Bristol play outdoors scheme for children wins award

A scheme founded in Bristol which encourages children to play outside safely is being recognised at this year’s Mirror Pride of Sport Awards.

Playing Out was launched in the summer of 2009 by mum Alice Rose and her friend Amy at Greville Road in Southville.

A group of parents of children at Ashton Gate Primary School in Bedminster had got together after becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of safe spaces for their children to play.

The group struck on the idea of closing the road on the basis for having a street party, but instead of putting on a party, just to use the road as a safe place for local children to play outside their own homes.

The idea was well received, with lots of children coming out to play and socialise – with some even meeting for the first time despite being neighbours.

After seeing the success of the scheme, other parents decided they wanted to do something similar in their street.

A small amount of funding was granted by Bristol City Council to pilot the Playing Out initiative in other areas of Bedminster.

Playing Out co-director Ingrid Skeels said: “It became very much a parent-led movement.

“Parents saw what Alice and Amy did and wanted to do it on their own streets to give their children a chance to be active in a safe space and socialise and make friends."

Word about Playing Out started to spread with more and more parents getting involved.

Now there are more than 1,000 Playing Out street communities across the UK.

Full Article: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-scheme-children-play-outside-3608000