Our News Category: London Play Press Releases

A Hackney adventure playground has ‘outplayed’ others from across the capital to win the title of London Adventure Playground of the Year 2023. Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground was one of 16 shortlisted in the London Adventure Play Awards last week to join the hotly-anticipated annual event run by the charity London Play.

Entries to the awards are in the form of two-minute films, made by children. The group from Shakespeare Walk (affectionately known as SWAPA) were among around 250 excited kids and supporters who converged on the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End on Thursday, to see the short films they had made about the places they love to play up on the big screen, enjoy a bit of pandemonium – and find out if they had won prizes.

SWAPA’s winning film featured an original soundtrack, made by children in their on-site sound studio. It played over footage of kids building with tools, lighting fires, climbing, swinging, sliding, putting on impromptu shows, playing in the snow, dressing up and joyfully messing about.  Molly Mae aged 12 summed up what she likes about SWAPA: “I like the staff. I like the adventures!” Her friend said: “The best thing about SWAPA is making friends, getting to know other people and taking a break from what’s happening at home.”

In true adventure playground style, there was plenty of fun, games and messing about during the awards event with compere Charlie keeping the atmosphere just the right side of chaos.

Nitasha, chair of trustees at Shakespeare Walk said:

“It was such a joy, so much great energy, I’ve never seen a cinema transformed the way it was, truly a wonderful adventure playground event. I can’t believe we’ve won; the team has worked really hard this year and I really feel like they deserve it. I am so pleased for them.”

Awards were also made in three categories: Best Flick (best film); Weird and Wonderful; and Playworker Dream Team.

A group of budding documentary makers (left) from Triangle Adventure Playground in Lambeth won ‘Best Flick’. Their film showed children playing on the giant rope swings and zipline; roasting marshmallows over a fire; and even enjoying an overnight camp – all in the inner-city neighbourhood where the playground is based.  Asked what she enjoyed about Triangle, one young adventurer in play said: “Well, I see all my friends, I get to play, and I get to play for how long I want.”

Gabriel Green, deputy senior playworker, Triangle Adventure Playground said:

“Triangle Adventure Playground was absolutely delighted to win the Best Flick Award at London Play’s Adventure Playground of the Year awards 2023. It is a special and unique occasion each year that really makes a difference to promoting the vital importance of the work that adventure playgrounds do.”

Children at The Markfield Project in Haringey won the ‘Weird and Wonderful’ category with their film epic featuring the death – and resurrection – of Spongebob Squarepants. Weird you say? Yep. Finally, the team at Islington’s Barnard Adventure Playground  took the ‘Playworker Dream Team’ award. All those shortlisted in that category had their ‘dream team’ credentials tested during the event, with one game requiring playworkers to submit to children dressing them up for a very out-there fashion show: catwalk compulsory!

London is known as the adventure playground capital of the world; these unique child-led places began on bombsites in the aftermath of WWII and tend to be located in the least affluent areas of the city. In the 1980s London had over 100 staffed adventure playgrounds; today only 70 remain, with 12 having closed in the last decade alone.

Fiona Sutherland, director of London Play said:

“These annual awards are a joyous occasion that we look forward to hosting every year. The children’s creativity and enthusiasm is fantastic to see. But there is a very serious side to this! London’s staffed adventure playgrounds are a lifeline for communities. They allow children space, time and freedom to have fun, explore, challenge and express themselves – building skills, resilience and improving mental and physical health along the way. But despite the amazing work that SWAPA, Triangle and others do, they tend to fly under the radar. Funding is scarce, and most are in a constant fight for survival. Yes, these awards are about celebrating adventure playgrounds and the children who play there – but they are also about raising awareness of their value and building support to secure their future.”

 Films will be available shortly on Youtube @londonplaychannel 

Download the press release below for more information. For media enquiries and high-resolution pictures of the event or the winning playgrounds please contact Fiona Sutherland via info@londonplay.org.uk.

Spacehopper will be the only way to travel in London over Car Free Day weekend this month. A rainbow chalk racetrack is ready to be rolled out outside Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and residents of over a hundred streets across London are excitedly awaiting the chance to bounce safely and gleefully down the middle of their road thanks to London Play, the Greater London Authority,  London’s councils and Transport for London.

World Car Free Day is marked annually across the globe on 22nd September, and this year is being celebrated in the capital over the weekend of Friday 22nd to Sunday 24^th September. With the support of the GLA more than 100 streets across 17 London boroughs are taking part, transforming temporarily into playful social spaces for residents of all ages to have fun on their doorsteps. Having ‘jumped at the chance’ to apply to their local council to try out a play street, Londoners will experience the joyful potential of the space outside their front doors, free of traffic. Free spacehoppers and other play equipment – along with advice and information to help plan a successful event – are on offer from the charity London Play, which has been running its ‘Swap your Car for a Spacehopper’ campaign in the leadup to the event.

The fun will kick off on Friday with a colour explosion outside Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, where a chalk rainbow spacehopper track will transform the street and offer children and their families welcome respite with a few hours of outdoor play. On Saturday, Deptford High Street joins in the action with a giant hopscotch, street games, junk modelling and you guessed it, more spacehoppers! But the majority of events will take place on residential streets on Sunday, when children will be found hopping, skipping, skating and chalking on their doorsteps while adults are sipping, chatting and watching on. Lucky residents on one street in Wandsworth who have won a free on-street go kart build and race workshop in London Play’s prize draw will be getting into the nuts and bolts of emissions-free travel!

Play streets are simple, resident-organised events where neighbours on a road agree together to close their street temporarily, but regularly to through traffic. This allows children to play, drawing adults out too. On the diverse and ever-changing streets of London, play streets offer people a rare opportunity to meet their neighbours informally in the shared neutral space of the street. With most local authorities supportive, Car Free Day is an ideal opportunity to try out a play street without committing to regular events.

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said:

“With the realities of climate change becoming ever clearer, there has never been a better time to adopt greener, more sustainable modes of transport.

‘’Car Free Day gives us an opportunity to do just that, transforming streets into playful social spaces, where people of all ages can come together to walk, cycle, scoot, wheel, play and socialise safely, where it is not normally possible to do so.

“I’m delighted that London Play, TfL and London councils are supporting this by encouraging Londoners to join in the fun and reclaim their streets on spacehoppers. Initiatives like this support our aim to continue making the capital a greener, safer and healthier place.”

Melian Mansfield, chair of London Play said:

“Play is essential for children’s health and happiness but in London, space to play is very limited. Streets make up a massive 80 per cent of all public space in the capital. Car Free Day is a great opportunity for Londoners of all ages to experience the great untapped potential of this space – literally on their doorstep – to have fun, make connections and enjoy the sense of community that develops.”

Once participants have enjoyed the experience of seeing their street in a new light – as valuable community space rather than just parking space for cars – it is hoped that many will go on to apply for regular play street sessions. For more information contact London Play via info@londonplay.org.uk, call 0203 384 8513 or visit www.londonplaystreets.org.uk

Londoners are being invited to ‘swap their cars for spacehoppers’ this September, when hundreds of streets across the capital are hoped to transform into temporary play spaces in celebration of Car Free Day.

The charity London Play is giving away free spacehoppers and other play ‘stuff’ to residents who are keen to ‘jump’ at the chance to try out a play street on their road. Additionally, one lucky group of neighbours will win an on-street go kart build and race workshop on the day. World Car Free Day is on Friday 22 September, and this year will be marked in London between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 September. 

Play streets are simple, resident-organised events where neighbours on a road agree together to close their street temporarily, but regularly to through traffic. This allows children to play, while adults watch on, chat and get to know each other better – or join in.  

With most local authorities supportive of the idea, Car Free Day is an ideal opportunity to try out a play street without committing to regular events. And people across the capital will be doing the same! Applicants will need to consult their neighbours and apply to their council well in advance. The exact process differs from borough to borough, but London Play can advise on this as well as support with promotion and consultation; and provide free play equipment to jump start the fun. 

“Streets make up a massive 80 per cent of the public space in London. Car Free Day is a great opportunity for all Londoners to appreciate the great untapped potential of this space – literally on their doorstep – to build community, have fun and get active with their neighbours. Why not jump in?”

Fiona Sutherland, London Play 

Once residents have seen their street in a new light, as valuable community space rather than just parking space for cars, it is hoped that many will go on to apply for regular play street sessions. For more information contact London Play via info@londonplay.org.uk, call 0203 384 8513 or visit www.londonplaystreets.org.uk  

Overgrown, decaying and haunted with the hopes of politicians past, is this the playground of the future? London Play’s biggest survey of councils in the capital for a decade finds that while many are building new playgrounds, funding for their preservation and maintenance is simply not keeping up.

Three quarters (25) of London’s 33 local authorities responded to London Play’s survey and the vast majority (88 per cent) say that children’s play is seen as a priority for their council. However, a third of respondents also admit that play facilities provided are not adequate for demand.

Most report they are building new public playgrounds. But revenue budgets, which fund staff to manage and maintain play areas, are static or falling. More than two thirds of respondents said that revenue over the next three years is likely to either decrease or stay the same. With inflation currently running at more than 10 per cent, future neglect seems almost certain.

“Play is a high priority, but we have limited resources to manage and maintain the current facilities.”

Council survey respondent

There are also questions about the quality of some new playgrounds. London Play’s recent campaign to find the capital’s ‘saddest’ playground not only yielded images of dilapidated and neglected older playgrounds, but also brand-new playgrounds that were painfully tokenistic. As one resident in Greenwich commented: “It’s staggering to think that this [pictured left] is the play area given to kids by the borough that proudly hosted the 2012 Olympics Gymnastics.”

Chair of London Play, Melian Mansfield MBE, said: “Opening a new playground is usually seen as a positive thing. But if there is no money to maintain it, or it is replacing adventurous play with less exciting play – or worse, it is nothing more than a token effort – then the benefits to children and the community become questionable.”

“Neglected playgrounds become a magnet for antisocial behaviour; families stay away and litter, dog mess and graffiti take over.”

Melian Mansfield, London Play

Meanwhile, more than a quarter of London’s local authorities are planning playground closures in the next three years. The capital has suffered the loss of six staffed adventure playgrounds since the outset of the pandemic, bringing the total to around 70, down from 82 just a decade ago.  Most adventure playgrounds in London are run by independent charities, but they remain highly dependent on local authority grants or contracts making them very susceptible to cuts.

Councils are undoubtedly in a difficult position. Over the decade to 2020, London boroughs’ ‘spending power’ fell by over a third; this year they face a £700m funding gap on top of £400m last year. In Wales – and now in Scotland too – play provision is a statutory duty for councils. But not in England. Play is inevitably in the sightlines when cuts are needed.

“The overall picture is perhaps not as dire as feared, given that we are emerging from a pandemic, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” says Melian. “It is heartening to find that London councils see play as a priority for them. But until central government makes play provision a statutory duty, and funds it properly, it will continue to be highly vulnerable to cuts. Play is not just ‘nice to have’. It is vital for children’s health and happiness, and it is their right, under article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This has been ratified by the UK but must be enshrined in legislation to ensure it is upheld in practice.”

Download the press release below.

Two south London playgrounds have been jointly named ‘London’s Saddest Playground’ in a public vote. Bromley’s Crystal Palace Park and Leyton Square in Southwark were deemed the playgrounds ‘most in need of love’ on Valentine’s Day, earlier this month.

Children’s charity London Play ran the London’s Saddest Playground campaign in a bid to turn the spotlight on poor play facilities in the capital; and is offering to work with groups who nominated their local playgrounds to turn things around. They will be offered support with campaigning and fundraising to improve substandard playgrounds over the coming months.

Seven-year-old Wilf nominated Crystal Palace Park playground with the help of his mum, Sarah Sarson. “Lots of people use the park and for its size, it’s playground is rubbish,” he said. “It only has swings and a sandpit.”

Sarah added: “Wilf spotted the call for London’s saddest playground and wanted to send a photo of Crystal Palace in. We know the whole park is due to be improved by the Crystal Palace Park Trust, who are taking it over, but it’s sad that Bromley council let it fall into such a state over the years. It’s an important space for so many children.”

Mary King nominated Leyton Square (pictured left). “I’m thrilled to win but also saddened that for over six months Leyton Square’s big climbing frame has been a burnt-out shell that truly deserves the title ‘London’s saddest playground’,” she said. “The most important thing is that this is a first step towards getting the playground restored to be a place that Southwark’s children are proud to play in.”

A close third in the competition was Emerald Square in Ealing, run by housing association A2 Dominion.

London Play’s deputy director Fiona Sutherland said: “Local playgrounds are vital for children’s health and well-being, but too many are blighted by neglect. Some 35 per cent of parents surveyed in 2019 reported that their local playground had been subject to neglect or closure. This has only worsened since the outset of the pandemic.

Play is too often seen as a luxury instead of what it is: a vital cornerstone for thriving children and thriving communities too.

We are looking forward to working with the winning groups to campaign successfully for investment in play – and in the process turn London’s saddest playgrounds into London’s gladdest playgrounds in the coming year.”

London Play is calling on Londoners to let them know about poor play services, facilities or policies in their areas. As well as poor quality playgrounds this could include after school clubs or holiday play schemes which are threatened with closure or reductions in their services; or too many signs prohibiting play on a housing estate. Email  info@londonplay.org.uk with details.

Download a pdf of this press release below.

Islington’s Waterside Adventure Playground  was named London’s Adventure Playground of the Year 2022 and Lewisham’s Ashwater Road took the gong for Play Street of the Year at a noisy celebration in London’s West End yesterday.

Some 250 excited children converged on the Prince Charles Cinema yesterday to see the short films they had made about the places they love to play up on the big screen – and find out if they had won prizes.

The event was nearly derailed when compere Charlie was abducted by aliens, but he returned – albeit with feet in place of fingers – to keep the atmosphere just on the right side of anarchy with the help of young adventure play expert and co-host, Adil.

The more adventurous the play, the more highly the film was rated, and it was BIG fires, the inventive use of old tyres and bits of wood, and a rocking soundtrack that set the reel from young Watersiders apart in a strong field. Sienna, aged 10, said she likes Waterside because: “It’s local and I know lots of people there and it’s fun. There’s lots of things to climb on and you can invent fun games.” Aja, 7 added: “I like the dens at the back.” Children from the winning group will be whisked away for a ‘winter wonderland’ adventure in the woods outside London later in the year as their prize.

Children at Barnard Adventure Playground, which won the top award in 2021, had chosen the winners – but did not know which playground they had scored highest until it was revealed on stage, to great excitement. Five other adventure playgrounds were shortlisted for the big award: Hackney’s Shakespeare Walk (SWAPA), Three Corners in Islington; Haringey’s Somerford Grove, Richmond’s Marble Hill and Roman Road in Tower Hamlets.

Play street of the year

Lewisham’s Ashwater Road (above) won the Janet Dalglish London Play Street of the Year award with young residents’ film documenting how their street had been transformed since they started their play street in summer last year. Film director Alma said: “We spent a year and a half going in and out of lockdown, and new people had moved onto the street. We wanted to get to know them.” The elated group won £150 of play street equipment for their efforts.

Other awards

The Bright Idea Award was won by Haringey’s Somerford Grove Adventure Playground, featuring kids’ ingenuity with loose parts, mud and mess. Best Flick went to Marble Hill Adventure Playground in Richmond, whose doco-style film featured kids interviewing each other about their much-loved play space. Their prize is a group trip on the London Eye, thanks to Marks Barfield Architects. Special awards were also given to Max Roach (Best Acting Oscar); Lumpy Hill (Soggy Bottom Award) and Shakespeare Walk (SWAPA) for its original soundtrack, made by children. A special film also paid tribute to playworker Celestine Lamontage, retiring after 27 years from Bethwin Adventure Playground.

London Play’s chair, Melian Mansfield said: “Congratulations to Waterside, Somerford Grove and Marble Hill adventure playgrounds. Their films show how important these magical places are in the lives of the children who play there – and underline that play is not just a ‘nice to have’ extra, it is vital for children’s healthy development and wellbeing. Well done too, to the young residents of Ashwater Road and all the other groups that made such wonderful films.”

All films are available on London Play’s YouTube channel or click links below.

For additional details, download the press release below or contact Fiona Sutherland via info@londonplay.org.uk