Scottish Children’s Campaigners Demand Play Policy

Children’s right to have safe places to play outdoors is not taken as serious in Scotland as England, according to children’s groups. Both Barnardo’s and Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Kathleen Marshall have warned the government that youngsters physical health and wellbeing could be at stake if the situation does not improve.

With 20 per cent of 12-year-old Scots officially obese, the groups have called for the Scottish Executive to introduce a “Play Policy” to ensure every child has “somewhere safe, challenging and accessible to play.” Similar policies have already been introduced in England and Wales.

Barnardo’s claims a combination of overprotective parents, hostile neighbours and a lack of quality accessible play space is gradually eroding opportunities for children to play. It maintains this deprives children of important opportunities to socialise “and risks leaving them bored and frustrated.” Its plea for children’s play to be a priority area requiring political action has come in response to the Executive’s “physical activity and open space” consultation. Ministers are seeking views on a national policy on planning for open space and facilities for leisure pursuits.

Barnardo’s has highlighted action being taken by other Home Countries to tackle the issue of outdoor play areas. It’s response said: “With the launch of the Welsh Assembly government’s new ‘Play Strategy’ and the injection of significant funds to the new ‘Play England’ project, there is a danger that Scotland’s children will be left behind.”

The charity also points to a claim by the Commission on Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) that investment in the creation and care of high quality public spaces is more effective in tackling anti-social behaviour than the blanket use of tough security measures. Kathleen Marshall,

Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, echoed Barnardo’s concerns, saying a lack of community facilities is likely to have a knock-on effect on children’s physical health and social well-being. She said her main concern in the executive’s consultation document is the lack of any reference to the rights and needs of children.

She claims children and young people should be helped to “map out” their local areas to identify open spaces important to them. “The results should be collated on a map made available for planners to consult. “Where a development would encroach on one of the areas identified as significant to children and young people, they should be consulted before any decision is made to designate the area as surplus to requirements, or to dispose of it, or approve a planning application in relation to it.”

The Executive is expected to publish its findings in the Spring.