Creating a Pathway To Play may be the answer for the new government

The Association of Play Industries (API) is reaching out to the newly elected Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and key Government Ministers, advocating for significant investment in public playgrounds to help them fulfil their manifesto promises.

Dr Amanda Gummer, Chair of the API, is formally requesting meetings with the Prime Minister, Health Minister, Education Minister and the Minister for Housing, Communities & Local Government, to discuss the urgent need for policy changes that prioritise universal access to community play opportunities for all children and create a Pathway To Play.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Gummer emphasises the critical importance of outdoor play for children's physical, emotional and social development.

Highlighting research showing a drastic reduction in children's outdoor play compared to previous generations, Dr Gummer says: "Outdoor play is an essential aspect of childhood and public playgrounds are the number one location for children’s outdoor play. However, policy oversight has led to inadequate provision of dedicated play spaces, resulting in children spending more time indoors, alone, sedentary and on their screens.

“Urgent change is needed to reverse rising childhood obesity and mental health problems.”

The API's Pathway to Play campaign draws attention to the alarming trend of playground closures due to insufficient funding. Research shows that one in three children in Britain lack access to nearby playgrounds, exacerbated by local authorities' budget constraints.

The campaign calls on the government to:

• Conduct a national audit to assess the quantity, quality, and location of public playgrounds.
• Ensure long-term sustainability by providing dedicated funding for the installation and upkeep of free-to-use community play spaces.
• Integrate outdoor learning into the National Curriculum and fund school play spaces and equipment to increase physical activity levels in schools.
  

The API's campaign also highlights the significant disparity in children's access to public play areas across the UK, with urban areas and disadvantaged communities being the most affected.

Additionally, many playgrounds are not accessible to disabled children, further excluding them from the benefits of outdoor play.

The API seeks to collaborate with the Government to prioritise outdoor play as a non-negotiable aspect of childhood development.

“Investing in high-quality, accessible public playgrounds is a modest measure that would yield significant health benefits for children,” says Dr Gummer.

“We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss how we can work together to ensure all children, regardless of their background or location, have access to the benefits of outdoor play."