active play
and wider government policy that addresses the barriers to this. In particular, we need our streets and neighbourhoods to be more child- friendly than car-friendly, which will take huge political will.
Q. Why is there growing appetite for more outdoor/street play? There is a huge and growing appetite to increase children’s opportunities for outdoor play, both from parents and policy-makers. Parents of my generation in particular are extremely concerned about the way things have changed since their own childhood and the damage this is doing to their children. In general, individuals feel powerless to change things, but the temporary play street model gives them a do-able, immediate way to give their children a taste of playing out on a regular basis. It is also a way of starting to change things in a deeper, longer-term way. Through building a sense of community and re-framing the street as a playable, shared space, this resident-led model actually re-builds the conditions needed to make street play a normal part of children’s lives again.
Q. How are you working with the DfT to make it easier for councils to put street play policies in place? We recently met with Jesse Norman MP, the Transport Minister responsible for walking and cycling, to ask for his support in making it easier for local authorities to adopt a street play policy. Many councils have already done so (57 so far and counting), but there is a lot of “wheel reinvention” and some councils are still reluctant, even where residents have been strongly campaigning for it. The minister was very supportive of the idea and the next step is working the DfT to produce some kind of guidance for councils to provide them with the confidence to support and promote street play.
Q. How do you feel about what you have achieved in street play over the last decade? I feel a mix of amazement and frustration! On one hand, it’s wonderful
that the Playing Out model has now spread to more than 800 streets across the UK and is being taken up all over the world. The fact that so many people are willing to put time and energy into making this happen just shows the widespread desire for change. Many thousands of children and adults have directly benefitted as a result, national media coverage has raised awareness of the issues and the movement is growing. I feel really proud of all this. But there is also an underlying frustration. Things are not changing nearly fast enough, the government is mostly ignoring the issue and in the meantime, a whole generation (or possibly two) of children are growing up without the vastly beneficial experience of having the freedom to play out where they live. This makes me sad and angry. I just hope that the Children’s Commissioner’s report is a step towards the radical political decisions needed to restore children’s right to play out.
www.playingout.net
Play Out’s Essential Street Play Training Day
What: The Playing Out street play model is resident-led, low-cost and simple, but it does require the right council policies and guidance, as well as good promotion and support for residents. The training day will share best practice for local authorities, community organisations and anyone interested in supporting resident-led street play in their area to get children more active, create more play opportunities, build stronger communities, tackle social isolation and encourage active citizenship
When: Tue 6 November 2018, 10:00 – 16:30
Where: The Moot Room, University of Bristol
Contact: Daniella Radice on 0117 953 7167,
daniella@playingout.net
pactfacilities.co.uk 37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41
