Play England
Director: Adrian Voce
Play England was developed by the former
Children's Play Council (CPC) at NCB, supported by a major
children's play initiative of the Big Lottery Fund that ran from
2006 to 2011. This initiative invested more than £150m in
children's play across all local authority areas in England on the
basis of cross-cutting play strategies and the formation of local
play partnerships. One aim of this programme was the creation of
Play England as a sustainable national body for the play
sector.
In 2008 Play England was also appointed as the main national
delivery partner for the Labour Government’s Play Strategy which
invested a further estimated £220m into children's play and
established new benchmarks for planning, design, risk management
and the participation of local children and communities in these
processes. This role was succeeded by a new contract with the
Coalition Government, from 2010-11, to demonstrate effective ways
to engage communities in play provision.
Play England works to the strategic aims of a council of members
comprising local authority and voluntary sector play services, play
support bodies and playwork training providers, as well as
individual members. Its plans for the future include major
programmes to develop opportunities for children to play in nature,
in schools and in more child-friendly built environments. It will
also be developing its support for communities to be more involved
in developing and sustaining local play provision and is working
with the Mayor of London's office, the London 2012 Olympics
agencies and the relevant London Boroughs to secure a world class
children's play offer as a major feature of the Olympic Park
legacy. Play England is exploring with the Sector Skills Council
for playwork, Skillsactive, how to work together for the future
development of professional playwork.
Play England continues to provide local authorities and
community groups with support, advice and guidance via a range
of authoritative resources, seminars and events and is available
for bespoke support for play development anywhere in England.
For more information visit www.playengland.org.uk