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.
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.
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
Seren in the Community playscheme in Adamsdown, Cardiff
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Volunteers renovating Pentre Gwyn Community Centre, Wrecsam
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.
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.
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.
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.
In the next week or so, adventure playgrounds in Great Britain should receive an email from our friends and colleagues at Roanoke College, Virginia, USA, inviting them to participate in a survey to support and celebrate adventure playgrounds across Great Britain.
Roanoke College’s Data, Communities, and Playgrounds (DCPg) Project has developed a new interactive map based on data collated by London Play, Play England, The Playwork Foundation and individual volunteers including Jackie Boldon and Mick Conway. For more information about the origins of our list, visit playwork.foundation/apliststory.
This new combined list formed the foundation of Roanoke College’s subsequent desktop research, which gathered publicly available information to create a unique profile for each adventure playground to be featured on the StoryMap.
Now, we need the help of adventure playgrounds to validate and improve the information about their sites. There will also be the opportunity to add extra details and resources to enrich each adventure playground’s profile.
Why get involved?
💸 Participation is completely free – Roanoke College will host and update the map annually 📍 Put your adventure playground on the map (literally!) 🌍 Be part of the “live” picture of adventure playgrounds across Great Britain 🤝 Connect and collaborate with other adventure playgrounds 📣 Share your listing with your communities, funders, supporters, and boards ⏱ The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete
The StoryMap is expected to go live this Autumn 2025. Once it’s launched, we’ll share the link with the Adventure Playground Network and post it on our website – and from there, it’s free to share far and wide!
If you’re an adventure playground and don’t receive an email within the next week, please contact PCRGroup@roanoke.edu to request it again.
The child wearing is was confident and chatty. She was laughing and climbing and joking with her mates. And all the while, she was talking to us, a group of visiting adults, showing us how the site works and what children do there.
She really belonged there on that Playground. Really belonged. She was in her element. She was like sunshine bouncing off rippling water. She was happy with who she was.
I told her I liked her hoodie and asked if I could take a picture. She was happy with that, very happy. I said I wanted to have a picture without her face in it, so I could share it with random people and tell them the story of her hoodie. She laughed and we said goodbye. Then she went on playing.
Join us on Fridays at 3pm for Playwork in Progress – a reflective practice conversation for Playworkers all over the world.
Bring your own story.
Or stories.
We love to hear your stories.
This is how we learn, from our source material. From children.
Penny Wilson is a Trustee of The Playwork Foundation and voluntarily chairs Playwork in Progress – a free weekly online reflective practice session for playworkers anywhere in the world. This usually takes place each week on a Friday afternoon 3-5pm BST (until 26/10/25 when it will revert to GMT).
PETC England is looking for its next Chair! If you’re passionate about playwork training and ready to influence its future, this is your chance to step into a crucial leadership role.
The Playwork Education and Training Council for England (PETC England) plays a pivotal role in shaping playwork training, and qualifications. Bringing together sector leaders, trainers, employers, and practitioners, the council drives discussions on the big challenges and opportunities facing playwork in England. With secretariat support from The Playwork Foundation, PETC England aims to ensure that the playwork workforce has a strong, united voice in policy development, best practice sharing, and professional standards.
Bringing the Sector Together
One of the Chair’s responsibilities is to ensure PETC England remains a dynamic and effective platform for collaboration. This includes fostering productive engagement with Playwork Education and Training Councils in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, ensuring transnational learning and the sharing of best practices.
Beyond leading discussions, the Chair supports the council in taking action – helping to translate ideas into progress, whether in qualification development, employer engagement, or responding to emerging challenges within the sector.
The Right Fit?
Individuals with expertise in playwork, qualifications development, employer perspectives, or FE/HE training environments are well-placed to contribute to PETC England’s leadership. The Chair should be confident in facilitating discussions, balancing diverse viewpoints, and ensuring structured dialogue leads to meaningful outcomes.
Expressions of interest are now open for PETC England’s Chair position, with applications invited until 27/06/25.
Play England describe the ideal candidate as having experience and knowledge of:
The playwork sector
Training and qualifications in England, including further and higher education
The needs of playwork employers
The development and accreditation of qualifications
They also describe the responsibilities as including:
Chairing 2-4 online meetings per year
Being unbiased in the role of chair
Communicating with other PETCs across the UK
Following-up on actions from meetings
Those interested in taking on this key leadership role should submit a statement of interest and a CV to PETC@playengland.org.uk by 27/06/25.
Job Description and Terms of Reference for PETC England below:
The opportunity to lead PETC England is more than just chairing meetings – it’s about making a lasting impact on the future of playwork education and training. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and be part of a sector-wide effort to ensure playwork professionals receive high-quality training, recognition, and support.
The second annual International Day of Play took place on Wednesday this week. The aim is to highlight play as not merely a leisurely activity but a human right – enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In her 2025 message, Robyn Monro Miler, President of the International Play Association, reminded us of this right but also pointed to opportunities for children to play being dependent upon where they live, their gender, their abilities, their families and their communites.
Robyn goes further to suggest that the International Day of Play is not merely a celebration or an opportunity to raise awareness, it is a day of reflection. A day to recognise the barriers to play.
Who in your community does not have the opportunity to play every day?
What are the barriers to children playing every day in your community?
And who are the people in your community you can work with to remove those barriers?
And finally, what action can you take together to ensure that all children not only have the right to play, but can play every day?
International Day of Play was also the launch of the much-anticipated final report of the Raising the Nation Play Commission which was launched a year ago by Anne Longfield and Paul Lindley to campaign for children’s right to play in England.
Play England hailed the report as “a call to arms”, putting its full support into the core asks and drawing the parallels to their own 2024 manifesto and Open Letter to Government. With participation by Eugene Minogue, Play England’s Executive Director, and a number of Board member as Commissioners, it is not surprising that the blueprint is aligned with their new 10-year strategy, It All Starts with Play!
In a blog from Play Scotland’s Chair, the report was framed as “a real milestone for play in England” and an opportunity for England to “to seek to align with so many of our successes” [in Scotland], including their 2019 Statutory Play Sufficiency Duty.
PlayBoard Northern Ireland’s CEO, Alan Herron, attended the House of Lords launch and lamented that “whilst the report is England-focused, Northern Ireland faces similar challenges” to those described in the report.
National Play Strategy for England – A 10-year, cross-government plan, led by a dedicated Minister for Play in Westminster.
Statutory Play Sufficiency Duty – A duty on every local authority in England to audit, report on and secure sufficient play opportunities.
Annual Play Fund (£125 m) – A ring-fenced budget (potentially from sugar-levy revenues and unspent developer contributions) to sustain playgrounds, street playschemes and playworkers.
Planning Policy Reform – Strengthen the National Planning Policy Framework in England to mandate play-friendly design in all new developments and ban “No Ball Games” signs.
Play in Education – Embed play across the primary curriculum; guarantee daily, protected play times; ban smartphones during the school day; promote “always-active” uniforms.
Digital Play Safeguards – Raise the digital age of consent to 16; prohibit “addictive-by-design” features in products marketed to children; and a national digital-detox campaign.
Child-Rights Protections – Incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law; outlaw any discrimination that blocks a child’s access to play.
Play-Focused Family Hubs – Roll out play-first Family Hubs with “parent play champions”, ensuring every family can access screen-free play support.
Community Play Services – Expand street-play permits, playranger patrols, mobile play buses and toy libraries, prioritising low-play and high-poverty areas.
Play and Public Health – Establish a “play-on-prescription” pilot in the English NHS; and embed play support within mental-health and healthy-weight programmes.
Parental Engagement Campaign – Government-led information campaign on why play is important and how parents and carers can help children play safely every day.
Cross-Sector Leadership – Form an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play, backed by clear accountability across Transport, Housing, Education, Health and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
Jane Dodd MS and supporters in front of the Senedd
Back in 2010, Wales became the first UK nation to introduce a statutory Play Sufficiency Duty through the Children & Families Measure 2010.
In the same vein, Wales was first in the UK to place children’s rights on the statute book with Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 requiring Welsh Ministers to give “due regard” to Part 1 of the UNCRC whenever they make or review legislation and policy.
Whilst this established mechanisms such as children’s rights impact assessments, it stopped short of giving children a direct court-enforceable right unlike Scotland’s UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 which allows enforcement of UNCRC rights in Scottish courts.
However, a week before International Day of Play, Bil Pob Plentyn (“A Bill/Law for Every Child”) – a legislative proposal calling on the Senedd to enshrine a Right for Every Child in Welsh law – was launched on the steps of the Welsh Parliament by Jane Dodds MS. If passed, the Bill would close that gap and ensure that every every child in Wales has a legal right to be heard, protected and supported.
Meanwhile, the Isle of Man’s One World Centre brings us back down to earth by using June 11 to remind us that in places like Gaza and Sudan, play is a distant dream under siege and displacement. Their social-media post linked the right to play with the right to safety, food, water and medical care, urging governments to uphold humanitarian law before anything else.
And, closer to home – reflecting on the IPA President’s address from the beginning of this article – I found it difficult to celebrate this International Day of Play.
A passionate playworker I know asked for nothing more than a few reasonable adjustments to accommodate their needs. Though adhered to at first, eventually they were met with offhand quips describing them as weird (amongst other things), quietly removed from their job without so much as a proper health assessment, and eventually hidden away and silenced.
That injustice underlines a painful truth: we can proclaim play as a right on paper, but unless our organisations match those words with genuine empathy, clear duties and real accountability, we fail both the children we serve and the very people who help to bring play to life. If Bil Pob Plentyn and other rights-based milestones are to have meaning, they must shield every playworker- as they should every child – from being punished for simply asking for things that bring them peace and enable them to share this world. Only then can we truly mark June 11th as more than a slogan, but as the start of real, everyday change.
The New Dawn light sculpture at the entrance of St. Steven’s Hall celebrating women’s right to vote
In evidence submitted to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Committee at the end of April this year, Play England put forward a comprehensive case to introduce a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025 that would require local authorities in England to secure sufficient play opportunities for children – effectively creating a Play Sufficiency Duty in England.
Yesterday, that vision moved closer to reality when Labour MP for Bournemouth East, Tom Hayes, formally tabled amendment NC82 to the Bill to enshrine this duty in law.
Big moment for play! 🛝
Working closely with @PlayEngland, @TomHayesBmouth MP has officially tabled an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. It calls for a statutory Play Sufficiency duty to be embedded in planning law.
In what Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, described as a “big moment for play”, the amendment constitutes the closest move towards a Play Sufficiency Duty in England.
So, what does the proposed clause say?
As outlined in Play England’s evidence submission, the clause would place a statutory duty on all local authorities in England to “so far as reasonably practicable, assess, secure, enhance, and protect sufficient opportunities for children’s play when exercising any of its planning functions”.
To do this, local authorities must:
Undertake and publish play sufficiency assessments
Evaluate and report on the quantity, quality, accessibility, inclusivity and integration of play opportunities
Incorporate the findings and recommendations of such assessments into local plans, relevant strategies, infrastructure planning, and development decisions
Deny planning permission that would result in a net loss of play spaces
Require new developments to provide high-quality, accessible, inclusive play opportunities
Consult regularly with children, families, communities, and play professionals regarding play provision
The clause also includes the following definitions:
“play” means activities undertaken by children and young people that are freely chosen, self-directed, and carried out following their own interests, in their own way, and for their own reasons
“play opportunities” include formal and informal play spaces, parks, open spaces, streets, schools, neighbourhood spaces, natural green areas, active travel routes, supervised play settings (including adventure playgrounds), and community recreation facilities;
“sufficient” means adequate in quantity, quality, accessibility, inclusivity, and integration within community infrastructure.”
With the launch of Play England’s new 10-year strategy – It All Starts With Play – in Westminster just a few weeks ago, the excitement and momentum around play in England is hard to ignore. But, the legislation isn’t over the line yet!
So far, the amendment has the backing of 48 Members of Westminster Parliament. But further explicit support from your Westminster MP will help us ensure that a play sufficiency duty in England becomes a reality.
However, time is of the essence as the amendment is due to be heard on Monday!
Is your MP’s name on the list below?
If not, here are some things you can do:
Contact your MP – Write an email explaining why the amendment is important to you and your community. Politicians receive mountains of correspondence, so adding the personal touch will make it stand out. Find out who is your local MP by visiting WriteToThem.com.
Contact other politicians – Garnering the support of other politicians, particularly from the same party, might also encourage your MP to back the amendment. You might approach your local Community Councillors/Parish Councillors and County Councillors. In Wales and Scotland, ask your Members of the Senedd (MSs) or Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) respectively to lobby their Westminster counterparts sharing the example of play sufficiency duty in those countries.
Attend constituency meetings – Attend you local MP’s surgeries and discuss the issue in person. Most MP’s have their own website or social media where such information will be available.
Engage your CLP – If you’re a Labour Party member, ask your local group to discuss (and support) the amendment.
Sponsors of the amendment as of 06/06/25 14:00:
London & South East England
Ms Polly Billington – East Thanet (Labour)
Natasha Irons – Croydon East (Labour)
Ms Stella Creasy – Walthamstow (Labour)
Daniel Francis – Bexleyheath and Crayford (Labour)
Dame Siobhain McDonagh – Mitcham and Morden (Labour)
Mr Calvin Bailey – Leyton and Wanstead (Labour)
David Burton-Sampson – Southend West and Leigh (Labour)
Tom Gordon – Harrogate and Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat)
It’s just a meeting. I can see why some may come that conclusion. But, when the Adventure Playground Network meet later today, it as a show of resilience from a sector that has been transforming communities for decades.
Anyone who has worked or spent time on an adventure playground will know that these places are much more than amphitheatres for locomotor play. As detailed Professor Ben Highmore and Dr Mike Wragg’s recent briefing, children are co-producers of the space. This essential “self-build” ethos empowering children and young people to create ownership of their community whilst also fostering creativity and independence.
Over the past 15 years, the playwork sector has faced unprecedented funding cuts and dwindling national support in England – a context explored in “Encouraging State of Playwork in the UK”. Though these reductions have been the death knell for many community projects, adventure playgrounds have emerged as remarkable examples of resilience. Their mixed funding models and reliance on resourceful “competent social actors” have allowed them to not only survive but, in some cases, thrive.
Today’s meeting is a testament to the commitment of those who believe that the benefits of free, child-led play far outweigh the short-sighted risks of a hyper risk-averse society.
The creation of the Adventure Playground Network for Great Britain and Northern Ireland stands as a powerful response to the challenges posed by diminishing local government budgets, rising insurance costs, and political disinvestment in Westminster. Born out of chance encounters and a shared vision, the Network is a democratic, non-hierarchical platform where ideas are exchanged and best practices disseminated.
Today, discussions build on previous meetings – from tackling insurance premium challenges to exploring evidence-based policy solutions – to further enhance the sustainability of these invaluable community assets.
In today’s session – Chaired by London Play’s Fiona Sutherland – our agenda includes:
Play ‘n’ Politics: What are your stories of political support (or not) for play where you are? It could be interactions with your local Community/Parish Councils, County Councils and Councillors, Members of Westminster (MPs), Holyrood (MSPs), Senedd (MSs) and Stormont Parliaments, or even Cabinet Ministers(!).
It All Starts With Play: News and views on the launch of Play England’s new 10-year strategy and a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play!
Play Commission: Reflections on the adventure playgrounds round-table plus an update on submissions
Today’s gathering is more than a routine meeting – it is a celebration of the people who make play. Whether you are a seasoned playworker, an emerging community leader, or a passionate advocate for children’s rights, your contributions are warmly welcomed.
As we look to the future, The Playwork Foundation remains committed to fostering inclusive spaces, advocating for robust playwork practice and policy, and encouraging initiatives that empower children. Together, we will ensure that the spirit of adventure playgrounds continues to inspire change.
The Playwork Foundation 
