Why ParkPlay?
Why ParkPlay?
ParkPlay is building happier, healthier communities nationwide through the life-changing power of play
Improves mental and physical health
Life satisfaction, happiness and self-reported health were all positively associated with attending ParkPlay. The more frequently someone attends ParkPlay, the higher their life satisfaction is likely to be.
State of Life used the Wellby to estimate the social value of ParkPlay could be between £4.6m – £18.2m annually with a social return on investment of £30 for every £1 spent.
Brings communities together
ParkPlay brings the whole community together every Saturday which provides new opportunities for people to volunteer and support each other.
Intergenerational play breaks down barriers between different individuals and groups and builds new relationships.
Increases confidence & skills
ParkPlay has trained over 300 PlayLeaders and volunteers across the country building confidence, leadership skills and employability. ParkPlay aims to be inclusive and specifically targets those who find it harder to be active.
In areas of greatest health inequality
Data shows that 67.8% live in an area of deprivation (IMD 1-4) and over a third (36.8%) live in one of the 20% most deprived areas in England.
More than 20% of ParkPlayers reported having a limiting disability and 18.3% said they are from an Asian, Black, Mixed or Other ethnic background.
of ParkPlayers agree that ParkPlay has improved their mental wellbeing
of Parkplayers said the amount of activity/sport they do as a family has increased
of ParkPlayers said their physical activity levels have increased
Improves mental & physical health
- ParkPlay provides physical activity opportunities that people haven’t found elsewhere.
- Older people feel welcome, parents don’t need childcare and children who don’t enjoy or aren’t able to access other opportunities.
- The average number of days doing physical activity rose from 3.19 for non-participants and those who had just started to 4.03 for ParkPlayers.
- Well-being is a key impact; by bringing people together to get active, which is beneficial for mental health and chatting to others from the area who may be facing similar challenges to them, giving a feeling that people are not alone.
Community development & cohesion
- ParkPlay brings the whole community together every Saturday which provides new opportunities for people to volunteer and support each other.
- By the community, for the community. As opposed to ‘top down’ approaches which impose solutions onto communities or ‘bottom up’ approaches which leave communities to develop their own solutions, ‘joint effort’ working uses the knowledge and skills of both communities and ‘the system’.
- ParkPlay is accessible to all ages. Over 80% of survey respondents said that they attend ParkPlay with family members and 15% said that they attend with friends.
- For Essex ParkPlays, an average of 63% of attendees are aged under 14 and nationally, almost a quarter of registered ParkPlayers who have attended at least one session are aged 45 or over. The inter-generational nature of ParkPly was noted at an observation of a Colchester ParkPlay.
Increases confidence, training, and skills in local communities greatest inequality & need.
- State of Life found that 67.8% live in an area of deprivation (IMD 1-4) and over a third (36.8%) live in one of the 20% most deprived areas in England.
- More than 20% of ParkPlayers reported having a limiting disability and 18.3% said they are from an Asian, Black, Mixed or Other ethnic background. Over 60% of ParkPlayers are women and girls.
- ParkPlay has trained over 300 PlayLeaders and volunteers across the country building confidence, leadership skills and employability. ParkPlay aims to be inclusive and specifically targets those who find it harder to be active.