Catherine Prisk is anxious to find a green backdrop for her photo shoot. Play England promotes outdoor play, but its offices at the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) in central London are brick-heavy, and a patch of grass opposite is tainted, ironically, by an ominous “no ball games” sign.
Charlie, her small terrier, accompanies her on her canal-side walk to work on Fridays, and today is a Friday. He shivers and looks dispirited by the brisk autumnal day. But his owner shrugs and smiles. “It’s good to be outside,” she insists.
A year has passed since Prisk was appointed director of Play England, after her predecessor Adrian Voce stood down. During that time, the sector has been struggling with cuts to services and increasing concerns about children’s lack of connection to the natural world.
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