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The London Playwire is a quarterly (ISH) newsletter featuring the latest news from London Play and on play in London. Sign up at the bottom of the page to get it straight to your inbox; and see recent past issues below.

London Playwire Winter 2024: Good riddance January

Is January actually the least playful month of the year? It certainly feels like it! But we are ‘glass half full’ kinda people here so we are going to focus on the positives in this issue of the London Playwire. Not least of which is that January is like, SOOOOO over already.

London Playwire Summer 2023: What’s your summer play adventure?

Happy holidays everyone! School’s out for most kids and this time next week we reckon pretty much all of London’s 1.8m children will be on the lookout for free holiday adventures. Envious eyes will be turned towards those lucky enough to live near one of the capital’s magical adventure playgrounds. But if not… fear not.

London Playwire Spring 2023: capital’s playgrounds face a future of neglect

The biggest survey of council play provision in a decade has some uncomfortable findings.

London Playwire Winter 2023: seeking London’s Saddest Playground

How is your 2023 going so far? Our new year’s resolution was to get more regular with the quarterly London Playwire. So we’re feeling pretty smug to squeak this in your letterbox before the end of the month! This edition features our campaign to find London’s Saddest Playground – send us your nominations pleeeeeease!

London Playwire Summer 2022: Prescriptions for play?

With summer temperatures on the rise, this issue of the London Playwire connects the dots on mental health and play as the post-covid crisis continues to make headlines. Plus news on all the movers and shakers in the London adventure play scene. Entries for the London Adventure Play Awards are open!

London Playwire December 2021: Playing catch up?

In this issue of the London Playwire, as well as catching you up with all our news, we look at the evidence now emerging about the negative impacts the pandemic has had on children’s lives. Sobering reading, which also serves to highlight just how crucial play is; now and in the months and years to come. So as 2022 beckons, there is no let up. We will continue to work to ensure that all of London’s children can exercise their right to play outside, daily, near where they live.

London Playwire July 2021: Surprise surprise!

We are back and very pleased to introduce you to the first issue of our new-look Playwire (ta-daaah)! We are also mega-excited to announce the launch of three – yes, three – brand new websites, all celebrating and raising the profile of play in London. Read on for all the details plus lots of opportunities for you all out there making play happen. Full steam ahead for a summer of play!

PACE

We are seeking casual playworkers to work across our play and nursery services in Camden.

Hours: Casual, as and when required
Salary: £11.51/hr
Closing date: 11 April 2021
To apply:  download and complete the application form below and send to iola@paceforall.com or post to Iola McCarogher, PACE Head Office, Fairfield Play Centre, Mary Terrace, London NW1 7LR

PACE is a user-led, grass-roots charity founded in 2011 by a group of parents and play work professionals in Camden to establish high quality inclusive play services in the borough. We now operate a range of services for children aged 2-18 years. We enjoy strong links within the local community and employ a highly experienced, expert staff team.

We are looking for friendly, positive-minded individuals who wish to help us provide a fun, stimulating play service to children and families.

Upon joining PACE you will help to build the reputation of our young and rapidly expanding organisation by contributing to the delivery of truly inclusive services and striving for excellence.

Your primary responsibilities will be the delivery of high quality positive activities, promoting and supporting the wellbeing and educational opportunities of young people. More information is in the job description which you can download below.

Alternatively, for an informal discussion about the post call 020 7183 5120 (Ext. 1). Please note this post is subject to an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check and satisfactory references.

Two thirds of London’s adventure playground organisations report that they are now delivering new services, with many becoming vital hubs for food distribution.

Adventure playground organisations have been quietly supporting children and families in some of the capital’s most disadvantaged communities for decades. So it is no surprise that our recent survey confirms they have adapted quickly to respond to the huge additional challenges these same families now face in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Adventure playgrounds may have closed their gates to children in person, but two months into lockdown, it is clear that they are not resting on their laurels. Two thirds of the adventure playground organisations which responded to London Play’s recent survey report that they are now delivering new services, with many becoming vital hubs for food distribution. Others are moving their play offer online and some are delivering emergency play packs to their most vulnerable families.

As demand for food banks soar, the team at Max Roach Adventure Playground in Lambeth is delivering ‘happy lunches’ and play packs by bicycle to their most vulnerable users. Nearby Grove Adventure Playground is also using two wheels to deliver food parcels while Haringey’s Somerford Grove has seen a big increase in demand for the fresh surplus food it is distributing from the Felix Project .

Adaptations
Other adventure playgrounds have adapted their play services – with some, in particular those catering specifically for children with special needs, opening on a very limited (often family by family) basis over recent weeks. These include Haringey’s Markfield, Haywards in Islington, The Ark in Newham and Kids Adventure Playground in Hackney and all have put in place rigorous cleaning regimes and updated risk assessments.

For playgrounds whose gates remain closed, ingenuity in developing online play ideas and resources is much in evidence. In Islington, Awesome CIC has set up the ‘Adventurers Hangout’ featuring a treasure trove of films with playful ideas. From Lambeth, the Triangle Play Zone offers children a weekly timetable with Zoom and Houseparty play and games sessions, nature club activities and videos, fitness and boxing sessions. Weekly challenge videos are a highlight, including Toilet roll kick ups and paper plane flying. And who could fail to raise a smile with Redbridge’s ELHAP Monday morning disco this week?

Social distancing
But as one survey respondent pointed out, these online initiatives “do not replace play,” and adventure playground teams, concerned about children being stuck inside for so long, are keen to welcome them back in person as soon as possible. There are big questions about how social distancing will be implemented when playgrounds are able to open again and whether such limitations on play will in fact be counterproductive to children’s wellbeing. Triangle trustee Anne-Marie Martin said: “Clearly attendance will be limited, and it is hard to reconcile the ethos of adventure play with social distancing, but I am sure we will find a way.”

In the meantime, although 80 per cent of playground organisations have had to furlough workers, a majority of those still working are using the time away from running physical face to face sessions to ensure that they are in a strong position when they are able to resume; writing funding proposals and carrying out essential maintenance on their playgrounds.

Says Harriet Simmons, manager of the Adventure Play Hub: “Our playground has had some much needed TLC and we’ve been working with volunteers on re-decorating and other repairs. We’ve attended funding opportunities and support/advice cluster meetings via Zoom which has been very useful.”