Children need to play in lots of different ways and follow their own ideas, for their own reasons. It is these experiences that help children to learn, develop, and flourish.

What is Playwork

Children need to play in lots of different ways and follow their own ideas, for their own reasons. It is these experiences that help children to learn, develop, and flourish.

We are part of Bristol’s thriving play sector and we are committed to creating as many opportunities for children to play as possible - in as many places and spaces too. For information on play work please visit Play England.

Why Play?

Play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood. Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people. It is through play that children learn about the world and themselves. They also learn skills they need for readiness for school and that they take with them as they transition into adolescence and then into adult life.

Where we run sessions and our approach to play

Our priority is to bring play opportunities into the heart of communities for children and their families to play freely, together. We deliver play sessions in parks, open spaces and community spaces in Bristol.

We also work in partnership and run co-delivered sessions with other play-based providers. Click here to find out more.

Adventure Play

Adventure play is designed to include slightly more risky play activities which means that it’s supervised but allows children to learn to assess and to take and manage risk within a safe environment. It’s by doing these ‘riskier’ activities that they learn everyday skills that they’ll take through adolescence and into adult life. Our Adventure Playground is called ‘The Big Hideout’ and it’s located in Hartcliffe, Bristol.

Pop-up-play sessions

Pop-up play sessions take place in many areas and parks across Bristol. They tend to run after school and are free, open-access sessions so children and their families can engage in freely chosen and intrinsically motivated play. Children and families can access professional play workers who can provide fun activities and opportunities to play. They also offer support, guidance and signposting to other help if that’s what needed.

Forest School

Forest school is a great way for children to learn new skills and experience new things outdoors. From whittling sticks to building dens and open fire cooking, it’s a brilliant way for children to be creative, explorative, inquisitive and be kids! Our forest school sessions are great for people of all ages.

Targeted play sessions

To ensure we meet our communities' needs, we provide a range of targeted play sessions. For example, our culturally competent Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Play sessions that take place in a range of sessions, including Traveller sites and drop-in centres.

1:2:1 Mentoring

Engage is our mentoring support programme. We offer 1:1 and/or group-based sessions that are personalised to the child or young person's needs and co-constructed with the referring school or agency and their parents or carers.