Issues »
Article in the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Places in Common, by Bernard Spiegal »
‘The recent ‘riots’ or ‘disorder’ should not deflect us from creating a local, shared communal realm…’
Play England: whither and what for? by Bernard Spiegal »
‘An admittedly bleak assessment suggests that Play England…’
Green Places magazine article by Bernard Spiegal with a case study (of sorts) included »
Neither maintenance concerns nor those of health and safety need impede developing a more open-hearted approach…
Neighbourliness and the Outdoors »
Communal outdoor spaces within social housing and mixed tenure estates. An abridged version of a PLAYLINK report to the Guinness Trust.
Common Sense, Common Safety »
The submission to Lord Young's review “Health and Safety and the Compensation Culture” by the authors of “Managing Risk in Play Provision: implementation guide” — Professor David Ball, Tim Gill, Bernard Spiegal.
Oh, I thought we agreed »
A paper prompted by Scottish National Heritage's recent "Sharing Good Practice, School Grounds for Nature, Health, Learning, Play and Social Development" conference. Points raised have wider application.
Common Sense, Common Safety »
Lord Young of Grantham's report to the Prime Minister — Common Sense, Common Safety — has just been published. It contains important recommendations across the board in respect of health and safety practice.
Despatches from the frontline: consultation »
One can hardly stand up without bumping one's head against publications enjoining the virtues of consultation.
Encounters with reality — creating a shared, playable public realm »
An interview with Liz Kessler, former Urban Designer with EC1 New Deal for Communities (NDC).
Slow Build for Playscapes by Grant Lambie »
Slow design gives the best playscapes.
Experts accuse play manufacturers' body of issuing misleading statements »
A group of leading health and safety, design and play experts accuse the Association of Play Industries (API) of issuing misleading, erroneous and confusing messages on playground safety.
Green Places magazine article by Bernard Spiegal: Don't panic! »
Common sense can and must inform judgements about what constitutes acceptable risk levels in play.
A shoal of red herrings II: do not overfish »
The second of two articles by PLAYLINK Associates Sue Gutteridge and Judi Legg.
A shoal of red herrings I: Sue Gutteridge and Judi Legg on consulting children »
"This has contributed to ever more complicated and demanding processes of consultation, involvement, engagement, empowerment etc. generating their own armies of professional consulters, involvers, engagers and empowerers."
Key Terms for Play »
"Risk-averse schools cannot meet their key objectives. Policy and practice need to be aligned to nurture risk-taking opportunities." An article by Bernard Spiegal for Teaching Times.
The Brentford Play Plan »
A joint West Play Association and PLAYLINK examination of play opportunities in Brentford (Middlesex), and proposals of a non-traditional kind. Of potential interest to those labouring to assess current provision but also wanting to think anew.
PLAYLINK assessment of Forestry Commission's play provision »
Includes sections on consultation, teenagers, risk, standards, play offer, publicity and promotion. Of interest to those responsible for unsupervised play provision, shared public space, and destination venues.
Green Places magazine article by Bernard Spiegal: Trends and Initiatives »
There needs to be a radical change in the nature and extent of the play opportunities we offer children and young people.
Services »
Events & Activities
- Risk-benefit workshop. If you are interested in attending a workshop, or would like to arrange one in your area, please fill out our contact form or email info@playlink.org
Some current and recent projects
North Tottenham Investment Framework & Regeneration Strategy. PLAYLINK is part of the winning consortium led by ARUP to work on the public realm aspects of the North Tottenham Investment Framework & Regeneration Strategy.
Consultancy with Bristol City Council to formulate a corporate risk-benefit policy.
Design commission to enhance public space in front of The Hub children’s centre.
Bernard is to speak at the Risk, development and liability conference in Lund, Sweden, 3 October 2012
Completion of design work on courtyard for Argent’s Kings Cross development.
Risk-benefit workshops for:
- Play Wales (Anglesey area)
- Addlestone, Surrey, hosted by Runnymede Council
- Tonbridge, Kent, to be confirmed, hosted and with thanks to Tonbridge and Dover Councils
- Capstone Farm Country Park Chatham, hosted by Medway Council
Design commission with Play Wales for Tri-county Play Association to create playable public realms in Sirhowy Nature Reserve and around Maerdy Primary School. Sand. Water. Tree House, Seating and more. Work on ground about to start. Hoorah!
Olympic Park South. PLAYLINK is part of the winning consortium to design Olympic Park South. Consortium: James Corner Field Operations, PLAYLINK, Arup, Make Architects, Tomato, Piet Oudolf, L’Observatoire International, Groundbreaking, Deloitte.
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Features
PLAYLINK comments on London Mayor’s children and young people’s play and informal recreation Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance »
We focus on the section that deals with the typology of play spaces.
Paper on considerations to be taken into account when outsourcing an adventure playground service »
Commissioned by Islington Play Association. Paper formed part of its submission to LB Islington. The paper has relevance for play services generally
PLAYLINK Maintenance Briefing Paper »
Revised paper on the maintenance of sand and loose fill material in public spaces.
Islington Sand Pit Maintenance »
Recent review work by the London Borough of Islington’s GreenSpace Team has resulted in a significant reduction in maintenance costs of their sand pits – whilst keeping them.
Risk-benefit assessments »
Examples of assessments undertaken on PLAYLINK design and implementation schemes.
Risk-benefit Assessment Form »
This form aims to assist play providers undertake risk-benefit assessments as recommended in ‘Managing Risk in Play Provision: implementation guide’.
Risk It! conference Report »
The conference aimed to explain, to clarify, to counter prevailing myths and misperceptions, above all to liberate play providers…
Risk It! conference »
PLAYLINK wants to bring this conference to your area. Please contact us if you might be interested to work with us to achieve this.
Places of Woe: Places of Possibility Exhibition »
The exhibition will show just how bad play provision can be - and how good.
No Risk, No Play? »
Edited highlights of discussion forum
Design for Play: a guide to creating successful play spaces »
A presentation based on the forthcoming publication Design for Play: A guide to creating successful play spaces, by Aileen Shackell, Nicola Butler, Phil Doyle and David Ball, to be published by Play England is now available on the Free Play Network and Play England websites.
Report on Findings of PLAYLINK's Playground Procurement and Maintenance Survey »
PLAYLINK, along with others, has long felt that procurement practice too often militates against creating best possible playable spaces …
Give us a cuddle: child protection and adult anxiety »
Open for view and downloading. Closed for comments
Places for Play Exhibition »
This Photo Exhibition demonstrates that beautiful, stimulating, tranquil and enjoyable places for play can and are being created. Places for play include…
PLAYLINK,
72 Albert Palace Mansions,
Lurline Gardens
,
London.
SW11 4DQ
Tel: 0207 720 2452 -
Web: http://playlink.org/ -
Email: info@playlink.org
