Playing Out

“Streets for play, streets for freedom” by @aliceferguson.bsky.social & @timrgill.bsky.social makes the case for a "child lens" on transport policy. Time to prioritise those most impacted yet least considered in planning our streets: Children. Read more here: playingout.net/take-action/...

I’ve just shared a bit of a lengthy post about @playingout.bsky.social and the new Play Streets Network that Lucy Colbeck (former PO play streets manager) and I are going to be working on to keep supporting play streets across the country.

A privilege to attend @playingout.bsky.social’s last Bristol event yday. A celebration of 17yrs of creating child-friendly streets & a call for others to take up the fight. Struck how many spoke about how children’s doorstep play brings neighbours together & connects ppl from different backgrounds

Spending the day surrounded by inspiration, energetic changemakers at the Playing Out and Beyond event in Bristol @playingout.bsky.social @playworcester.bsky.social (1/?)…

If you’re a councillor - or a candidate in May - and you’d like to pursue a pro-play policy with your council, there’s a kind of “menu” of possible ideas/actions you can engage with here. @edwardlamb.bsky.social @saskiaheijltjes.bsky.social @positivelyplayful.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social

What a brilliant @playingout.bsky.social conference today! Children's right to play is more important than ever. Let's make sure that more (all!) children can play, more of the time.

All but forgotten, but reincarnated in a different form by @playingout.bsky.social and allies across the country, such that, between 2010 and 2024, over 1,650 street communities organised regular, temporary play streets in 100+ different local authority areas across the UK.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” — George Orwell, 1984

Please sign and share. @playengland.bsky.social @playscotland.bsky.social @playwales.bsky.social secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/...

This will be a fabulous celebration of @playingout.bsky.social and all its allies, plotting next steps in the movement to reclaim children’s freedom to play out and move around safely and happily on their doorsteps and in their neighbourhoods. Join us!

@playingout.bsky.social children were never asked if they would like to give up their natural playgrounds - the streets - and be cooped up indoors or cooped up in cars

Tomorrow I'll be talking through the political process we went through on Wirral to get outdoor play on our council Work Programme. Join the latest @playingout.bsky.social webinar if you can! Lots of other good stuff on the agenda as well 😎😀 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/restoring-...

Not too late to join our FREE webinar this Wednesday lunchtime! Hear from Cllrs @edwardlamb.bsky.social and @rezinachowdhury.bsky.social on actions councils are taking to restore children's freedom, as well as 'big picture' stuff from us. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/restoring-...

Let’s seize this moment for children’s outdoor play! FREE lunchtime webinar, Weds 3 Dec 12.30-1.30pm Hear from Cllrs @rezinachowdhury.bsky.social and @edwardlamb.bsky.social on the bolder actions councils can take to restore children's outdoor play. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/restoring-...

Lots of posts with comments about the proposed two-hour screen limit/curfew for children and young people are popping up in my timeline, all saying the same thing: Invest in places for C&YP to play and hang out in.

This is wonderful news! Exactly what we've been wanting to happen. Enormous gratitude to @edwardlamb.bsky.social and Wirral Council for leading the way for other councils to follow!!

If you live in Dublin and would like to organise a Play Street for your street / area for World Car Free Day, you can read all about the UK experience of how to do it informally here via @playingout.bsky.social: playingout.net/play-streets... #d7playstreets

Children have as much right to their streets as drivers. There is no legal basis for them being shoed off streets. And I have no doubt that cars - moving and parked - cause a nuisance for children. This is extraordinarily depressing from Manchester City Council. @playingout.bsky.social

Any organisation that exists to support children cannot remain silent in the face of this genocide. Our Government must end its complicity and take meaningful action against Israel *right now*. #StopKillingChildren

Last weekend in Bristol, children on bikes took over their city centre! They were seen and heard. They had a blast. But the aim of #KidicalMass is also serious. This is not the everyday norm. Children across the UK need #SafeStreetsNow. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLtA...

Off to the launch of the Play Commission final report this morning - will be absorbing the report and its recommendations on the train, but pleased to see strong arguments for child-friendly neighbourhoods. @playingout.bsky.social

Today is International Day of Play. As Ingrid Skeels - @playingout.bsky.social - says below: "we have to make the outside world a place children can play in real life." Instead of debating road "closures", we should be *opening* our streets so more children can play on the streets where they live.

www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...

I always saying opening a street for play is magical, often not spectacular, but the ordinary magic that Stuart Lester talks about. No wonder those who try it want more. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

Ladies Mile is a totally unnecessary road cutting across Bristol’s biggest public greenspace - The Downs - making it unsafe for kids. It was closed to cars for the day yesterday and what a change! Let’s make this permanent. @edplowden.bsky.social @robbryher.bsky.social @bristol247.bsky.social

On my way into work this morning I saw this, on a rare “home zone” in Bristol, where cars do not have priority. Imagine the time and energy this must have taken! Imagine the sense of belonging, of “my space, my street, my community”. Imagine if all children had this. @playingout.bsky.social

"...with the cost of inaction measured in children’s lives, politicians urgently need to wake up and act". @mumsforlungs.bsky.social @adfreecities.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @cleancitiescampaign.org #SUVAlliance www.suv-alliance.org.uk/blog/surging...

It’s not often you see MPs, one after another, standing up & calling for safe streets where children can 🚲🚶🏾🛴 🤸 without fear of being killed. Hats off to @ollyglover.bsky.social and all. #SafeStreetsNow @playingout.bsky.social parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

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Doing some planning for @playingout.bsky.social's next Play Streets Forum, where the focus will be on the campaign against "No Ball Games" signs, as part of the wider campaign for children's doorstep play, so a reminder of the petition - please sign and share: chng.it/B6nJ7XVKvn

It’s Sunday! This might well be the most MASSIVE Kidical Mass London yet - join us! It is going to be amazing! Thank you so much @ibikelondon.bsky.social @mumsforlungs.bsky.social @cleancitiescampaign.org @zeroemissions.bsky.social and everyone else who has been sharing details of this ride!

5 years on, we need to remember how badly children were let down in the pandemic - and resolve to make it right. @playingout.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/posts/alice-...

As a former Lambeth resident, it’s great to see this campaign gaining momentum! 🏀⚽️ Removing 'No Ball Games' signs is an important step towards creating a child-friendly borough where every child can feel part of their community, stay active, enjoy playing with friends, and be happy!