Play and Playwork: Notes and Reflections in a Time of Austerity

Bringing together authors from a range of academic disciplines and research backgrounds – united as standard-bearers for the child’s right to play – and set against a backdrop evoking play’s critical essence, this book documents the rise and fall of an explosive period of political interest in play in the UK.

Has the withdrawal of so much state funding damaged the playwork profession forever? Has the battle for recognition of the significance of play in child development been lost? Why is children’s happiness always so low on the agendas of our politicians? The invaluable contributions in this book identify the lessons learned, and the opportunities that may be available to those determined to maintain the struggle for a greater recognition of the importance of children’s play in an era defined by the oppressive politics of austerity. This book was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Play.

Fraser Brown is the first Professor of Playwork in the UK, and teaches on the Playwork degree course at Leeds Beckett University. He is the specialist link tutor for APAC’s postgraduate play therapy courses, and has presented at conferences across the UK and around the world. His publications include Play and Playwork: 101 Stories of Children Playing (2014).

Mike Wragg is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, and the Chair of two charitable trusts: Eccleshill Adventure Playground, and New Hall Prison Visitors’ Play Facility, both of which have been subject of his recent publications in the International Journal of Play and in the Prison Service Journal.