Play England

Play England appoints Dame Karen Buck as our new Independent Chair. Karen’s national policy and legislative experience strengthens our leadership at a pivotal moment for children’s play. Full announcement ➡️ playengland.org.uk/newsblog/play-… #ItAllStartsWithPlay

For the latest news and updates, follow us on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/playna… Get your free magazine subscription here: playnation.uk/subscribe/

Play England has submitted our response to @MHCLG consultations on reforms to national planning policy & guidance. These consultations follow Ministerial commitments in Parliament to strengthen national planning policy on play. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/play-… #ItAllStartsWithPlay

Playwork NOS consultation now open! The consortium is seeking your views on the draft standards for the roles of support playworker, playworker and playwork manager. The consultation closing date is 1 May 2026. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/playw… #Playwork #Playworkers #NOS

✍️ [OPINION] @EugeneMinogue, Executive Director of @PlayEngland: 'Strategic Play: 17 years on from England’s first National Play Strategy' 📣 Seventeen years ago the last Labour government launched England’s first, and only, National Play Strategy nonprofit.xarxanet.org/opinion/strate…

#ItAllStartsWithPlay!

Nothing makes me more angry as the local MP than padlocked, derelict playgrounds. Thank you @Victoria_Spratt for shining a light on the scandal unfolding in Hastings & Rye. @PlayEngland

@API_ChairUK on the panel this morning discussing "The power of play in a future education system" at the #YSTConference. Read our latest national survey revealing the state of outdoor play in schools across England: api-play.org/school-zone/ @YouthSportTrust @PlayEngland @playingout #ItAllStartsWithPlay #APIPlayZone #PlayIsLearning

Mum calls for mandatory accessible playgrounds in UK bbc.in/4r7L3eX

"Local #parks and #playgrounds are valuable spaces to get outside." @API_ChairUK Dr Amanda Gummer shares her top tips to get children moving and explains why it’s so important. bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-peo… #ItAllStartsWithPlay @CBeebiesHQ

£500,000 National Adventure Playground Fund launched! Adventure playgrounds in England can apply for unrestricted grants of £20k–£50k. Apply by 20 March 2026. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/50000… #ItAllStartsWithPlay #AdventurePlaygrounds #Playwork

This week is #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek! Play isn’t just fun - it’s vital for children’s mental health. It helps them manage stress, build confidence, and feel connected. Read our briefing: playengland.org.uk/s/Mental-Healt… childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk #CMHW2026 #ItAllStartsWithPlay!

Play England will hold an EGM on Mon 2 March at 15:00 Full details are available on our website, including how to register: playengland.org.uk/newsblog/play-… We’ll also share more on our 2026 AGM, incl. the inaugural National Play Conference and Awards on 8–9 Oct #ItAllStartsWithPlay!

This week is #CMHW2026 Did you know that 1 in 5 children face mental health challenges? Helping them make meaningful connections with others is key to prevent escalation and isolation. Find out more: childrenmentalhealthweek.org

‘The hidden cost of “deplaytion”’ - @NewStatesman Ban social media all you like – but don’t ignore their crap playgrounds newstatesman.com/politics/socie… Councils have long struggled to maintain their playgrounds or open new ones since budget cuts were imposed more than a decade and a half ago. In the UK, nearly 800 playgrounds closed between 2013 and 2023, and we’re still seeing the effects. From Leicester to Greenwich in south London, children are on the brink of losing beloved local adventure playgrounds because of council funding pressures. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/to-pl… Poorer play areas are part of this picture, as are overprotective parents, traffic, digital life and the more intensive school day. The [play] commission recommends a national play strategy from the government to address the problem. The last one was 18 years ago, before most adults owned a smartphone, let alone their kids. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/play-… In the most recent Budget, Rachel Reeves announced £18m to refurbish play areas. And for the first time, proposed revisions to national planning policy include the need to consider children in street and space design. playengland.org.uk/newsblog/play-… #ItAllStartsWithPlay! #EvrythingToPlayFor #PlaySufficiency #NationalPlayStrategy

Play matters and must remain a national priority. Last year we stood with @TomHayesBmouth & @PlayEngland at the launch of #ItAllStartsWithPlay & welcomed visits to HQ following the £18m investment in play. We captured Tom's visit exploring why play matters now more than ever.

Truly a joy to welcome constituents Hari and Sarah to Parliament earlier this month and tell their story about how therapeutic play is vital to children’s healthcare. Such positive engagement from Minister @AshleyDalton_MP.🧡

Four #Greenwich staffed #adventureplaygrounds will be downgraded or shut if the cabinet signs off proposals next Wednesday 28 Jan. Based on a flawed consultation and setting a dangerous precedent. Click the link and find out how to act now. londonplay.org.uk/our_news/an-up…

The latest issue of @PlayNationMag is now live! Published bi-monthly, the magazine focuses on the policies, people and places that help children, young people and families to play and be more active. 📰➡️ playengland.org.uk/newsblog/playn… #PlayNation #ItAllStartsWithPlay

Why @Sport_England’s Statutory Consultee Role Matters for Play playengland.org.uk/newsblog/why-s… We set out why Sport England’s statutory consultee role must be retained, reformed and extended to play. #ItAllStartsWithPlay #ProtectWhereWePlay #PlanningForPlay

✍️ [OPINION] Eugene Minogue (@EugeneMinogue), Executive Director of @PlayEngland: 'Strategic Play: 17 years on from England’s first National Play Strategy' nonprofit.xarxanet.org/opinion/strate…