Play areas in Orkney at Eday Community School, the Marwicks in Stromness and Brandyquoy in Kirkwall are the latest to have been improved thanks to the Scottish Government’s Playpark Renewal Funding.

The Scottish Government’s  Play Vision Statement and Action Plan for 2025 – 2030, has just been published, 24 March.  

Announcing £25million to be shared between Local Authorities to improve the standard of existing play parks, First Minister John Swinney said: 

“Playing is key to a child’s healthy development, and by enabling councils to invest in outdoor play parks, we will ensure families can access a safe, high-quality place to play within their communities.

“This is all part of my driving mission to eradicate child poverty. Other steps we are taking include investing £3 million to develop mitigations for the UK Government’s two-child benefits cap, £37 million to deliver the expansion of the free school meals programme, and putting more money in families’ pockets through the Scottish Child Payment.”   

The £25 million investment for 2025-26 marks the completion of a £60 million Programme for Government commitment over four years – with a total of 887 play parks renewed as of March 2024. 

Orkney Islands Council’s Team Manager of Sport and Leisure, Katell Roche, said:

“We are grateful for the ongoing support we receive from the Scottish Government Playpark Renewal Funding which assists the Council with the cost of carrying out these upgrades.

“It’s a time consuming and costly process to go through and we are grateful to the public for their patience with these long-aspired to improvements.”

Click on this link to access the  Play Vision Statement and Action Plan for 2025 – 2030.  Read the children’s version  

Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO Play Scotland and Chair of external Play Strategy refresh group said: 

“We are delighted to be celebrating this clear commitment from the Scottish Government to play opportunities and experiences for all our children and young people.

“It is fantastic that children’s rights and voices are at the heart of this new vision for play alongside an enthusiastic cross-sectoral collaboration. The clear message coming from the versions of the plan that children have co- produced is simple – more play and better play is good for everyone.” 

COSLA is the organisation which represents all of Scotland’s Local Authorities. COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People, Councillor Tony Buchanan said:

“COSLA welcomes today’s launch of the Play Vision Statement and Action Plan, play is very important not just for the enjoyment it brings, but also for the part it plays in developing children and young people’s social skills, interests, and curiosity. It also assists in developing relationships between parents, carers and other children and young people.

“The Play Vision Statement and Action Plan provides a good roadmap for how play can be encouraged and supported.”

Fiona Grahame