We have been unable to deliver open access, community-based play activities since the end of March 2020 due to Government restrictions and public health directives to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Continued restrictions over the summer holiday period prevented us from delivering our usual mass community play gatherings in public spaces. This meant that more than 1,000 school-aged children living in 33 disadvantaged and rurally isolated communities were not able to enjoy the multiple health and wellbeing benefits that outdoor play brings to them, their families, their schools and their communities.

Concern for the most vulnerable children in Gloucestershire created an opportunity for us to contribute to Gloucestershire County Council’s working group for ‘Out of School Holidays Planning’. Our challenge was to adapt our open access services into a more targeted way of working that complied with the Government guidelines, would keep staff and beneficiaries safe and that could support Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable children first as we move into the Covid-19 recovery phase.

With our award winning Play Nurture work in mind we developed two projects.  Click to see highlights

Summer Play 2 Recover Play Bubbles

Playful Transitions

If you would like to request an e-copy of the full report for either or both projects please email info@playgloucestershire.org.uk