Get Involved

Anyone can organise a Playday event or take part in Playday celebrations.

 

What's Playday?

Hackney Downs Playday

 

Playday is the annual celebration of children’s right to play, a national day highlighting the importance of play in children’s lives.

Now in it’s 23rd year, Playday is the biggest play sector event in the UK. Traditionally held on the first Wednesday of August, Playday 2010 takes place on 4 August.

 

What happens on Playday?

On Playday and throughout the summer, children, young people and communities get out and play at hundreds of locally organised events. Previous years have seen children take over town centres, parks, woodlands, and even beaches. Last year, over 830 events took place across the UK, and this year is set to be even bigger.

 

Campaigning for change

As well as a celebration, Playday is an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children’s play. As part of Playday 2010, Play England and partners have launched the Our place campaign. The campaign is tackling the restrictions faced by children wanting to play outside where they live, and highlights the role of communities in shaping childhood.

 

Get involved

A wide variety of individuals and organisations will be getting involved in Playday 2010 – from local authorities to community groups, play settings and groups of neighbours. There are lots of ways you can celebrate Playday and get involved in the wider campaign. Why not:

  • Organise a celebration – Anyone can organise a Playday event. Whether it’s a large community-wide event or a get-together with friends and family, there are lots of ways to celebrate. Free resources are available to help you plan a Playday event and, if you do decide to celebrate, you can get a free registration pack!
  • Attend a Playday event – with hundreds of events across the country there’s bound to be one near you. Check out the Events near you pages to see how Playday is being celebrated in your local area.
  • Spread the Playday word – the more people that know about Playday, the more opportunities children will have to play where they live. Free promotional materials are available to download and order via the Resources pages.

Where and how you decide to celebrate Playday is up to you - what’s really important is that children and young people get to have fun, and that you help raise awareness that not all children have the chance to experience outdoor fun all year round.