Impact of play streets - Community Building

Playing Outis a national organisation supporting a growing UK-wide street play movement. As well as thousands of people working on a voluntary basis in their own streets and cities, we have a small staff team based in Bristol.

Playing Out

Kim Leadbeater MP, Nicky Webb play street organiser & Playing Out discuss how play streets build resilient communities and tackle isolation

Are you working to grow community and support communal spaces or tackle isolation and loneliness? You might be a professional, an elected member, or someone wanting to make positive change where you live. Join us for this webinar to find out how play streets and playing out can support this crucial work. We will interview Kim Leadbeater MP (sister of late Jo Cox MP) who speaks powerfully about community, about her own experiences of playing out as a child in her community, and why we need safe, communal spaces where this can happen, more than ever now. We will also hear from Nicky Webb, resident play street organiser in Hurst Park estate, Cambridge, who had a moving experience on her play street this summer, with a family who live a few doors down. Playing Out will finish by presenting the specific impact that play streets have on community connection and well-being. This evidence will help make the case for play streets and can support your decision making around funding and work in your area.We will share the webinar recording and any supporting documents afterwards, so please sign up to receive these. There will be an optional Q&amp;A at 3-3.30pm with Playing Out, if you want to ask questions. <h3>Kim Leadbeater bio </h3>Kim Leadbeater was elected as MP for Batley and Spen in May 2021, taking up her older sister Jo Cox’ legacy. In the 2021 New Year Honours, Kim was awarded an MBE for services to social cohesion, community and combatting loneliness. She is a passionate advocate for community and talks powerfully about her own experiences of playing out as a child and the sense of belonging it gave. Based on her professional background, Kim is also a strong advocate for &quot;everyday physical activity&quot; and the importance of creating the right environments for children to play and be active as part of their normal lives.<h3>Nicky Webb bio</h3>Nicky is a resident who with others has started organising play street sessions and other initiatives designed to increase community cohesion, in Hurst Park Estate, north Cambridge. The positive impact that play streets have had in Nicky’s neighbourhood can be seen in this feedback she received: “I’ve just moved here and feel I’ve been catapulted into a Netflix documentary about healthy communities.” One local family had been experiencing isolation and other difficulties, and were able to connect with their neighbours and a supportive local network, through the opportunity to join in with the play street.<h3>Context/ background</h3>We all <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/08/990810164724.htm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">need to belong</a>, children and adults alike, for our happiness, health and wellbeing.People who live on play streets report knowing more people in their street, and a greater sense of belonging . During the worst lockdowns of the covid pandemic, people who live on play streets mobilised immediately to support one another and connect in joyful and imaginative ways, helping them survive and thrive in one of the most challenging periods of our history. As well as the joy created on a play street which contributes to well-being, neighbours getting to know each other means networks are formed, and understanding is there if someone is vulnerable and needs help. <h2>How to join?</h2>Once you have registered, we will send you a link to join the zoom meeting two days before the event, and a password on the morning of the event.IMPORTANT: Please check your junk mailbox as the emails will come direct from Eventbrite.How much does it cost?It&#x27;s free! We want it to be available to everyone.However, if you / your organisation would like to make a donation it will go towards our running costs as a very small non-profit organisation (currently a team of five, most part-time).I can&#x27;t make it - can I watch afterwards?We will record the discussion and share afterwards. If you can&#x27;t make it, please sign up to our mailing list to receive the recording.<a href="https://playingout.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=30c4a9fcbf6e97d0e088a2611&amp;id=f525b5a1c3" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sign up to our mailing list here</a>Any questions? email hello@playingout.net<h3>Feedback from play streets this summer:</h3>[The play street means]… a connected and supportive community of families and friends for our children. Kids learning more each other’s differences and building respect for one another.[The play street]… has welcomed us into the community and we’ve become part of a support group that I’ve only ever witnessed as a military family on a patch.It was a really lovely feeling watching the afternoon evolve and seeing the kids playing and neighbours chatting together.Hopscotch up to 100, rides on quadro construction (35 years of use and still going strong!), fancy dress, face painting, lots of smiles and laughs. Oh and cake cake and more cake. Playing Out it was sooooo good to welcome you back to our street in Bristol on Sunday

Impact of play streets - Community Building

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Impact of play streets - Community Building

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