clear: children want more time, more spaces, and safer environments to play.

What Children Say About Play in Wales

Just a few weeks later, Play Wales released its third national analysis of the Play Satisfaction Survey, capturing the voices of almost 8,000 children and teenagers. The findings echo those from the Republic of Ireland, but on a much larger scale.

Children in Wales told us that while most are satisfied with their opportunities, a significant minority are not. Almost a quarter said they don’t have enough time to play, and disabled children in particular reported much lower satisfaction with the spaces available to them.

The parallels between the two reports are striking: whether in Dinbych or Dublin, children are asking for the same things – more time, more freedom, and more inclusive spaces.

🔗 Read the Play Wales report

Policy and Planning in Westminster

Meanwhile, the House of Commons Library published a substantial briefing on children, young people and the built environment. It highlights the decline in unaccompanied play, the rise of an “anti‑play culture”, and the need for planning reforms that put children’s rights at the centre of design.

🔗 Play England summary
🔗 Full briefing

Conferences all over!

October was certainly conference season. In Northern Ireland, PlayBoard NI hosted a regional gathering on the future of school‑age childcare. The event celebrated progress, shared best practice, and reaffirmed the role of play as central to quality provision. Feedback was unanimous: participants found it both relevant and inspiring.

Just days later, Play Wales held its national conference in Cardiff under the banner Getting it Right for Children. The Playwork Foundation was there, alongside policymakers, practitioners, and international voices. Keynotes included Professor Philip Jaffé of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, who reminded us that play is not a luxury but a right.

Both conferences emphasised the similar themes: the need for inclusive spaces, the importance of listening to children’s voices, and the urgency of embedding play in wider policy agendas. A reminder that across these islands, the challenges and the solutions are shared.

Play Scotland’s AGM

Not to be outdone, Play Scotland’s AGM brought together parents, practitioners, and policymakers under the theme Playful Parents, Practitioners, and Places. The event launched Scotland’s new Play Vision Statement and Action Plan, while celebrating champions of inclusive practice.

🔗 Read the highlights

This year’s Annual Open Meeting will be our last. That’s because we’re changing…

As of 14th September 2025, The Playwork Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) based on the Association Model.

What does that mean?

And why have we done it?

One change is that, from next year (2026), we will now host an Annual General Meeting (AGM) – just like other charities – which will formally replace the Annual Open Meetings we’ve hosted in recent years.

We’ll walk through the rest of the changes tomorrow, and explore what this means for playworkers in the wild. But in the meantime, Trustees Simon Rix and Penny Wilson have created this infographic to help explain the essentials:

🗓 What else can you expect at tomorrow’s meeting?

• Updates from the National Play Organisations
• A look at what we’ve been doing
• A preview of what’s coming next
• And most importantly – how you can help shape the future of The Playwork Foundation and playwork across these islands

To join us, simply click the link or enter the meeting ID and code below from 10am BST tomorrow:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86551544050?pwd=DglsVhJ07eFtjXTFJ01bZ5isb0uCRh.1

Meeting ID: 865 5154 4050

Passcode: 901504

We hope to see you there!

You can read our new constitution and our current Standing Orders below:

September 5th marks the UN International Day of Charity – an opportunity to recognise the power of generosity, solidarity and volunteering create more inclusive and resilient societies.

For playwork, this is far from an abstract idea. Many playwork providers are run by charities or community groups, powered by volunteers and sustained by the goodwill of local people. Though it shouldn’t be that way, communities step in where public services are thin, creating opportunities for children to play and communities to come together.

But the charitable and voluntary foundations of our sector are not just about filling gaps. They are about changing the system itself – ensuring play is recognised, resourced, and protected as a right for children and young people.

Here’s just some of the great work that’s been taking place across these islands over the last few weeks to affect such change:

UK Playwork NOS Consortium

In work that will impact playwork training and qualifications across the four nations, an update has been published on work to review the Playwork National Occupational Standards are undergoing a comprehensive, review led by the UK Playwork NOS Consortium. The Playwork Foundation are proud to be a part of this process, which has so far produced a draft functional map, started redrafting the standards with clearer, more consistent language, and strengthened links to related sectors such as childcare and social services. Wider sector consultation on the draft NOS is expected in late 2025 / early 2026, so be sure to take part when the time comes.

Play in Healthcare

In Wales, a new Focus on Play in Healthcare briefing from Play Wales highlights the vital role of play in hospitals, hospices, and other healthcare settings, both as a children’s right under Article 31 of the UNCRC and as a proven contributor to health, wellbeing, and recovery. Drawing on research, case studies, and national guidance, it shows how play can reduce anxiety and pain, speed recovery, improve trust between children and healthcare staff, and even save costs for the NHS.

A New Chapter for Scotland

In Scotland, Getting it Right for Play: A New Chapter updates Play Scotland’s national toolkit for assessing and improving outdoor play opportunities. Grounded in children’s right to play under the UNCRC and aligned with legal duties on Play Sufficiency Assessments introduced in 2023, it gives local authorities and communities practical tools to measure quality, accessibility, and inclusion – and to plan improvements informed by children’s voices. It’s a practical example of policy, legislation, and community engagement working together to make play a lived reality for every child.

A chance to celebrate in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, School‑Age Childcare: The Journey – The Future is set to bring together practitioners, managers, and setting owners later this month for a morning of celebration and practical inspiration. The event will explore themes such as supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing through play, making inclusive practice playful, and unlocking the “magic” of outdoor play. It will also focus on building stronger links with further education to grow the workforce, reflecting the sector’s dual role in delivering quality provision now and shaping its sustainability for the future.

It all starts with play!

The most recent advancement in systemic change came in England this week as the inaugural meeting of the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play convened just this Tuesday. Bringing together MPs, peers, and sector leaders, the meeting set out the group’s mission: to champion every child’s right to play, protect play spaces, and ensure play is embedded in public life.

This follows headway in Westminster Parliament with the Play Sufficiency Amendment – a proposal that would, for the first time, establish a Play Sufficiency Duty in England. Modelled on existing legislation in Wales and Scotland, the amendment would embed Play Sufficiency Assessments into local planning, require developers to deliver high-quality, inclusive play spaces, and prevent the net loss of play provision through development. It’s a practical, no‑cost change in law that could transform the way play is valued and protected – but only if it’s backed with the resources and political will to make it real.

This UN International Day of Charity, we’re reminded that generosity – whether in time, resources, or spirit – is a powerful force. But in playwork, it’s also a lever for wholesale change for children of this generation and the next. Every hour volunteered, every community volunteer, and every act of advocacy builds towards a future where play is not a luxury, but a guaranteed right.

Share your stories of advocacy, community action and volunteering by joining us for Playwork in Progress – every Friday from 3pm.