Active Play
Our Active Play programme boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
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We believe it is our shared responsibility to support and enable all of Scotland’s children and young people to access our diverse open spaces and to empower them to enjoy these spaces for the purposes of playing, learning and fostering a connection to the environment.
Our vision is for a sustainable Scotland where our children and young people can play, learn and thrive outdoors.
The Thrive Outdoors team has a new website to showcase the work of the fund and share resources with the play and outdoor sector.
The new site will be a hub for outdoor play champions, offering support, guidance and resources – a one-stop-shop for practitioners, education professionals and childminders alike.
Boosting physical activity and promoting happiness and wellbeing, outdoor play is vital for children’s health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re leading on the delivery and development of outdoor play opportunities in communities, nurseries and schools across Scotland.
We want every child in Scotland to be happy, healthy, resilient, and have the best possible start in life. We want them to be able to form friendships, learn new skills and have fun.
We support communities, charities, schools, outdoor organisations and public bodies to collaborate, innovate and develop in outdoor play and learning, sharing best practice and feeding into research to promote better understanding of the importance of outdoor play.
We are committed to use our experience to empower and equip families, childcare professionals and educators with the confidence, enthusiasm and skills to encourage and support our children and young people to play and learn outdoors.
Outdoor play is a life-enhancing experience and we want all of Scotland’s children to thrive outdoors.
Help us make playing and learning outdoors an everyday activity for all children in Scotland by signing up to the national position statement.
The national position statement on outdoor play and learning has gained more than 100 signatories since its launch. These include national organisations and charities, local authorities, government and public bodies, and NGOs.
Find out moreOur Active Play programme boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
Read moreThe Outdoor Community Play Fund supports childhood health and wellbeing through outdoor play.
Read moreOutdoor Nurseries, a partnership between Inspiring Scotland and Glasgow City Council are improving children's health, well-being and development through outdoor play-based learning.
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Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. Possibilities for Each and Every Kid was established in 2000 and has been operating for 20 years as a charity supporting children and young people aged 0-25 years and their families impacted by poverty across Glasgow. Through play, creative arts and community development
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Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. The Jeely Piece Club, based in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow, delivers a range of services for children from pre-school upwards and is based in a purpose built play centre. Inpiring Scotland works with The Jeely Piece Club in all three strands of
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Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund. Smart Play Network (SPN) are the national organisation supporting and delivering play opportunities for the benefit, health and wellbeing of children and families across Scotland. They provide a range of support and practical tools to 394 members, from starting up a new service, through policy development and delivery
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Mairi leads the Thrive Outdoors programme and has long been a passionate advocate for children, play and the natural environment. With almost 20years experience, Mairi brings a wealth of knowledge in early years, childcare, children’s rights, workforce development and quality improvement. Prior to joining Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoor team in 2017, Mairi was the interim Chief Executive at outdoor learning social enterprise Stramash....
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Sarah is a passionate advocate for children’s play and children’s rights and is currently the Vice Chair and the International Representative for IPA (International Play Association) Scotland. With a degree in Playwork, and an MA in Childhood and Youth Studies, Sarah has managed out of school care settings, worked on adventure playgrounds, and as a....
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Sarah has recently graduated from the University of Strathclyde where she studied Business Administration and Business Enterprise. Sarah’s studies, combined with her extensive voluntary experience have provided Sarah with a keen interest in contributing towards social change in innovative ways which compelled her to join Inspiring Scotland. As an enthusiast of arts and music, Sarah....
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