Worcester City Play Council- a brief history
Worcester Play Council is created
In 1987, Worcester City Council officers made the progressive and future-focussed,
decision to form Worcester Play Council. To put this in context, The United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) enshrining children’s right to play,
was not ratified for another two years, and the National Play Strategy was still over
20 years away (April 2008).
Worcester Play Council had its own constitution, (adopted on 16th November 1987 of
the same year, amended 21st December 2002) and was managed by a Board of
Trustees. Charitable status was first registered on 2nd March 1990.
When Worcester Play Council was established, popular children’s activities included
playing with Rubik’s Cubes, hopscotch, building dens and riding bikes. Although
most homes had televisions, access to children’s programmes was limited. Children
playing outside with unsupervised freedom was an everyday feature of the city
backdrop. The council had no reason to believe that the right of children to roam as
citizens in their own neighbourhoods was about to change.
Worcester Play Council
The Play Council was an arms-length organisation whose purpose was to lead play
development and play schemes in the city.
In 2014, it was noted that volunteer members had secured funding for play worker
posts in disadvantaged areas of the city and play scheme funds as well as raising
the profile of play throughout the city. The Play Council worked in partnership with
the City Council, SureStart and Worcester Community Housing.
The Play Council had the following strategic aims:
To influence through:
• developing and supporting meaningful engagement and consultation;
• representing play at strategic levels; and
• raising awareness of Worcester Play Council and play to citywide organisations.
To connect through:
• networking regularly with a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations;
• supporting and facilitating partnership working to drive the vision;
and
• providing support through lobbying partners and challenging policy decisions about play.
To develop by:
• expert, current information and advice/ guidance for play development;
• training, mentoring and sign-posting to enhance play opportunities;
• grants for high quality play;
• resources;
• support with additional funding opportunities;
• volunteering; and
• professional development.
(DCA Museums Worcestershire Options Appraisal and Feasibility Study (2014, p.11-12)
A proud legacy
Throughout its existence many local councillors chose to co-opt onto the executive
board and the Play Council received financial support from both the city council and
other charities/organisations.
Play rangers with their parachute games, face-painting, giant bubbles and other
activities became a familiar sight across Worcester city during the school holidays
and countless children and families enjoyed free, fun-filled days over the years. That
Worcester City Council pro-actively prioritised high quality play opportunities is
something all involved should be proud of and is a legacy that we at Play Worcester
build on.
Worcester City Play Council becomes Play Worcester
With ever-increasing pressure on the City Council to reduce expenditure it became
apparent that Worcester Play Council was unsustainable. At a Trustee and Board
Member meeting on 16th April 2024 it was agreed that Worcester Play Council would
be re-branded as Play Worcester, existing as a stand-alone charity separate from the
city council. This would enable Play Worcester to apply for larger grants and
increased funds, potentially in conjunction with other partners.
On 16 th June 2024, thirty friends and well-wishers gathered at Perdiswell Young
People’s Leisure Centre where the achievements of Worcester Play Council were
celebrated, and the newly created Play Worcester was officially launched.
Future Direction
Play Worcester’s new mission statement is to make Worcester a more vibrant and
playful city, appreciating that play and playfulness are beneficial for everyone, not
just for children. Playful cities contribute to happier, healthier and connected
communities, generating a mood of optimism, economic vitality and life satisfaction
for its citizens.
To achieve this, many of the original objectives of Worcester Play Council remain
valid. Play Worcester seeks to influence strategic planning within the city, (whether
as an instigator or contributor), advocate for children’s right to play, engage
meaningfully with children and represent their views. It also offers expertise on
matters relating to play.
In addition, Play Worcester networks with stakeholders who have overlapping
agendas to drive policy, partnership working and vision realisation. It draws
inspiration from frameworks such as the UNICEF Child Friendly City initiative and
other projects.
Filling the gap left by the dissolution of Worcester Play Council in delivering high
quality play provision in the school holidays, Play Worcester funds and hosts pop-up
play activities, grounded on empirical research with children in Worcester on how
they like to play.
Worcester city has a rich heritage and proud past, but this should not be confined to
bygone eras. Play Worcester aims to offer a positive vision for the future and
contribute to re-imagining public spaces as vibrant and playful, which will in turn
contribute to vibrant and playful citizens.
