Let's Play Fair: inclusive playgrounds
Inaccessible playgrounds are stopping too many disabled children from having fun and friendship. All because playgrounds are not designed with their needs in mind.
- 49% of families with disabled children face accessibility problems with their local playground.
- 10% parents of disabled children said their child got hurt using inaccessible equipment.
We are calling for local authorities to work with families to create inclusive playgrounds. So that every disabled child can play.
Making local playgrounds inclusive
Our focus is on supporting you to make your local playgrounds more inclusive. You can get involved, help raise awareness and influence your local authority.
Play investigation
We need to understand more about how inclusive your local playground is to influence and make change happen. You can help us by completing our Play Investigation survey.
We will use this data to help us assess the accessibility and inclusiveness of playgrounds across England and Wales.
A guide to campaigning for inclusive playgrounds
Use our latest guidance to influence your local decision-makers and councillors and make lasting change. So, we have gathered expertise from people who have successfully campaigned to make their playground more inclusive and accessible.
Our guidance includes topics like:
- what makes a playground accessible
- how to engage with your local authority
- where to find funding for inclusive playgrounds
- and much more
Accessibility issues with playgrounds
Through research like 'Our Live Our Journey'. Parents tell us that the playgrounds they use are not designed for disabled children. This creates barriers for their child.
Barriers like:
- lack of inclusive and accessible playground equipment
- inaccessible pathways and tight spaces
- challenging and uneven terrain
This limits choice and their child’s right to play. It’s unjust and unfair.
Why are inclusive playgrounds important?
Play is fundamental to a child’s development and wellbeing, and playgrounds help this. There are over 1 million disabled children in the UK.
Through play a child can:
- learn
- explore
- stay active
- make friends and socialise
Not being able to access these play spaces can increase exclusion and isolation.
We want to see:
- accessible equipment
- sensory opportunities
- appropriate surfaces and fences
These changes make play fun, safe and open to all children.
What we have achieved together
Over 31,236 of you signed our open letter in England and Wales. You called for government to introduce a multi-million pound inclusive playgrounds fund. Helping to make play fair. We delivered this to Government departments in England and Wales in November 2022.
Over 500 of you met, phoned or emailed your local representative. Explaining why it matters that your local politician supports inclusive playgrounds. We also worked with some parents to meet their MP at their local playgrounds to illustrate the issue.
Your stories reached millions through high-profile news outlets like:
- the BBC
- Metro
- and iNews
We commissioned 3 disabled artists to develop illustrations of inclusive playgrounds. They took inspiration from ideas shared by families of disabled children. These helped bring to life what inclusive playgrounds could mean. We shared these illustrations with:
- the Minister for Disabled people at the Conservative party conference
- in meetings with civil servants
- and on social media
Advice for families with disabled children
We help disabled children and their families get support when they need it. We have lots of advice for families with disabled children.
If you have a disabled child, we are here for you. We can help you navigate an overwhelming, complex system so you feel less alone.