Children’s Play Policy Forum suggests four asks for play for consideration by Politicians in the run up to the election and for the new administration.
The UK’s Children’s Play Policy Forum is calling for all UK political parties to invest in children’s play because of the proven benefits to children, families and communities.
’Four asks for play’ calls on the UK Government to:
- Recognise the need for play before school, during play/break times and after school hours
- Extend the existing Department of Health-funded programme supporting regular sessional road closures in residential streets in England to every major city in the UK
- Invest in a programme focusing on disadvantaged communities to encourage appropriate play in public space, while reducing neighbourhood conflict and the resulting pressure on police time
- Provide support for staffed play provision to test innovative community-based health and well-being initiatives.
Investing in the ‘Four asks for play’ will result in improvements in children’s health and wellbeing, the Children’s Play Policy Forum says, and hence a reduction in the pressures on the National Health Service and the public purse.
The evidence produced by Tim Gill in the The Play Return show that the long-term health benefits of playing include boosting physical activity levels which helps to tackle child obesity, and supporting children to become more resilient. Play initiatives also benefit the wider community by encouraging neighbourliness and improved community cohesion.
I believe that we know that playing provides immediate and long-term benefits to children, young people and the wider community. We all have a responsibility to ensure children have opportunities to play in their communities. We are calling on all political parties to provide for play initiatives across the UK – the level of investment needed would be relatively modest yet extremely cost-effective.
I would be grateful if everyone involved in canvassing or responding to political canvassers asks candidates these questions.
grumpysutcliffe 
I’ve already emailed my PPC’s in York Central!
Mark, can you possibly pass round the YP membership?
Many thanks,
It’s already on the Facebook page, Robin, and emailed to YP committee members. The Labour candidate in York Central, Rachael Maskell, has come out strongly in support of 4A4P and is asking to visit a play setting to promote it – tricky stuff finding a setting willing to stick their necks out with one political party!