Children at the Heart of the National Play Awards and Conference
Children's voices are at the heart of this year's National Play Conference and Awards.
At Play England, we believe children should not simply be included in conversations about play. They should help shape them. The Children's Voice Group has been created to ensure that children's ideas, experiences and perspectives are not only heard, but celebrated throughout the National Play Awards and Conference.
Supported by the Association of Play Industries (API), this exciting programme has enabled children to engage directly with Play England's work while contributing to a national conversation about the importance of play. With funding from the API, Play England commissioned Children's Voice Producer Amber Ogunsanya-William to design, manage and deliver the programme, ensuring that children remained at the centre of every activity, creative process and outcome.
Throughout the programme, children have explored what play means to them shared their thoughts on adventure playgrounds, discussed what makes great places to play and reflected on why play matters in their everyday lives.
But this has never been about simply asking children questions.
Instead, children have brought their ideas to life through creativity, imagination and play itself. Through mind-mapping, posters, artwork, freeze frames, storytelling, movement and collaborative activities, they have transformed their thoughts into powerful messages about freedom, adventure, belonging, friendship and the importance of play.
At the heart of every session has been connection. Children have shared ideas, built friendships, grown in confidence and discovered that their voices matter. Along the way there have been countless moments of laughter, imagination and joy as children explored, created and learned from one another.
The impact has been felt not only by the children themselves but also by their families.
One parent shared:
"Thank you, Amber, for allowing my daughter's dream to come true."
Moments like this capture exactly what the Children's Voice Group is all about. Creating opportunities for children to be heard, valued and celebrated.
Another parent reflected on the wider impact of the programme, saying:
"Being part of Amber's Children's Voice Group has been transformational for me as a parent. Watching my child find their voice has given me confidence in my own. What started as supporting our children has grown into something much bigger. I've built genuine friendships with other parents who truly understand our journey, and I honestly believe they'll be friends for life. We've gone from sitting together at sessions to meeting up for dinner and supporting each other beyond the project. It's created a real community for all of us."
For Play England, this is exactly why children's voice matters. When children are given meaningful opportunities to participate, remarkable things happen. Confidence grows, relationships flourish and communities are strengthened.
Reflecting on the programme, Children's Voice Producer Amber Ogunsanya-William said:
"Children are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are leaders today. This programme has been about creating spaces where children know their thoughts matter, their creativity matters and their voices deserve to be heard. Watching friendships form, confidence grow and ideas come to life has been incredibly special. Every child has brought something unique, and together they have created something far bigger than any one person could have imagined."
This work has been made possible through the support of API, whose investment has enabled Play England to create meaningful and lasting opportunities for children to engage with the National Play Awards and Conference. Also, for Playworkers to engage with this programme!
YPO has also generously teamed up with Amber to support the children with a wonderful collection of playful activities, helping to make the Green Room a truly special space before they showcase what they have been working on.
And now, those voices are ready to take centre stage.
At this year's inaugural National Play Awards and Conference, the Children's Voice Group will bring something truly special to the programme. Inspired by their own experiences, ideas and aspirations, children will share a creative contribution that celebrates play, amplifies children's voices and invites us to see the world from a different perspective. What emerges is best experienced in the moment. A celebration of creativity. A reflection on childhood. A powerful reminder of what becomes possible when children are trusted, listened to and given the freedom to play.
This is more than a presentation. It is a celebration of children's creativity, perspectives and lived experiences.
It is an opportunity to experience play through children's eyes. And it is a reminder that when children are given the space to play, create, connect and be heard, extraordinary things happen.
So, get ready for the Children's Voice Group's unique rendition of an adventure playground and their messages to the next generation.
