Friends and family enjoy a summer of play

Residents in Wolverhampton have been making the long school holidays a summer of play by teaming up with friends, family and neighbours to organise Playing Out activities, where local streets are temporarily closed to traffic so youngsters can play out safely.

Throughout August, Navi Aukh from Eden Whitmore Reans joined forces with local churches and the wider community to organise weekly Playing Out activities at the Peace Green facility near to Dunstall Road and at Tab Church.

More than 80 children and young people benefited from the activities and Navi said: “It’s been fantastic fun to be involved in this initiative and applying for permission from the council was surprisingly easy to do.

“I’d urge anyone who is interested in doing the same to have a go. All the support is there to help you to get your own Playing Out activity off the ground.”

Playing Out is a movement established by two parents from Bristol who were concerned about the lack of opportunities for their children to play out safely with friends. They developed a model whereby a residential street could be closed to traffic for a few hours so that children in the neighbourhood could safely play out together.

Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The benefits of playing outside for children are well known, giving them the chance to enjoy valuable physical exercise, make friends, learn new skills and gain independence.

“We want to give our city’s children and young people a range of opportunities, and organising a Playing Out activity in one of our parks and green spaces, or in your street or cul-de-sac, is a great way of bringing everyone together.”

To run a Playing Out activity, residents must apply to the council for a temporary street closure, lasting for between one and three hours. Applying is quick and easy – please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/licences/lets-play-out.

Applicants will need to give the council at least eight weeks’ notice for a road closure and residents can also organise social activities in local parks and green spaces.

People interested in running a Playing Out event on their street, but who aren’t sure where to start, are invited to contact Wolverhampton For Everyone via hello@wolverhamptonforeveryone.org for help and advice. There is also a free pack available providing ideas and inspiration.

Playing Out has formed a key part of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Yo! Summer Festival, offering hundreds of events across the city, many free of charge, to keep children, young people and their families active and entertained throughout the school holidays. For more details, please visit www.yowolves.co.uk.

Wolverhampton for Everyone is a collective of people and organisations who want to create a people-powered city where everyone feels able to participate in creating the place they want to live and work in. To find out more about, please visit https://wolverhamptonforeveryone.org/.