Mae Murray Foundation and PlayBoard NI have produced a new resource to support the development of inclusive play parks in Northern Ireland. The aim of the ADAPT my Play guide and toolkit is to support the development of inclusive play parks in Northern Ireland.
The dual resource is underpinned by the lived experience-led framework, ADAPT, which outlines 5 priority areas. ADAPT challenges us all to; adapt our thinking and planning; make inclusion central to the delivery of community facilities, projects, and services; and commit to delivering specific actions and goals that contribute to building an inclusive society.
The first stage of this work commenced in Spring of 2019 with the development and implementation of a study to evidence unmet need in outdoor fixed play environments. 500 families contributed from across Northern Ireland, with a variety of differing and multiple needs. The purpose of this study was to inform policy makers, and those involved in play space development, about the lived experience of families. We are delighted to now publish the Let Me Play study and associated press release.
Mae Murray Foundation are absolutely delighted to welcome this statement (below) from the Children’s Play Policy Forum and the UK Play Safety Forum. The voices of our children and their families provide the key evidence which underpins this landmark statement by leading UK charities and industry bodies on the topic of inclusive play.
We have been striving to represent the voices of excluded children and families, and to create high-level systemic change, that will deliver a network of quality play experiences for ALL children. This strong statement clearly says that work to date has not been good enough. We have the knowledge, and the insight from lived-experience, to build models of best practice across the UK and that is exactly what we intend to do. Government must ensure that funding for inclusive spaces meets the specific definition of ‘inclusive,’ not just accessible. We must deliver play spaces which meet the needs of ALL children.
Registered Charity Number: NIC100842
