Play sufficiency: a policy instrument everyone can get behind that makes play everyone's business
Ludicology
We promote an understanding of children’s play and how adults can improve children’s opportunities for playing.
Leeds commissioned our Play Sufficiency Package for Local Government Organisations 2 years ago. We mentored them, through their first play sufficiency assessment and the process of bringing together a play sufficiency partnership. Late last year their play sufficiency assessment and recommended priority areas were submitted for consideration by the executive committee. Two years of work paid dividends for the team and the children of Leeds as the committee adopted the report and Leeds became the first Local Authority in England to adopt Play sufficiency as a policy instrument. It was an absolute pleasure working with the team there and we are re-posting their press release in full because it's so bloomin good. Ludicology Child Friendly Leeds, Active Leeds
Senior councillors approve new play sufficiency priorities and appoint new Leeds Play Champion
Senior councillors have approved the development of a play sufficiency action plan and have appointed Councillor Fiona Venner as the city’s new play champion, at a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board this week (Wednesday 13 December).
Leeds is leading the way by being the first city in England to commit to delivering an action plan, designed to optimise play opportunities for children and young people across the entire city.
Understanding the importance of play to wellbeing, and how children and young people can be negatively affected by a ‘poverty of experience’, the council has committed to obtain a better understanding children’s experience of play.
The Leeds play sufficiency project is an ongoing process of research and action to assess, improve and protect children’s opportunities for play.? Extensive research has been conducted by the council, with over 50 hours spent listening to children, parent/carer and front-line worker focus groups, and almost 900 survey responses to help explore what is working for who, where and why at a neighbourhood and organisational level.
This has led to the development of nine strategic play priorities for Leeds to help improve opportunities to play. Priorities include the creation of streets that are safe, welcoming and encourage children’s play, as well as improving access to nature-based play environments.
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A new cross council approach has also been pioneered, aiming to embed play sufficiency principles in the heart of decision making across the council, championing the rights of children and young people to access play. This has been supported by the executive board appointing Councillor Fiona Venner as the new Leeds Play Champion. In this role Councillor Venner will work to pull together council services, public and third sector organisations to increase opportunities for play in Leeds.
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children's social care and health partnerships, said: “This is fantastic news for children and young people across Leeds, prioritising play is an important step forward to ensuring that everyone in Leeds gets the best start in life.
“I am really looking forward to getting involved in this journey as the city’s new play champion and working with a wide range of partners to make the Leeds play sufficiency action plan a reality.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, public health, and active lifestyles, said: “Play is at the heart of all that children want and need in life, so it is vitally important that we prioritise children’s access to play across Leeds. Play sufficiency is a powerful organising principle and it will allow us to find common ground between our city’s policies, strategies and partners.
“I am really looking forward to helping deliver a play sufficiency action plan helping realise our child friendly city ambitions. It also supports our Marmot City approach where we are targeting the reduction of health inequalities, particularly for children.”
Published 15th December 2023