Networks and partnerships
London Play works closely with other organisations and networks to promote, co-ordinate and develop play. We also provide advice and expertise on play related issues to other organisations.
Children's Play Council
The Children's Play Council is an alliance of national and regional voluntary organisations, local authorities and partnerships researching and promoting children's play in England. London Play director Dr Ute Navidi is on the steering committee.
Play England
Play England, a five-year project to support and develop children's play across the English regions, is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The project will promote strategies for free play and create a lasting support structure for play providers in England. Early priorities are to assist local authorities and their partners in developing area-wide play strategies as the basis for applications to the Big Lottery Fund's £124 million Children's Play Programme. Play England is a project of the Children's Play Council, part of NCB. London Play is working closely with Play England's London Region Development Manager and his team to maximise our joint impact, working together for a capital where all children can play.
Children's Play Policy Forum
The Children's Play Policy Forum membership includes the private sector, the LGA, and representatives from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As a discussion forum and clearing-house for emerging policy issues, the forum brings together leading play agencies, government departments and other bodies together to focus on issues that individual agencies are less well placed to address alone. The forum is currently serviced by the Children's Play Council.
Sport England (London region)
London Play has been developing a loose partnership with Sport England's London region for some time, aiming to get play recognised in the emerging delivery system through Sport England's Community Sport and Physical Activity Networks. A joined up concerted approach to sport, physical activity and play can stress the differences but also look at commonalities.
Opportunities for action and delivery on play are very similar to those for sport and physical activity. Joined up work promoted by both play and sports organisations focus on Children's Trusts, Education, Children's Services, Youth Services, Social Services, Parks and Open Spaces, Libraries, National Healthy Schools Programme, Youth Sports Trust, Transport for London etc. Both sport and play are to be delivered through Local Area Agreements; one of new 35 outcomes is likely to focus on childhood obesity.
Rob McLean and Dr Ute Navidi (of Sport England and London Play respectively) gave a joint presentation on the importance of play and sports at the 30 March 2007 cross-government regional conference Tackling Childhood Obesity. Download the presentation below - please note that this is for your information only and not for further dissemination or reproduction without prior consent.
The Primary Care Trust (PCT) in each area has a duty to produce a Local Delivery Plan for tackling obesity as set out in Choosing Health from the Department for Health, after consultation with partners in the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). Islington's has just been agreed, and sets a standard for the recognition of the importance of children's play in achieving reductions in obesity. Further details.
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