Playstreets Ilford

The Idea

Temporary play streets (or ‘playing out’ sessions) are short road closures, usually organised by neighbours on their own street, creating a safe space for children to play out together on their doorstep.

Play streets typically allow children to play freely, without organised games or activities. In practice, this means children cycle, scoot, skate, chalk, skip, hopscotch, kick a ball around and make up games. They are joyous and active!

This model was first developed by parents (co-founders of Playing Out) on one street in Bristol in 2009 and has now been taken up by hundreds of street communities all over the UK – and beyond – supported by councils and local organisations. Learn more about Playing Out and Play Streets on the Playing Out website: https://playingout.net/play-streets.

Why this Matters

Play streets give children a chance to play, be active and make friends on their street, whilst also building community and encouraging active citizenship. As well as these immediate benefits, they can help to bring about a longer-term culture-change, where streets are safer and friendlier and it is more normal for children to play out.

What you can do

As part of the Community Play Challenge, supported by Real Play Coalition in London, you can apply for a small amount of funding to cover any costs associated with starting Play Streets in your neighbourhood. Play Streets is a low cost programme and you can get started with little or no funding but this funding will allow you to purchase any equipment you might need.

The Idea

Why this Matters

What you can do

Nadia Rawat

1年以上前

We have successfully now run 2 monthly Playstreets, the next planned event is for September 4th 2022. Playstreets has been a huge success, neighbours have taken an active role in planning and support in the lead-up to and on the day itself. The funding has aided our community to invest in a 'road closure kit' as well as activities that the children can enjoy and use each Playstreets. We have tried to invest in eco-friendly, quality items which will be usable for many future Playstreets. Many elderly neighbors also have been keen to get involved, it has been great to see the community coming together, outside of the Playstreet days because of this monthly opportunity to get to know one another. We have had the local Councillor for our Ward visit our Playstreets, as well as being featured in the Council newsletter for the positive impact this has had on the community.

Nadia Rawat

2年弱前

We will run our Playstreets project on the first Sunday of each month, starting 3rd July 2022. We will review this after 3 months and discuss whether to increase it to fortnightly if there is enough interest and demand.

Our community is made up of a diverse mix of cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds and our road is primarily young families and elderly retired couples. This project will encourage the two groups to come together in a safe and accessible way, support one another and build neighbourly bonds.
The project gives opportunities for those with children and families to access safe play opportunities and fosters children's independence. It will also tackle isolation; people feel less lonely and safer when feel they are part of a community.

The seed funding will be used over the coming months to help us achieve this goal. We will utilize part of the funding for immediate resources such as printing leaflets, posters, and signage, and a ‘road closure kit’ for volunteers to be able to use easily to set up the Playstreets. We will also invest in play resources for the children suitable for on street games, as well as specific play resources to meet the needs of children with special needs or disabilities. Some of the funding will be spread across the period of the whole project, used to replenish stock and resources as the project continues. We may also use a small amount of the funding for public engagement events during the Playstreets sessions, such as community on-street coffee mornings or national events such as the Platinum Jubilee.
In our busy lives, Playstreets offers a neutral safe space to all which only requires one to step outside their front door!