Our Big Event
12 March 2026
Our Big Event
12 March 2026
We have grown the UK-wide resident led street play movement, where thousands of people are working in their own communities and time to bring about positive change for children. Alongside this, we campaign and lobby for longer-term changes to support children’s right to play out. We have a small staff and associate team based in Bristol and are steered by a board of voluntary directors, with help from a wider group of ‘expert friends‘.
Alice and her neighbour Amy Rose developed the temporary play street model on their own street in 2009. Playing Out grew out of that idea and action, responding to interest from other parents, residents, experts and organisations and growing a movement for children’s right to play out. As Associates, Alice and Ingrid focus on projects, development, strategy, advocacy, campaigning, public speaking and writing work towards the long-term vision and aims of Playing Out. Alice has a particular interest in the relationship between the built environment, community activism and children’s freedom and has published several research papers including this overview of the Playing Out movement in Cities and Health. Alice is also a Board Director.
Twitter: @aliceplayingout
Ingrid is passionate about the importance of freedom, play and community for children and our power to change things and build a better, more just world. Ingrid is one of the original parents who founded Playing Out in 2011 when the play streets idea began to spread. Her work within Playing Out supports the growth of a national and international movement of community led change reclaiming space for children, and speaks out for local and national policy change. As Associates, Ingrid and Alice focus on projects, development, strategy, advocacy, campaigning, public speaking and writing work towards the long-term vision and aims of Playing Out. Ingrid is also writer and author; part of the acclaimed child-led Room 13 Hareclive collective; and Playing Out Board Director.
Amy is an interdisciplinary artist with a background in physical and visual theatre. Much of her early experience was as a street performer in international festivals. She now primarily works as a director of visual and site responsive theatre as well as making cross-form, participatory art works in response to social issues or public space. Amy’s involvement with developing Playing Out grew out of a creative project she did whilst at home with her two young daughters, and included writing, photography, drawing, dreaming and playing on her own street over several years, and then working with Alice to make it happen. Amy has inputted to the website design and guidance materials as well as created new projects and events.
In many parts of the UK, committed residents are working to get their local councils on board, spread the ‘playing out’ idea beyond their own streets and give peer-support to others locally. Some do this in their own time and some go on to win a small amount of seed funding to cover time and expenses. Please contact us to find out more – or if you think you are one!
Along with guest writers from various backgrounds, we all write for the Playing Out blog, drawing on our different work, interests and experience. Explore some of the articles, ideas, opinions and stories and see what you think. You can receive our blog straight to your email in-box.
Windmill Hill City Farm
Philip Street
Bristol
BS3 4EA
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