Play England appoints Dame Karen Buck as its new Independent Chair
©House of Commons
Play England is proud to announce the appointment of Dame Karen Buck as our Independent Chair. This marks an important step in strengthening our governance, leadership and national influence as we move into the first phase of implementing our 10-year strategy - It All Starts with Play!
Strengthening governance and independence
At the 2024 AGM, Play England adopted revised Memorandum and Articles of Association to modernise governance and introduce greater independence and transparency at Board level. These reforms created a new structure with an appointed Independent Chair, Senior Independent Director and Independent Directors.
Recruitment opened publicly in September 2025. The aim was to identify senior leaders with substantial national standing, strong governance capability and experience working across complex systems. We sought candidates from beyond the play sector to bring fresh perspective, strategic challenge and the credibility needed to influence policy, planning and national systems at scale.
Following a rigorous competitive process, Dame Karen Buck was appointed as the strongest candidate for Independent Chair.
Who is Dame Karen Buck?
Karen served as Member of Parliament for Westminster North for 27 years from 1997 to 2024. She previously served as a councillor at Westminster City Council and holds degrees in Economics and Social Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics.
Her national roles have included Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport and several shadow ministerial positions. She is widely respected for her legislative work on housing standards, poverty and community rights. Her Private Member’s Bill, now the Homes Act, has had lasting national impact. She was recently appointed by the Mayor of London as Chair of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, reflecting her seniority in strategic planning and place leadership.
Karen brings deep policy expertise, long experience scrutinising complex public systems and a track record of championing children, families and communities.
Why the appointment matters for Play England
Karen joins Play England at a time of significant national momentum created by the charity’s work. This includes the development of the Play Sufficiency amendment, our formal evidence to Parliament, and the re-establishment of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play for which Play England is the Secretariat.
Karen’s appointment reflects the growing recognition that children’s play requires national leadership, clearer policy frameworks and sustained cross-government attention.
The appointment of an Independent Chair and Directors strengthens Play England’s ability to:
Provide independent leadership with national profile during a period of system-wide reform on children’s play.
Guide the delivery of our long-term strategy in a focused and evidence-led way.
Uphold strong governance as the charity grows in scale, influence and responsibility.
Engage effectively with government, local authorities, funders and national partners.
Position children’s right to play as a recognised policy priority across national systems.
Dame Karen Buck on becoming Independent Chair
“I am honoured to become Independent Chair at a moment when Play England has a clear strategic direction, stronger governance and growing national influence. The Board’s work over many years has created the foundations for a new phase of ambition, including real opportunities to strengthen legislation, planning policy and the systems that shape children’s lives. This is a decisive moment for children’s rights, for long-term system change for children’s play, and for the services and places that support them. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across the country to ensure every child has the time, space, freedom, opportunity and acceptance they need to play.”
Next steps
Dame Karen Buck will formally take up the role of Independent Chair at the 2025 AGM. Newly appointed Independent Directors will also commence their terms at the AGM. Together, the strengthened Board will oversee the next phase of strategy delivery, governance development and national engagement as Play England continues to strengthen its influence and drive long-term system change for children’s play.
Further Board appointments will be announced in the coming days as Play England completes the transition to its strengthened governance structure.
#ItAllStartswithPlay!