Leader's blog - w/c 29 June 2026

"There was a great series on Radio 4 last week (‘Tony Hawks Just Wants To Play’, available on BBC Sounds) in which the comedian explored the barriers shaping how we play in the UK, and why high quality play should matter to us all.

Play is essential for healthy child development. It is a way for children (and adults!) to make sense of the world, a safe space to take risks and test boundaries, and for development of critical physical, cognitive, and social skills. From mud kitchen catering, dressing up & role play, ball games, den building, climbing and balance bars, high quality opportunities for play have benefits that extend from childhood into lifelong adaptability and wellbeing. Yet evidence shows that those opportunities are declining, with barriers including safety concerns, cost, differing needs across society, and limited time.

At Stroud District Council, we believe that play is a fundamental right of every child. And we want to understand the opportunities our local children and young people have for free play in their day to day lives. So we have launched a Play Strategy consultation to review the current landscape of play across the district. We want to hear from you, and we will also be engaging directly with children and young people about their experiences.

So let us know….where are the best places for play in the district, what makes you want to visit them? Are there places where there’s nowhere fun to go? Who is well catered for, whose needs are still missing? What would good play look like, if you and family had free rein? How can we open up opportunities for creativity and free play, and make everything more fun? Do visit the ‘Have Your Say’ page on our website by 10th August and share your thoughts."

Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council