Ministers urged to invest in outdoor play to help children recover from pandemic

The call has come from the Association of Play Industries (API), which represents play equipment providers.

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It wants to see ministers in England mirror a pledge for investment in outdoor play in Scotland made by first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Earlier this month, Sturgeon pledged £60m to upgrade children’s play parks across Scotland as part of the Scottish National Party’s election promises.

The API has written open letters to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, health secretary Matt Hancock and housing, communities and local government secretary Robert Jenrick, calling for further investment in outdoor play in England.

This is especially needed due to the upheaval children have experienced amid the health crisis, say the letters.

“Children and young people have experienced severe disruption and hardship for a virus which barely affects them, and every attempt should be made by government to reverse these effects so that they are not blighted by them for the rest of their lives,” state the letters from API chair Mark Hardy.

“The government is now presented with a rare opportunity to mitigate the damage to children caused by lockdown and to support their health and wellbeing for generations to come, with one simple yet powerful public health measure: the UK urgently needs a national network of sustainable public play spaces to support children’s health.”

Being called for is a central ring-fenced funding stream “to create and enhance local, doorstep spaces”. The letter argues that his would be a “hugely popular measure and produce a high return on a relatively modest investment”.

The letter also cites previous API research, which found that almost three quarters (72 per cent) of parents of children with health issues such as obesity say that a lack of outdoor play facilities in their area has been a factor in their children’s problems.

The API has also written to Sturgeon to welcome her commitment to fund outdoor play.