Letter to Editor: Play has been a fundamental part of childhood in the UK for generations
Sport / Tue 27th May 2025 at 08:51am
Dear Editor,
PLAY has been a fundamental part of childhood in the UK for generations – and new research shows that 72% of British adults consider playing with friends among their fondest childhood memories.
However, for millions of children around the world today, it’s a very different situation. Extreme challenges such as conflict, poverty, child labour and early marriage are depriving children of the opportunity to play and experience joy in their lives.
That’s why Right To Play exists. We use the power of play to transform the lives of more than 4.7 million children every year, helping them to stay in school, heal from trauma and develop the critical life skills they need to thrive. Play is proven to be essential to children’s learning, development and well-being.
On 11 June, we’ll be marking International Day of Play. This annual UN-recognised day highlights the vital importance of play for children and champions this basic right for every child.
Find out more about the enormous benefits of play, and how you can support our life-changing work, by visiting righttoplay.org.uk.
Gillian McMahon
Executive Director, Right To Play UK
Mark Gobell
2025-05-27 13:08:23
Once upon a time, there were many neighbourhood playschemes in Harlow, where children could come and go during the summer holidays, supervised by Play Leaders to just play games or learn new sports and take part in team games and competitions. This is where I spent many a childhood summer, running free on the playing fields, playing 5-a-side football, tennis, shinty, snooker, table tennis, rounders, stilt walking, netball etc. There were season long competitions and leagues, with qualifying teams all gathering at Bush Fair play scheme for the end of summer, Finals Day, where parents and families came to see their sons and daughters battle it out to be crowned champions at their sport and be awarded precious medals. A better use of money to benefit the young in so many different ways with the concomitant benefits to the town's people and social cohesion, is difficult to imagine. That was how it was, some 50 or 60 years ago. Why are we not doing it all again today?
Gary Roberts
2025-05-27 13:46:41
Mark absolutely right. I think the Sure Start scheme is the closest it will get to those days.
David Forman
2025-05-27 17:18:46
It is noticeable that the demise of these social policies coincided with the decline and fall of the Soviet Union. The illusion of workers having a range of social benefits without replacing capitalism was no longer necessary once the Soviet Union ended. The gloves came off and capitalism red in tooth and claw returned.
Adrienne
2025-07-17 04:13:16
History will be out.I have a feeling that as usual the old style of doing things will take a 360 degree turn It works in the fashion industry and I see no reason that it can't happen again. Well done Mark for your concern. And David some times we have to have a really good look back at our historical behaviours to find a labour heart.
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