PlayNation UK
PLAYING POLITICS
A detailed report on the recent parliamentary debate on play
Interview:
Michael Hoenigmann
How has the sector changed in 30 years?
Amanda Gummer
The chair of API talks about the importance of play
The importance of Play!
Play England campaigns for all children and young people to have freedom and space to play throughout childhood.
We work with national partners and other organisations with shared aims to raise awareness about the importance of play. We lobby government to make fundamental policy changes to protect and promote play, and encourage everyone who has an impact
on the lives of children and young people to recognise and plan for children’s play.
Play England has also built up considerable experience and resources to help support individuals and organisations that work in these particular areas:
Government
Local Authorities
Schools
Playwork
We need your support
The new UK government is making positive noises about understanding the importance of play. However, against this positive backdrop, Play England is suffering from a lack of funds to pay for our essential work campaigning for children’s right and freedom to play. Donate today to support our work. www.playengland.org.uk/donate
www.playengland.org.uk
UK
A
Interview: Amanda Gummer
Accessibility in action
A playground in the heart of London is delivering on a promise to create a
20 Playing Politics
Tom Hayes MP secured a parliamentary debate on the provision of playgrounds. PlayNation reports on the debate, which was seen as an important step in the ongoing efforts to promote children’s right to play
26 A giant of play
Jupiter Play’s Michael Hoenigmann has spent more than 30 years in the play sector. He recounts how the industry has changed – and why there is now renewed optimism for the future
John Challinor
Publisher
PlayNation
john@nationmedia.uk
Contributors
Tom Hayes MP
Labour MP for Bournemouth East
@TomHayesBmouth
Michael Hoenigmann
MD, Jupiter Play
@JupiterPlay
Tom Walker Editor
PlayNation
tom@ nationmedia.uk
Amanda Gummer Chair, API
@api_chairuk
Leigh Ingham MP
Labour MP for Sta ord
@LeighInghamMP
PlayNation UK
The importance of play and physical activity for young people
PlayNation, in partnership with Play England and SAPCA (the Sports And Play Construction Association), is dedicated exclusively to the dynamic and growing sector of play and physical activity for children and young people. Published bi-monthly, the magazine focuses on the policies, people and places that help young people to play and be more active. Subscribe now and we will email you a complimentary copy of the magazine every two months.
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PlayNation is published by SportsNation Ltd in association with Play England (www.playengland.org.uk) and the Sports And Play Construction Association (www.sapca.org.uk) This publication is protected by copyright and no part may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication and PlayNation accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. Opinions expressed by the contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher and we do not accept responsibility of losses or damages arising from them. Printed by BCP Media Group Ltd. Advertising opportunities Contact John E: john@nationmedia.uk www.linkedin.com/ company/playnationmag @PlayNationMag FOLLOW US:
Multi-million pound play strategy launched for BCP
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) has published an ambitious, multi-million pound plan to transform and renovate its children’s play parks and teenage wheeled sports areas.
The five-year strategy will see an investment of £3.9million in phase one alone and includes replacing worn out equipment and “dramatically improving” provision across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The proposal is to fund the improvement works primarily from the Community Investment Levy, paid to the Council by developers to support local infrastructure. In preparation to the strategy – and to gauge the level of improvements needed – BCP officers have visited every one of BCP’s 171 play spaces and examined each of the 1175 individual pieces of play equipment. They have established what equipment needs immediate repair, which spaces need general improvements, and which need total replacement and renovation or re-purposing of those spaces.
on of the plan will include an investment of £3.9million
BCP councillor, Sandra Moore, said: “This is really exciting. Every age will benefit, from infants to teenagers practicing on skateboards and bikes.
For far too long equipment has been
left to decline, and we want to turn that around. This will be our biggest investment in play in over 10 years.”
Phase One of the strategy is planned to start in Spring 2025.
Play Scotland CEO, Marguerite Hunter Blair, given OBE
Play Scotland Chief Executive, Marguerite Hunter Blair, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list. Hunter Blair has received the honour for services to Play, Learning and Health.
Play Scotland said the award recognises Hunter Blair’s tireless work to ensure every child’s right to play.
Hunter Blair joined Play Scotland 19 years ago and established the Scottish Play Commission. She also led the campaigns for Scotland’s Play Strategy (2013) and a statutory duty for Play in the Planning Act (2019).
Phase
Hunter Blair joined Play Scotland in 2005 PHOTO:
Accessible playground in Reading reopens after £462,000 redevelopment
The relocated and upgraded play area in Victoria Park, Reading has opened ahead of schedule thanks to a £462,000 investment by Reading Borough Council (RBC).
The accessible play area, designed for children aged between three and 12 years old, will be further complemented by an outdoor gym in time for summer 2025.
The design of the new playground was selected by local residents as part of a community consultation last year. It includes a mix of equipment, including equipment accessible to all ages and mobility levels. It also has a new surface to enable access for children and carers using mobility aids.
The new equipment offers fun and challenge for children of all abilities and includes swings, toddler and junior multi play units, play panels, an accessible see-saw and a climbing tower with a tunnel slide.
The design of the new playground was selected by local residents
Adele Barnett-Ward, RBC’s Lead Councillor for Leisure, said: “Outdoor play is essential for children’s health and wellbeing, so investment in improved play facilities is always money well spent. Victoria Park is a much-loved and popular community
park so I am delighted to deliver this fantastic new playground. It has been wonderful to see children enjoying the new equipment despite the winter weather, and of course by the summer we will have an outdoor gym to come in time for the summer.”
Ashford council reveals play facilities plan
The council will invest more than £170,000 in play
Ashford Borough Council has revealed plans to invest more than £170,000 in improving play and open spaces across the region. Rectory way, Kennington, a public open space, will receive £77,000 worth of upgrades from Section 106 funding to revitalise the play area. The new design has been guided by the natural landscape, adopting a fresh approach to enhance the space. The council will also be undertaking a further £100,000 worth of repairs across three other play areas: Westhawk Farm Play Park, Kingsnorth, School Road Play Area, Hothfield and Henley Meadow, Tenterden.
The council said it “remains committed” to improving local spaces by making them safer, more accessible and enhancing them through a “landscape-first approach”.
New revitalised play space for Stockton’s Ropner Park
Ropner Park in Stockton-on-Tees has a rich heritage as the area’s only Victorian-era park, but after years of heavy use, its playground required an extensive overhaul.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) appointed Sutcliffe Play to develop a design which would inject the park with new life. As part of the plans, Sutcliffe Play installed a range of new equipment, integrating them alongside existing items. According to the brief by Stockton Council, the new additions needed to challenge able young visitors, while guaranteeing inclusivity for
children living with many different disabilities. The finished space includes a new, imposing central tower providing a visual “wow factor”. It’s surrounded by a range of supporting pieces, including Sutcliffe’s new Medical Activity Centre, as well as ‘Pablo Penguin’ and ‘Wilbur Whale’ Springies.
Meanwhile, children of all abilities will find fun with the Inclusive Wheelchair Roundabout and an Inclusive Group Seesaw.
Tony Raine from SBC said: “Sutcliffe Play delivered a fantastic new playground which the entire community loves.” Children
Investment approved for Warminster playgrounds
Warminster Town Council has approved funding for new play park equipment in the town. Council officers carried out a detailed review of all play areas and highlighted the need to replace a play area gate and climber at a playground in the town’s Queensway and replace a tyre swing in the Lake Pleasure Grounds. Officers explored ideas and gathered quotes for the upcoming play area project, receiving interest from four specialist companies. Site meetings took place in October 2024, with three companies submitting formal proposals. Following discussion at the Parks and Estate Committee meeting on Monday 27th January, members approved the tender application from Kompan with the capital expenditure of £34,302 to be funded from the Earmarked Reserves Capital Projects. Kompan will now install a new under 5s climber and play area gate for Queensway and a Spacenet climber for the Lake Pleasure Grounds.
A new woodland is being created at the New Forest Showground in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, with the help of pupils from Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School and William Gilpin Church of England Primary School. The ‘mini-forest’ has been planted as part of a Hampshire
County Council Forest Partnership’s (HCCFP) commitment to grow thousands of trees in the region. Designed to create a place for families and children to explore and enjoy together, the area has seen the planting of a wide range of nearly 2,500 UK native tree varieties.
The park’s ‘wow factor’ is created by an imposing central tower
Playdale unveils accessible play range for younger children
Outdoor playground equipment specialist, Playdale Playgrounds, has launched a new accessible modular play tower range.
Called Little City Plus, the equipment features stainless steel modular play towers, designed specifically for children aged between 18 months and five years.
The range has been created to inspire imaginative play while supporting the development of cognitive, physical and social skills. It includes 10 newly designed units, one of which is fully inclusive and caters to all abilities, including children in wheelchairs and buggies.
This has been achieved through inclusive access ramps, transfer platforms, and sensory play elements at every turn.
“With Little City Plus, we’ve taken toddler play to a whole new level,” said Barry Leahey MBE, President of Playdale Playgrounds.
“This range is designed to inspire creativity, encourage active play, and provide a fun, inclusive environment where every child can explore, learn and smile.”
Packed with sensory and physical play features, the range is designed
to keep toddlers active, engaged and challenged at every stage of development. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to creating inclusive opportunities both within our workplace and through our products.”
New play equipment for Wollaston park
Councillors at the Wollaston play area
A play area in Wollaston, West Midlands, is undergoing a redevelopment which will see it benefit from an investment worth £80,000.
The improvements at the park – funded in part by a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – will include new play equipment for children of all ages.
Working with the local tenants and residents’ association, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council successfully applied for £72,500 through the UKSPF. The remaining £7,500 of costs are being sourced through Section 106 money.
The play area will consist of a toddler multi-play unit, a junior multi-play unit, a flush roundabout, a two-bay swing, springers, roll-over bars, seesaw, sensory totem and sensory panels, fun and educational thermographs and toddler seating.
The Little City Plus range encourages active play
PHOTO: PLAYDALE
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Revised NPPF includes protection of formal play spaces
The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has now been published and it includes a key amendment for the play sector – the protection of formal play spaces.
Published on 12 December, the NPPF sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. The latest, revised framework replaces the previous NPFF which was initially published in March 2012 and last revised in December 2023. The amendment considering play appears under Section 8: Promoting Healthy and Safe Communities, specifically in Paragraph 104. It states: “Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken, which has clearly shown the space to be surplus to requirements
Play England called the change as a “big manifesto win”
(or that it will be replaced by equivalent or better provision).”
The revision could mean that Sport England may take responsibility for protecting formal play spaces in their statutory consultee role – which it already does for playing fields.
Play England has welcomed the change and is calling it a big manifesto win. It said the revision underscores the Government’s growing recognition of the importance of protecting, enhancing and providing spaces to play.
Lichfield looks for Play Street projects
Lichfield District Council is the latest local authority that is inviting its residents to take part in a new initiative which enables children to play safely outside their homes.
Play Streets, which is being launched by the Active Lichfield Communities Team, recognises that children want to play close to home, but this is often made difficult due to traffic and cars on the road.
Play Streets allows neighbours to close their street to through traffic for a couple of hours, creating a safe space for children to enjoy activities such as tag, hopscotch and skipping. Lead residents organise and run a Play Streets event themselves supported by at least four other volunteers acting as stewards to safely direct any vehicles that need to enter or exit during the activity period.
New children’s plan gets seal of approval in Gloucester
Representatives from the Gloucestershire County Council, the NHS, the police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Voluntary Community Sector Alliance have signed a charter committing to work together to make Gloucestershire “a great place to grow up where children and young people thrive and live lives of choice and opportunity”.
The One Plan for All Children and Young People in Gloucestershire sets out the county’s priorities for delivering this vision and commits to
achieving this by reducing inequalities, providing the right help at the right time for all children, creating an inclusive county that celebrates diversity, and providing effective services.
Dame Janet Trotter, Chair of the Gloucestershire Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Coalition, said, “The development of the One Plan has been a true collaborative effort by the agencies and partners dedicated to supporting our young people.
“It is designed to identify and support the young people facing the greatest disadvantages.”
Apedale Valley’s play area set for redevelopment
A children’s play area at a popular attraction is due for a revamp thanks to a local charity and funding from the county council.
The Apedale Valley Light Railway at Apedale Country Park in Newcastle is operated by The Moseley Railway Trust. The trust’s volunteers have developed the site since the railway opened, which now includes a popular play area for visitors and children.
The railway attracts around 8,000 visitors per year and, due to its popularity, the play area now requires a refurbishment. The group has received funding from Staffordshire County Council’s Community Fund towards the improvement costs. Improvements will include an extension to the existing area and the installation of a new surface. Work is expected to start during March 2025.
Simon Lomax, acting chair of the Moseley Railway Trust, said: “The grant will help the Trust develop this site amenity.”
Bromsgrove council investing in play upgrades
Bromsgrove District Council is undertaking works to upgrade and improve several play areas in the region. The works are a part of the council’s play improvement strategy, which will see improvements to play areas over several years. Tenders are out for major refurbishments of Charford Rec and Upland Grove
open space in Bromsgrove, with works expected to start at these sites in late Spring/early Summer.
The town’s Foxglove Way play area is also due a refurbishment.
Councillor Bernard McEldowney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “These upcoming works are fantastic news for the local area.”
The works are a part of the council’s play improvement strategy
THE VALUE OF PLAY
Dr Amanda Gummer, Chair of the Association of Play Industries (API), outlines why play is fundamental to childhood – and yet remains often overlooked
Why is play so important for children’s development?
Play is essential for children’s physical, emotional and social development. It helps build strength, coordination and motor skills while fostering creativity, problem-solving and resilience. Socially, play teaches cooperation, negotiation and empathy – skills crucial for life. In an age where screentime dominates, providing safe, stimulating play spaces has never been more critical.
What
challenges are facing play provision in the UK today?
One of the biggest challenges is the chronic underfunding of public playgrounds. Our research found that many local authorities struggle to maintain existing play areas, let alone build new ones. Playgrounds are often seen as ‘nice to have’. Rather, they should be seen as vital community hubs that support mental and physical health. Without proper investment, children miss out, especially in disadvantaged areas where alternative play options are limited.
How has the API been campaigning for better play provision?
We’ve been working hard to raise awareness through research and media campaigns. Our survey of parents revealed widespread concern about the decline of play areas. We also published data showing disparities in playground provision across the UK. These findings help us press the government for policy changes and increased funding. Recently, we’ve been calling for a national play strategy that prioritises children’s right to play with our Pathway To Play campaign.
Have you seen any positive changes as a result of your campaigns?
The Pathway To Play campaign calls on the government to conduct a national audit to assess the quantity, quality and location of public playgrounds. We’re also asking for long-term sustainability – dedicated funding for the installation and upkeep of free-to-
use community play spaces. We’ve definitely seen progress in raising the profile of play provision. However, much more needs to be done. We’re hopeful that continued advocacy will lead to lasting policy changes.
What can communities do to support play provision?
Communities play a crucial role. Parents, carers and local groups can lobby councils, participate in consultations and even raise funds for playground improvements. Being vocal about the importance of play ensures decision-makers understand its value.
What’s
next for the API?
We’ll keep campaigning until every child has access to quality play spaces. We’re planning more research to strengthen our case for funding. Collaboration with aligned partners in the sector and beyond is also on our agenda, as play benefits extend far beyond the playground. By keeping children’s needs at the forefront, we aim to build a future where play is prioritised. We all have a role in ensuring children can play safely and freely. The benefits last a lifetime –not just for children, but for communities as a whole. Together, we can make play a priority.
The play area was codesigned with local schools, parents and children
ACCESSIBILITY IN ACTION
A new playground in the heart of London delivers on a promise to create a genuinely accessible playground for local residents
Westminster City Council and Active Westminster have partnered to open the borough’s first fully accessible playground.
Located in Westbourne Ward, the play space – manufactured, and installed by Playscheme, a family-run company based in York – was co-designed with local schools, parents and children. As a result, the playground reflects the community’s unique needs and aspirations.
The £162,000 refurbishment also blends traditional and innovative technology to create an inclusive environment.
Gracie, a young person involved in the consultation process, played a crucial role in
designing equipment that accommodates wheelchair users. The climbing frame area, for example, is designed to accommodate wheelchairs, allowing children to engage in imaginative play together.
Other inclusive features include the ground-level Whirl Spinner, which offers easy boarding and seating for both children and wheelchair users, and the inclusive swing seat, prioritising safety and comfort for all.
Gracie said: “It was important to be part of the design because most playgrounds don’t have anything that kids who are in wheelchairs can play with.”
Sara, a local parent who spearheaded the initiative, emphasised the importance of shifting
perceptions: “To effect real change in our attitudes and behaviours towards people with disabilities, we must focus on shifting perceptions.
“The best way to achieve this is by allowing children to interact with and learn from these differences, helping them realise that our shared experiences far outweigh our distinctions. I am proud to be a resident of Westminster, a borough that champions community initiatives to enhance the lives of all its residents.”
Steve Danby, Managing Director of Playscheme, added: “This has truly been a special project to work on. What a pleasure to have worked closely throughout with Christine Powell from Westminster Council. We are delighted with the result and that it has been so warmly received by the local community.”
The aim was to revitalise a community space, enhance wellbeing and encourage an active lifestyle by addressing barriers to outdoor play. According to Rafaella Bertollini, Assistant Head Teacher at the local Edward Wilson Primary School, the project has delivered.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the children because they participated in the consultation and in shaping the design of the playground. It’s interesting to see how they enjoy the
We want to provide play areas that are accessible, inclusive, & welcoming to all families
playground and understand the purpose of these facilities like this bench which allows children in a wheelchair to sit and join other children.
“This is an amazing opportunity for them to see the completed refurbishment of the playground. It is also very insightful for them as it is the first playground that they have seen designed with children with disabilities in mind.”
Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, the council’s Deputy Leader, added: “I’m so pleased that we have renovated the Alfred Road Playground with accessible equipment. This will make it a much more welcoming environment for disabled children and their families and enable all our local children to play together and enjoy themselves.
“We know that many families of disabled children feel isolated, as accessing services and spaces is not straightforward and we want to do everything we can to provide play areas that are accessible and inclusive to all.”
The playground blends traditional and innovative technologies to create an inclusive environment
OF PLAY A GIANT
Jupiter Play’s Michael Hoenigmann has spent more than 30 years in the play sector. He recounts how the industry has changed – and why there is now renewed optimism for the future
Michael Hoenigmann’s career in play began with SMP Playgrounds in 1992. After spending a couple of years as Area Sales Manager for Scotland, he took up the challenge of relocating to Surrey to become the company’s Export Manager. The challenge back then was – in Hoenigmann’s own words – to sell what was effectively “coloured scaffolding” to countries that had far better designed playgrounds than we had in the UK. “That experience led me to the decision to establish my own business importing some unique and innovative products into the UK market,” Hoenigmann says and smiles. “So Jupiter Play was born in 1999 with a strapline we have to this day – ‘Out of this World’.”
After setting up Jupiter you set up another play company, before returning?
We started Jupiter in the front room of my home back in Edinburgh and worked with an industrial designer on an ad hoc basis. Delivering our first major project for Moray Council in Mosstodloch in 2000, we began to grow over the coming years to be one of the largest play companies in Scotland. In 2002, I then set up Proludic in the UK and had a fabulous time growing the business from a staff of eight to 40. I’m still immensely proud of the continued success of the business.
Jupiter Play’s SKYPARK project at Butlins
I quickly realised the profound role play has in child development and community wellbeing
We’re committed to innovation, sustainability & community impact
In 2005, I established a company called Inclusive Play as a direct response to the Disability Discrimination Act – and the fact that none of our supply chain at that time had the appetite for creating inclusive products. I’m pleased to see that this is no longer the case and am delighted that this business is also thriving with an excellent export performance. Returning to Jupiter Play in 2015 was a natural progression, having developed my managerial and business development skills and my understanding of play design and innovation. I was drawn in by the opportunity to have creative freedom to deliver more impactful play spaces that aligned with my values of sustainability and inclusivity. Today, I’m proud to be part of a team that pushes the boundaries of play design.
What originally attracted you to the play sector?
It was a happy coincidence that led me to the play sector, having worked in a building supplies company previously. I will always remember my mum telling me that the market must already be saturated. I was intrigued by the creativity and potential for community impact and quickly realised the profound role which play has in child development and community wellbeing. I wouldn’t really consider it a ‘job’ when you get to witness the transformation of an underutilised space into a hive of activity for communities.
How has the sector changed in the past 30+ years?
The play sector has evolved significantly since I joined in 1992, specifically the greater emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability. There’s also a growing recognition of the importance of play in community cohesion, mental health and wellbeing. However, there is too much reliance placed on procurement practices rather than play value and tangible outcomes for children and their communities. As a result of manufacturers striving to make things cheaper, many play spaces are being stripped of their excitement.
The most positive change has been the sector’s shift towards inclusive play; ensuring that children of all abilities can enjoy and benefit from play spaces. A key contributor to this has been the introduction of innovative technologies within interactive play. This offers levels of play that adapt to the user’s abilities to ensure they are actively engaged for longer, promoting healthier and more active communities all whilst providing live user statistics which highlight the return on investment. The gamification of play through interactives has been revolutionary. If I’d have to pick out negative changes, then one would be the stagnation in innovative play design and the reduction of landscaping within play areas have both been challenging. Most manufacturers seem to prefer designing flat wet pour areas surrounded by bow top fencing! It’s easy to argue that this is what the customer wants and that the
lack of maintenance budgets is driving this. Plus, more rigorous procurement means a substantial increase in admin time, effectively pushing up prices whilst providing less rather than greater value to projects. But I believe, as an industry, we can and should do better. Other countries are delivering much better play spaces, and we need to start taking inspiration from countries like Australia who have some amazing provision.
How would you describe the current state of play in the UK?
The UK play sector is in a good position, with a renewed optimism and public appreciation of play areas and green spaces post-pandemic. Play has been recognised for the first time in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and has been
debated in parliament for the first time in almost two decades. But we need to keep momentum up and showcase some of the fantastic and innovative work that is being delivered across the UK.
What do you see as the biggest challenges the industry faces?
Other than budget pressures, there are key challenges around educating buyers about the quality and sustainability of products and the life cycle of materials. We need to ensure that there are adequate revenue budgets allocated to new capital projects to ensure they are maintained to a high standard. You service your car every year, yet we expect to put a play area in and forget about it. Having to maintain a play area should be welcome news and is evidence that it is being well used!
The company is a finalist for two SAPCA Awards in 20225
The best play spaces come from true collaboration
And what about the biggest opportunities?
The greatest opportunity is for more collaborative working. Breaking down some of the barriers created by procurement processes would allow greater time for designs to evolve with clients and users. The best play spaces are normally delivered in this way. Can we really design anything of real value in a 4–6-week period whilst asking questions to a portal? There is very little opportunity to add value in this process! As an industry, we must create a tool which helps clients evaluate play value more effectively to ensure better provision across the board.
How would you describe Jupiter Play as a company?
It is a multifaceted company that embodies design innovation, consultancy expertise and turnkey solutions. We pride ourselves on being a comprehensive provider of outdoor play and sports equipment, offering bespoke designs and modern interactive solutions that cater for the children of today and diverse community needs.
What are Jupiter’s plans for the three years?
Since the pandemic, Jupiter Play has adapted and thrived by focusing on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. We’ve embraced digital tools and virtual consultations, allowing us to continue delivering exceptional play spaces while expanding our reach. Our Butlin’s SKYPARK projects are a testament to this, allowing us to work remotely and utilise innovative technologies such as interactive lighting to deliver exceptional play spaces.
We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of play design, with a focus on innovation, sustainability and community impact. We’re excited about the future and the role we can play in shaping the play sector. We have been collaborating on a PhD project evaluating different types of play spaces and their impact on children’s fundamental movement skills and look forward to seeing the results of this in the near future.
In the coming years, we are aiming to grow to a turnover of £10 million by further developing our design services, increasing our sales team and enhancing our product offerings. We are focused on delivering innovative play spaces that communities love, utilising our exclusive concept ‘KORE’ to challenge the traditional MUGA and doubling the number of Lappset Interactive products in the UK. And the success of our Butlin’s SKYPARK projects provides us with a springboard to increase our presence and challenge play within the leisure sector for the better.
What has been your proudest career moment so far?
One of my proudest moments at Jupiter Play was our company being highly commended in the Midlands Family Business Awards for Employer of the Year.
Reading some of the lovely comments that our wonderful team made on our submission made me very emotional, especially reading how our flexibility and support had made such a positive impact on the team. Hearing that our staff had never missed their children’s school sports days or plays because of our flexible working hours warmed my heart.
The company won an employer award in 2024
Designing play for the whole community
Designing play for the whole community
Less than 50% of play areas are accessible, fewer of those are inclusive. We work with clients to ensure that everyone can play alongside one another, in spaces built for the whole community.
n
n Design led approach
n Fully inclusive spaces
n n
n Interactives bring together technology and play
n PiPA accredited
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n Full catalogue of inclusive play equipment
Got a project coming up?
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www.jupiterplay.co.uk
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PLAYING POLITICS
Play England worked with Tom Hayes MP to secure a parliamentary debate on the provision of playgrounds. The debate, which took place on 8 January 2025, was seen as an important step in the ongoing efforts to promote children’s right to play
The recent parliamentary debate on playgrounds presented a crucial opportunity to address the growing threats facing playgrounds. Among the play sector, there has been growing alarm over how budget pressures, competing priorities and the absence of robust national safeguards are leaving play spaces at risk.
Titled “Provision of Playgrounds by Local Authorities”, the debate – led by Tom Hayes MP, was seen by play sector leaders as a vital moment for the industry to voice those concerns and to strengthen the momentum created by the recent National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) amendment, which identified the protection of ‘formal play spaces’.
Ignored and forgotten
In his opening statement, Hayes said that when the government looks to fix public services, it should be on the side of children and include play as an important element of future planning. He also presented his view that the reason so many playgrounds and play facilities had been lost was that they simply had been ‘forgotten about and ignored’.
“We need to be as serious about the play of children as we are about the work of adults,” Hayes said. “Our country has trivialised play for too long.
“I am astonished that there has only ever been one national play strategy, which was launched 17 years ago. I am also astonished that this is the first debate on the subject in eight years and – at an hour in length – the longest for 17 years.
We need to be as serious about the play of children as we are about the work of adults
“Is it any wonder that our playgrounds are ignored and left rotting, when our Parliament barely discusses them and when the last Government to invest in them – a Labour Government – did so 17 years ago, only for their £235 million programme to be cut three years later by the coalition government?”
Health benefits
Prior to the debate – with the view of getting people’s views on play – Hayes launched a survey in his constituency of Bournemouth East. He said the survey received 642 responses and, based on them, he had identified six major areas of concerns and points he wanted to bring to the debate.
“One of the main things that parents tell me they want from playgrounds for their children is a place to grow, to experiment, to push themselves, to learn alongside others and to be free from a screen-obsessed childhood,” Hayes said.
“They also mentioned that in a cost of living crisis, playgrounds give families places to spend time at no cost. They provide vital outdoor spaces for parents and families who do not have space at home and can also help to end the isolation that parents can feel; it is not just children who benefit.”
Hayes also highlighted how parents are aware of the huge health benefits that adequate play provision could help provide.
“In the survey, one parent asked ‘how can we keep our kids away from screens when playgrounds are broken, unattractive, a lot of times unkept and dirty’,” Hayes said.
“Some politicians tell children to get outside more, but it is not fair to criticise them for spending time on their screens, enjoying play in the only way they know how. It is usually the same politicians who have forced them, through policies and funding cuts, to shrink their world to their home or – even worse – to the smartphone in their hand.
Policy
“When playgrounds are being locked up or sold off and when parents lack safe outdoor spaces, where is left for children to go? Parents know that few of the social skills that children need as adults will be acquired through the scrolling of bottomless social media feeds.
“Anyone who has seen a two-year-old master the touch-and-swipe interface of a smartphone knows that we risk more and more children at younger and younger ages spending more and more hours scrolling through bottomless feeds. Parents are concerned.”
Play sufficiency
During the debate, Hayes urged the government to look at implementing play sufficiency legislation in England, bringing it in line with Wales and Scotland, which already have it in place. He argued that there was a perfect opportunity to do so through the planning and infrastructure bill.
He also suggested that the government could give playgrounds the same status as sports facilities, by extending Sport England’s remit to play areas so that consideration of playgrounds becomes a statutory duty.
When it comes to local authorities doing more, Hayes wanted to see more authorities follow the example of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool Council (BCP), which has created a Plan for Play for the region. Based on its own research, BCP has brought forward a strategy that sets out how our play infrastructure should be managed, designed and improved.
Playgrounds: six points to consider
During the debate, Hayes brought up six points which had been identified as priority areas in a survey of his constituents:
1
Playgrounds should be places to grow, to experiment and to learn alongside others
2 In a cost of living crisis, playgrounds give families places to spend time at no cost
3 Playgrounds are vital spaces for parents and families who do not have space at home
4 Due to the lack of safe outdoor play areas, children are spending more time on their screens
5 playgrounds are important places for children with special educational needs and for their carers
6
Playgrounds can also help to end the isolation that parents can feel; it is not just children who benefit
“I urge the Government to mandate local authorities to map play facilities and their current state and quality,” Hayes said. “BCP Council did so voluntarily, not because it was mandated. I commend the council for agreeing to the Plan for Play strategy.”
A clear strategy, Hayes argued, would encourage more children and young people to discover outdoor play and spend less time on screens. This would lead to benefits in both physical and mental health, as well as strengthen communities.
“Young brains are being rewired,” Hayes warned. “We want children to be children, because that is a good thing in its own right, but we must keep it in mind that the growing number of children hooked on social media today may become a growing number of patients of mental health services and economically inactive adults. This will contribute to less in tax to the Treasury while increasing demand on already strained publicly funded services.
“Just as our predecessors in Parliament passed legislation more than a century ago to protect children against work-based childhoods, we can pass a safer phones Bill to make smartphones less addictive for children.” The full debate can be watched at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDiKrL8GWI
Tom Hayes MP led the debate
Playgrounds provide vital outdoor spaces for families who lack space at home and help end the isolation parents can feel
During the debate 12 MPs made comments. Here are some of them
Jim Shannon MP – DUP (Strangford)
If we ask any councillor in any borough of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland about playground provision, they will say that one of the biggest issues they face is not simply securing funding for play parks, but upkeep and the need for better provision of disabled access equipment. It happens all the time. Outdoor play is critical for children to reach their full potential.
Leigh Ingham – Labour (Stafford)
I am concerned that there are not enough accessible parks, and that those that are accessible are not similarly so for neurodiverse children. To truly cater for SEND children, both with physical disabilities and neurodiversity, playground design must go beyond a sticking-plaster approach. We need well thought out, fit-for-purpose equipment that prioritises sensory play and safety. That includes sensory equipment items that are both functional and inviting, and spaces that are designed to reduce overstimulation.
Helen Maguire – Liberal Democrats (Epsom and Ewell)
As policymakers, we often focus on the physical education of our children, but playgrounds are about so much more than exercise. They are where children learn to navigate risk, build relationships and develop the resilience that will serve them for life. However, according to the 2024 green space index, 2.3 million children in Britain under the age of nine, which is nearly one third, live more than a 10-minute walk from their nearest playground. That is a stark indicator of a growing play crisis in our country. Playgrounds are vital spaces where children explore their world and themselves. Through play, they develop social skills, creativity and cognitive abilities. They learn to assess and embrace risk, make decisions and form friendships. Playgrounds are incubators for resilience, teaching children the skills to thrive in a challenging world.
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