Why get involved?

If you’re an individual or a community group, you’ll probably want to be involved because you’re concerned about the lack of local play provision, or you want to improve existing facilities and provision.

But there are plenty of other reasons, too. You may want to:

campaign for improvements in local play provision
be consulted on improving local play spaces
protect existing play space
maintain and develop safe play spaces
manage and provide your own play space for the community
be involved in traffic calming, safe routes and home zone schemes
deliver play opportunities for children through staffed play provision e.g. mobile play provision, holiday play schemes, play rangers projects or adventure playgrounds.

Understanding play

Useful resources

Best Play: What play provision should do for children: This joint publication from the National Playing Fields Association, PLAYLINK and the former Children’s Play Council, looks at the benefits of play for children, the consequences of play deprivation, play types and the criteria for an enriched play environment.
Making the case for play: A report produced by Play England based on evidence and research for policy makers to ensure all children have good access to play facilities.
Play for a Change: Play, Policy and Practice: A review of contemporary perspectives: A Play England publication providing a comprehensive review of research evidence underpinning current thinking on play. It is available to download in individual chapters, as a research summary or a 4-page briefing paper.
Play, naturally: A review of children’s natural play: A Play England research review on the benefits of play to children’s health and well-being and how to compensate for the loss of natural space.