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.