Call for UK Government to prioritise play for a “creative Britain”

A new report has called for “urgent action” from the UK government to recognise and integrate play as a fundamental right and critical component of child development and a “Creative Britain.”

The “The Power 2 Play” report, published today by the Alliance 4 Children and the University of Winchester, highlights the steady decline in play opportunities for children across England and provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for policymakers at national and local levels.

It also outlines some alarming statistics regarding play, which reveal worrying long-term trends – such as outdoor play having declined by 50% in a generation, at least 400 playgrounds closing across England between 2012 and 2022 and more than 2 million children in England (up to the age of 9) not living within a ten-minute walk of a playground.

To combat the decline in play, the report makes a number of recommendations. These include a move to recognise play as a fundamental right and the creation of a Department for Children, Young People & Families (or Cabinet Level Minister for Children).

The report also underscores that “play powers children to turn the impossible into the possible”, carrying these transformative skills forward to benefit their lives and society”. The report will be officially released on the 23 August at the House of Lords.