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Play Strategy

 

'Something to do' - Coventry's Play Strategy

Modern living has thrown up a range of barriers to children playing. More traffic, less open space, real and perceived dangers from crime, changes in family life and new patterns of work have all restricted the opportunities that previous generations of children took for granted.

Recent studies have shown that:

  • more than one third of children never play outside
  • almost 50% of children spend more than three hours per day watching television or playing computer games
  • nearly two thirds of parents are worried about letting their children play outside
  • three quarters of parents feel that children face increased risks from playing outside compared with five years ago

In 2006, Big Lottery announced a £155 million funding programme to improve children's play opportunities. Coventry has been allocated £790,000 which is to be spent over three years.

The aims of the strategy are to help the Council and its partners to:

  • develop more and better local and inclusive play spaces and opportunities
  • create a more child-friendly public space
  • improve understanding of the importance of children's play across the range of policy areas that have an impact on children's lives
  • embed play within key strategic plans and initiatives
  • make effective use of funding

Coventry's Play Strategy has been developed by a range of council services working in partnership with the voluntary sector.

For more information please contact Sally Giles, Policy Development Coordinator 024 7683 3699 or Gennie Holmes, Play Strategy Manager on 024 7683 2944.