DCMS Evidence Session

In September 2025, the UK parliament committee for Culture, Media and Sport ran a special evidence session on Play.

Following an open call for proposals from the CMS select committee that scrutinises the government department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Playing Out, Play England and the Centre for Young Lives all proposed a focus on play. Given the crisis in children’s physical and mental health and recent calls for policy change around play –  the 2025 Play Commission report and recommendations, the 2023/24 Inquiry into Children, Young People and the Built Environment and  Play England’s new 10 year strategy  – the moment was right and the proposal was successful.

Who took part

Playing Out (Ingrid Skeels), Play England (Eugene Minogue) and Nicola Noble (Head of Surrey Square Primary School) were invited to give oral evidence, alongside Baroness Anne Longfield (Centre for Young Lives), Paul Lindley (Raising the Nation) and Tim Gill (Rethinking Childhood), nearly all of us having been Commissioners on – or leading  – the Play Commission.

What we told them

The above film gives main highlights from our session where together we covered the benefits of outdoor free play, barriers and inequalities, play and sport, big picture policy changes that need to happen and final messages – and pleas – that government urgently act on these issues and  change things for children. The full two hour evidence sessions can also be watched on-line  and this includes evidence given around education and play.

How can we use this for change?

As well as any direct impact (see below) the impact of this session depends as much on how far it is known about and connects up with other policy approaches around children and play, and how far government is held to account on this. Our collection of shorter clips is useful for sharing and helping with this.

Next steps

The CMS select committee is currently writing to the government department (DCMS) to raise issues and questions arising from the evidence sessions. We will update here.

Read also our Playing Out Manifesto and other big picture policy developments from the past two years, all of which are pointing to the same cross departmental policy changes needed to restore children’s freedom to play, move, socialise and belong where they live, for free.