PROJECT: Play Street Carousel

FUNDER: The National Lottery Community Fund

DATES: January-October 2021 (interim lockdown project)

The Play Street Carousel was a unique project that harnessed the power of play to strengthen bonds between neighbours, even as the pandemic kept them apart.

A suitcase full of art materials and audio-visual equipment was passed between households on a street, on the ‘Play Street Carousel’. Covid-safe protocols were in place.

Each household used the materials to document a street game of their choosing. A cornucopia of games was collected from across generations, cultures and household types. Contributions have been collated into a ‘recipe book of street play’ and a film of the project has been made. These will provide a wonderful legacy of a strange time in history; and the book of games will become a valuable idea trove for future play streets.

Following the lifting of restrictions in late July, each participating street was invited to run an event to celebrate. Residents had the chance to play their games together and watch the film featuring their contributions. With two participating streets in each of four boroughs: Croydon, Haringey, Kingston and Redbridge; the Play Street Carousel street parties will go down in play street history!

In October 2021 we resumed work on the mainstream Playful Communities project, and hope that 2022 will see an explosion of play on the street following months of limited lives.

For more information on this project contact catherine@londonplay.org.uk

CLICK ON THE SUITCASE TO VISIT OUR DEDICATED LONDON PLAY STREETS WEBSITE TO SEE THE FILM AND DOWNLOAD THE BOOKLET OF GAMES

NB You will need to create a free log in  – once you have done so, the door will open to these and a veritable cornucopia of play street resources – guidance, tips, inspiration and more for play street organisers and aficionados!