Many of us have an important role to play in
creating more child-friendly public spaces.
This is partly because children play wherever they are. It could
be in a specially created play area, at school, inside a park, in a
local field or wood, or simply on the street.
Recognising this, Play Shaper professional development seminars
bring together senior managers, managers and professionals working
for, and with local authorities.
These include:
- planners
- developers
- landscape architects and designers
- highways and transport planners and engineers
- health professionals
- regeneration teams
- schools
- housing providers
- police
- parks and leisure providers
- community engagement teams
- voluntary and community sector organisations
Local authorities have an obligation to produce a Children and
Young People’s Plan for their area, including planning for high
quality play opportunities near where children live and spend their
time.
Primary Care Trusts are responsible for working strategically
with partners to improve the health of all the community, including
children; and the police lead on creating safer neighbourhoods for
all.
To make these plans a reality, we need an inter-departmental and
inter-agency approach.
By prioritising play, many of the national indicators that local
authorities are working towards can be addressed. These include:
increasing opportunities for children, reducing accidents,
increasing community satisfaction rates, and improving health
outcomes.
Back to top