Your mission, should you choose to accept it 🕵️‍♀️

Tori_Scope

Hi everyone  

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find out how accessible and inclusive your local playground is. Take part in The Play Investigation to find out!

If you're not ready to take part right now, or are forgetful like me, you can request an email with a link to The Play Investigation, and instructions on how to complete it. 

How does your local playground stack up?

The Play Investigation will show you whether your playground is great for disabled children, or whether it needs to be better. You’ll get your answers straight away.

We need lots of responses from all around the country. We'll use them to show you how accessible playgrounds across England and Wales are. And to call on the Government to commit to ensuring every local community has an inclusive playground.

Plus, you'll get an online community badge for completing it. What's not to like?

What does The Play Investigation involve?

The Play Investigation is fun and easy to take part in. So it's the perfect free summer activity that makes a difference.

🌳 Visit your local playground

📱 Answer a few questions about the playground

🔎 Find out how accessible it is for disabled children

📢 Use the results to create change

You can take part in The Play Investigation in as many playgrounds as you want near you. All you need is a phone or tablet that connects to the internet.

You’re welcome to do it with a child you care for, but The Play Investigation is open to anyone who wants to take part.

If you have any questions about it, please comment below, or email me at campaigns@scope.org.uk   

Deputy Chief Playground Investigator Tori

MPowell_1991

Hello @Tori_Scope

Loving the mission impossible reference in the title to this. 

I shall be visiting my local playground with my six month old daughter soon, so I would be delighted to report back on my experiences 

Tori_Scope

Thanks @MPowell_1991

Amazing! That'd be fantastic. Let us know how you get on with The Play Investigation. You're welcome to do it on as many playgrounds as you'd like, so bear that in mind too if you visit any others with your daughter. I hope parenting life is treating you well  

66Mustang

Sounds like a bit of fun and achieves something positive as well.

We have 2 playgrounds, one is at the bottom of a steep hill and the other one is enclosed by a fence and the gate is too small for a wheelchair so I suspect they won't score very highly.

Tori_Scope

We hope people will enjoy taking part, as well as hopefully learning something new and contributing to wider data on this @66Mustang  

The Play Investigation asks about things like gates that are too narrow for a wheelchair to fit through, so good thinking! Will you be able to complete the survey for those two playgrounds, do you think? Perhaps with the dog  

66Mustang

I will definitely try to get it done @Tori_Scope  

Tori_Scope

Let me know how you find it @66Mustang!

OverlyAnxious

As a creepy looking single guy with no kids, it's probably best I leave this mission to others! 

66Mustang

OverlyAnxious said:

As a creepy looking single guy with no kids, it's probably best I leave this mission to others! 

Often wonder the same when I am walking by a playground lol, I used to have scruffy long hair as well, wear glasses and used to wear a coat and a hat even in summer.

Tori_Scope

Haha that's totally fine @OverlyAnxious- we understand that this activity isn't for everyone! There's definitely not any pressure to do anything that makes you feel uncomfy. I hope you're getting on okay  

onebigvoice

Hi Tory and all,
  As you know I have been doing this for some time in Cardiff.  And believe it or not the AM for parks and the community councillors are also on our side, having had great success not only by me but across town.
  You don't have to have kids but if you need excercise and are near a park that has play activities for all kids just look and see if the access is for all? whether ity could do with a spruce up, whether there are Disabled children already using the site, or whether there are any bits of kit that are used to stimulate kids interaction.
  By us a good one for all kids which now include disabled kids is the mega phone, A funnel one side where pipes are aunk underground andacross the other side come out of the ground into another funnel shouting and listening is so simple the kids have loads of fun.
  Must admit I do as well as I shout in one end, come and get a drink, and the kids hear me and shout back.
  The investigation is easy and doesnt take long and together all disabled kids can enjoy the same facilities that other take for granted.
  Its the norm by us to see all kids enjoying the parks, it gets everyone out for a while and costs nothing, and the kids enjoy being and spending time with you.
  All my kids are grown up so I borrow the grand kids....  it started with half hour on the way home from school now its we better go home and cook something its 7.00 pm? 

Tori_Scope

Thanks for your comment @onebigvoice, and for your support of The Play Investigation! You're right that it shouldn't take too long, and is hopefully fun and informative. I agree it's important that all children get to play, and can enjoy free outdoor spaces together  

AdrianTagg

This is a brilliant initiative and "accessibility" is key. For those wanting to take this further into a 'grown ups' environment, I'm not asking you to assess the shops, places of work or where you socialise, BUT I do have a live research on experiential understanding of disability specific access requirements to commercial property, goods, services and employment. This can be accessed on the "Research and Opportunities" category of this forum (as is a link for research I've already published on this).....your experiences and opinions on accessibility can make a difference. Sadly my days of visiting playgrounds are over as my children are all young adults but good luck with this campaign as I think many of the access issues with playgrounds transfer into the wider built environment.   

Tori_Scope

I think many of the access issues with playgrounds transfer into the wider built environment.  

Great insight @AdrianTagg I quite often feel as though playgrounds are a bit of a microcosm of the wider built environment. And they can teach children a lot about disability and accessibility from a young age.

Thank you for your kind words!

Wibbles

Are we allowed to use the swings and slide - please ?

Tori_Scope

Swings are my favourite too @Wibbles @Biblioklept! I find them quite relaxing. I haven't been on a slide in a while, so I'm not convinced...

selfmed

Good excuse to get out of flat. 
I live on by beach and there's loads of parks near me. My Electric Bike will speed me to as many as possible. 

Tori_Scope

Thanks so much for your support @selfmed! I think it's a good reason to get out too. Sometimes, having a focus can make it easier. My friend does geocaching to help him motivate himself to get out and about on walks  

I hope you enjoy taking part in The Play Investigation - let me know how you get on! 

How long have you been using an electric bike?

selfmed

I used to geocache but felt suspicious as a lot were on busy remote roads in a small town. Did some in Lewisham London a couple of year's ago. My daughter checked last month and we still there.  
I built the bike a year ago, second hand Carrera and 1500 watt kit.  I highly recommend getting a small ebike. I hadn't been out for years. A friend gave me a tiny folding ebike.  It got me up to shops place's that I missed but not far as the battery was faulty and ancient.  That inspired me to  build a more powerful bike. I travelled 1500 miles in a year April to April on it.  You still peddle if you want. you travel further and hills and wind disappear. I wouldn't recommend a powerful kit bike but a shop bought or  small legal kit with safety feature would be fine.  Somebody who's never rode a bike probably not the best to learn cycling. I've had a few accidents and close shaves. If you can ride a bike then it's a fantastic way to travel. If it's just to local shop or along a scenic cycle path

RainbowFluff

Is there a way to take part in this without sharing so many details about myself too?

Tori_Scope

It's definitely important to stay safe @selfmed! 

It sounds like the e-bike has made a big difference in getting you out and about I'm really impressed that you built it yourself