Active Play
Our Active Play programme boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
Read morePlaying and learning outdoors is fundamental for all our children to achieve their full potential, boosting health, wellbeing and development, and is a universal right. We are working to embed outdoor play and learning into the fabric of Scottish life so that all of Scotland’s children can thrive.
Donate to Thrive Outdoors and help us get all of Scotland’s children outdoors.
We know that playing outdoors is vital for children’s health and wellbeing; it boosts physical activity and promotes happiness and wellbeing.
We want every child in Scotland to have the best possible start in life. We want them to be healthy, happy and resilient; to form friendships, to learn vital skills and to have fun. That’s why we are leading on the delivery and development of outdoor play opportunities in communities, nurseries and schools across Scotland.
We are working with communities, charities, schools, outdoor organisations and public bodies to support collaboration, innovation and development in outdoor play and learning, sharing best practice and supporting research to promote better understanding of the importance of outdoor play.
We are committed to empowering and equipping families, childcare professionals and educators with the confidence, enthusiasm and skills to encourage and support our children and young people to play and learn outdoors.
Outdoor play is a life-enhancing experience and we want all of Scotland’s children to thrive outdoors.
We have a wealth of resources available for you to download and use, so that you can join in with our mission to get all of Scotland’s children outdoors!
Visit Thrive’s play resources microsite, featuring an inspiring and informative range of hints and tips for parents, carers and ELC practitioners. Click on the link below for everything from suggestions for fun activities to guides on safe handwashing and building an outdoor shelter.
More herePlaying and learning outdoors will be a fundamental part of growing up in Scotland, following a national commitment from 50 people and organisations across the country.
Alongside the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland, bodies as diverse as the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Glasgow Science Centre, as well as education groups, academics and NHS Health Scotland have signed up to a national Position Statement to make playing and learning outdoors an everyday activity for Scotland’s children and young people.
To sign up, email Jo Fitzpatrick from the Thrive Outdoors team at jo@inspiringscotland.org.uk
Find out moreOur Active Play programme boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
Read moreThe Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund was launched at the end of July 2020 to support childhood health and wellbeing through outdoor play.
Read moreOutdoor Nurseries, a partnership between Inspiring Scotland and Glasgow City Council are improving children's health, well-being and development through outdoor play-based learning.
Read moreThe Scottish Government's new ÂŁ1million Outdoor Clothing Fund, which will enable providers of funded early learning and childcare to purchase outdoor winter clothing for the children in their settings who need it most.
Read moreThanks to a generous donation from an anonymous supporter, we have established a new Fund to offer seed-corn investment to develop innovative approaches for the creation of outdoor early learning and childcare (ELC) settings.
Find out morePlay helps children unlock their creativity and let’s their imaginations soar. Find out how to create imaginative, creative and fun play with crates, pebbles and bits of string with our Loose Parts Play toolkit.
Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund, GCC Active Play Fund, and Creative Communities. Possibilities for Each and Every Kid was established in 2000 and has been operating for 20 years as a charity supporting children and young people aged 0-25 years and their families impacted by poverty across Glasgow. Through play, creative arts and
Learn MorePart of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. The Jeely Piece Club, based in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow, delivers a range of services for children from pre-school upwards and is based in a purpose built play centre. Inpiring Scotland works with The Jeely Piece Club in all three strands of
Learn MorePart of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund. Smart Play Network (SPN) are the national organisation supporting and delivering play opportunities for the benefit, health and wellbeing of children and families across Scotland. They provide a range of support and practical tools to 394 members, from starting up a new service, through policy development and delivery
Learn MoreWe work with experts from the voluntary, public, private and academic sectors. Get in touch if you want to help us build a better Scotland.
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