Organisations involved in PLAY

Please note that those concerned with places for children are often subject to funding changes. Listed here are contacts of key national and local organisations who can direct you to others if needed.

National Children's Bureau

8 Wakely St, London. EC1V 7QE. Tel: 020 7843 6016
Website: www.ncb.org.uk

NCB is a good starting point for information on all aspects of children's play, as if they do not do it themselves they know the people who do, and usually share a building with them. Through their website information can be found on the Children's Play Council, Play Scotland, Play Wales and Homezones

Play Scotland.

589 Lanark Road, Edinburgh. EH14 5DA. Tel: 0131 458 4666

Play Scotland was set up as the umbrella organisation for children's play in Scotland.

National Playing Fields Association

National Playing Fields Association (Scotland), 20 Queen St, Edinburgh. EH2 1JX. Tel: 0131 225 4307
Website: www.npfa.co.uk (this is the website for the English branch but is very comprehensive)

Concerned with the acquiring, protecting and improving of playing fields, playgrounds and play space where they are most needed. In the UK an A4 size piece of recreational land is lost every 2 minutes usually through lack of maintenance, lack of use and the pressures from development, generally a combination of all 3. Once land is neglected it becomes less used and is open to suggestions for other uses. NPFA have developed an 11-point action plan to help people stop this. NPFA are also famous for their 'The Six Acre Standard' (2001 Edition - £45.00) which recommends the minimum amount of play and recreation space which should be provided per number of residents in an area.

Grounds for Learning

Airthrey Castle, Stirling University, Stirling FK9 4LA. Tel: 01786 466570
This is the Scottish sister of Learning Through Landscapes (www.LTL.org.uk). This is not strictly a play organisation. Aims to help schools improve their grounds for the benefit of children.

Kidsactive

Pryor's Bank, Bishop's Park, London. SW6 3LA. Tel 020 7731 1435
Website: www.kidsactive.org.uk

A national charity established in 1966 to increase the play opportunities available for disabled children. Currently runs 6 adventure playgrounds in London and manages an information, training and consultancy service. Publishes Side by Side: guidelines for inclusive play.

SPRITO

24 Stephenson Way, London. NWI 2HD Tel: 020 7388 7755
Website: www.playwork.org.uk

This is the national training organisation for sport, recreation and allied occupations and includes the Playwork Unit which is concerned principally with the education and training of playworkers . They are developing the framework for play work training in England.

INSTITUTE OF LEISURE & AMENITY MANAGERS

ILAM House, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire. RG8 9NE. Tel: 01491 874800
Website: www.ilam.co.uk

This is a non-profit making organisation supporting and representing every aspect of leisure, cultural and recreation management and committed to the improvement of management standards. ILAM's Children Panel deals with play-related issues. Have in the past been involved in producing health and safety guidance in relation to play equipment.

Council for Voluntary Services & Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

SCVO, Fleming House, 134 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3. Tel: 0141 552 3533
Website: www.scvo.org.uk

Every region in Scotland has a CVS with a membership from the voluntary and community organisations in the region. Whilst they are not concerned specifically with play they can help voluntary groups concerned with play through the process of becoming established, developing a constitution and seeking funding. Organisations with a national remit can become members of SCVO which, with advise from CVS Scotland seeks to support and promote the voluntary sector at a national level. Regional CVS's can be found on www.cvsscotland.org.uk

United Nations

Website: www.unicef.org/crc/

Amongst the many international concerns of the UN is the rights of children, including the right to play. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UK in 1991, states all children should live in communities that have places to play. They are also concerned to promote children¹s participation in environmental projects.

IPA: The International Association for the Child's Right to Play

Website: www.ncsu.edu/ipa/

An international non-governmental organisation founded in Denmark in 1961. It is interdisciplinary and embraces in membership persons of all professions working for or with children and is dedicated to promoting the Child's Right to Play

Fair Play for Children

35 Lyon Street, Bognor Regis, West Sussex P021 I YZ. Tel: 01243 869922
Website: www.arunet.co.uk/fairplay

Based in the United Kingdom the aim is to promote understanding and action on the Child's Right to Play and to encourage Fair Play for Children attitudes and activities to develop world-wide. Their website has a comprehensive links page detailing many international organisations concerned with play and children's rights.