Membership Spotlight highlights the work of our member organisations and outlines how other individuals and NGOs can support them. We are shining the light on Play Scotland ahead of International Day of Play. Play Scotland have been a member of Together for well over ten years.

Play opens up a whole world of possibilities. That’s why the United Nations General Assembly adopted an annual International Day of Play, on the 11th of June. This is because they believe every child can reach their full potential, with the time, space and access to play. Use the hashtag #InternationalDayOfPlay.

Tell us about the work of your organisation in Scotland.

Play Scotland is the leading organisation in Scotland dedicated to the development and promotion of play for children and young people. Established in 1998, the charity has spent over 25 years advocating for children’s right to play and advancing the play agenda.

All children need and have a right to play. Play is vital for children’s health, wellbeing and happiness – particularly for children facing barriers like discrimination and exclusion. ‘Play is a fundamental and vital dimension of the pleasure of childhood, as well as an essential component of physical, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual development.’ General Comment 17, UNCRC.

So, what is play? Some children say it is what they do when parents stop telling them what to do! Play is what children naturally do when given freedom, time, and space. All children and young people (and adults!) need to play. And play is a powerful builder of happy, healthy, capable children. It also benefits families, communities and society.

At Play Scotland, we are passionate about ensuring that all children have opportunities to play freely at home and near where they live. Play is a social and spatial justice issue; not every child is able to enjoy quality and accessible and challenging outdoor play spaces. We are committed to highlighting and overcoming these barriers and in doing so we can improve children’s health and wellbeing and educational attainment.

Our fabulous staff team of 10, has a diverse range of skills and experience and is led by an incredibly active Board of Directors.

What projects are you currently working on? 

Play Scotland works to deliver the national Play Strategy vision which values play as a life-enhancing daily experience for all our children and young people. Our project work spans all the Play Strategy domains and aims to provide increased and enhanced play opportunities at home, in early learning childcare and school, and in the community.

• Playful campaigns for everyone to join in
• First ever United Nations International Day of Play 11^th June
• UK Playday 7^th August Theme : Play – the culture of childhood
  Supporting play, fun, and friendships
• “Playworkers Do Playwork” campaign, celebrating the important work that Playworkers do, and we’d love for you to get involved! See the ways to join the campaign.

• Play at Home: We provide lots of free online resources for families including our Play Well Packs and play ideas booklets for tips and hints in all weathers and for every season.
• Play in ELC and School:  Our initiatives include promoting play in educational settings through our Play Pedagogy Award, and the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) programme both of which encourage schools to develop and embrace play opportunities through self-evaluation and improvement.
• Play in the Community: Through our work there is now a legal duty on planning bodies to ensure that play spaces are assessed and that children can participate in planning for play. Our Play Sufficiency Assessments projects ensure that children and young people’s voices help shape local development plans, and supporting Local Authorities to create play friendly communities.
  We also engage with children, families and communities through Place Standard Tools for children and young people that we co- developed for the Scottish Government.
  In Dundee the Outdoor Community Play project with delivery partner Scrapantics and funded by Inspiring Scotland has been a phenomenal success for children and families in challenging spaces and includes a massive totem pole construction!  
• Training: We deliver training on play to parents, teachers and a wide range of professionals, including the unusual suspects whose strategic decisions can have a huge impact on children’s play opportunities.
• Playwork: Play Scotland has established Playwork Scotland to support employers and playwork providers.
  And we helped create the UK Playwork NOS Consortium, which has just been successful in its bid to review the National Occupational Standards for Playwork in 2024/5.
• Play Strategy Review: Play Scotland chairs the External Group of the Play Strategy Review for Scottish Government, and we are currently sharing our expertise on strategic planning for play internationally in Ireland, Belgium, Romania and India. 

How can children and young people make their views heard to influence your work? 

Our commitment to listening to children’s voices is at the heart of what we do and their views shape our projects and initiatives. We coproduce many of our Tools with children and young people and their input shapes findings in Play Sufficiency Assessments and Place Standard Engagements. We regularly conduct surveys, focus groups, and interactive sessions to gather feedback directly from young people. We are most proud of facilitating over 1,000 children and young people to respond to the national consultation on National Planning Framework 4- that was amazing! And because of their efforts, we now have three policy areas that refer to play and active travel in NPF4.

We published the State of Play Report in 2023 and children told us their hopes and practical solutions:

1. More places for play – these can be informal and natural spaces as well as formal spaces.
2. Better access to play spaces – children and young people need to be able to get to where they want to play.
3. Fewer cars, slower traffic – the danger posed by cars is real, so reducing or calming traffic is vital.
4. Opportunities for active travel – children and young people want to walk and cycle, this gives them freedom.
5. Age-appropriate facilities – most playparks are designed for young children; where will older children play?
6. Maintain and repair – children want to be able to use what is there already.
7. Shelter – shelter makes it easier to be outside in bad or unpredictable weather
8. Lighting – lighting makes spaces safer for everyone.
9. More inclusive places to play – safe, accessible, and inclusive play spaces for children and young people with additional support needs.

Does your organisation influence policy development on issues affecting children and young people? 

Play Scotland plays a significant role in influencing policy development. We actively promote the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly Article 31, which enshrines the child’s right to play and actively supported the Together campaign for the  UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

Play Scotland successfully championed the Play Sufficiency Duty in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 and advised on the regulations and guidance.  

By reviewing and updating Scotland’s Play Strategy, we are tackling the social justice issues of play and integrating play into policies and actions that impact on children’s health and wellbeing, education and planning.

Play Scotland also:

• advised the Scottish Government on the Principles for the £60 million Playground Renewal Programme
• chaired the UK Inclusive Play Statement
• hosted the International seminar promoting Benefit- Risk Assessment approaches to playgrounds and every day play adventures

Our advocacy efforts focus on ensuring that play is recognised as a vital component of children’s childhood and that making children’s right to play real makes communities better places for us all to enjoy!

How can other organisations or individuals get involved or support your work? 

Organisations and individuals can support Play Scotland by becoming a Play Scotland Member, membership is free!  Membership benefits include discounts on training courses, workshops and networking events, as well as regular e-updates, newsletters and information on consultations. Members also have the opportunity to connect with others in the wider network of play provision across the four nations and beyond and have the opportunity to provide input into local and national policy, helping shape the future of play in Scotland.  

Sign-Up and Become a Member (Individual or Organisational)

• Would you like to find out further information about joining Together’s Membership?  Then visit our website page ‘Become a Member’ for further information.
• Are you a Together organisational member and would like to collaborate for a Membership Spotlight? Email: caitlin@togetherscotland.org.uk

#RightsOnTrack

• Our #RightsOnTrack campaign will provide you more about our campaign and register to our mailing list.
• What is life really like for babies, children and young people across Scotland? Do you have a story to share? Together seeks children and young people’s stories for our next State of Children’s Rights Report 2024.

Donate To Us Today!

Donate to Together and help us to promote children’s rights in Scotland and improve the lives of all babies, children and young people.