CHILDREN'S play charities throughout Scotland will share £550,000 in funding to help improve their services and encourage families and children to use their spaces.
The money will benefit a variety of community spaces such as streets, parks, nature spaces, playgrounds, and woodlands and will help these spaces deliver creative outdoor play sessions, as well as active play times.
These sessions are to be unstructured and child led, encouraging children to use their imagination and creativity to create games and ways to play.
Children and Young People’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “All children have a right to play and there is strong evidence that playing outside can benefit children and young people’s health and wellbeing.
“We know that families from more deprived areas and those with children with additional support needs can sometimes find it difficult to access play opportunities. By increasing our investment in the Outdoor Community Play Fund in 2022-23, we will help more children to access quality outdoor play in their communities, to be active, meet friends and have fun.”
Delivered by Inspiring Scotland, the fund is provided by the Scottish Government’s Outdoor Community Play Fund which sets out to improve the health and well-being of children and families.
Previously, the fund helped support over 10,000 young people throughout Scotland.
In 2022, however, it aims to reach even more children, with a particular focus on expanding support for children with additional support needs.
There is also a focus on recovering from the impact of Covid-19, as outdoor play is being recognised as an important way for children and families to regain and strengthen their well-being and confidence.
Inspiring Scotland chief executive Celia Tennant said: “We know playing outdoors is vital for children’s health and wellbeing; it boosts physical activity, promotes mental wellbeing, and supports children to learn essential social and emotional skills.
“This fund values and supports outdoor play for children at a time when play and connecting with friends has never been more needed. We are striving to make outdoor play and its many benefits a reality for as many children and their families across Scotland as possible.”
Thrive Outdoors, a programme piloted by Inspiring Scotland that encourages outdoor play, will be available to support to spaces receiving money from the fund alongside members of Inspiring Scotland’s Specialist Volunteer Network.
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