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.
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All Scotland’s children will thrive
We believe it is our shared responsibility to support and enable all of Scotland’s children and young people to access our diverse open spaces and to empower them to enjoy these spaces for the purposes of playing, learning and fostering a connection to the environment.
Our vision is for a sustainable Scotland where our children and young people can play, learn and thrive outdoors.
Play is a life-enhancing experience
Boosting physical activity and promoting happiness and wellbeing, outdoor play is vital for children’s health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re leading on the delivery and development of outdoor play opportunities in communities, nurseries and schools across Scotland.
We want every child in Scotland to be happy, healthy, resilient, and have the best possible start in life. We want them to be able to form friendships, learn new skills and have fun.
We support communities, charities, schools, outdoor organisations and public bodies to collaborate, innovate and develop in outdoor play and learning, sharing best practice and feeding into research to promote better understanding of the importance of outdoor play.
We are committed to use our experience to empower and equip 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!
Get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can help you.
Play resources
Make time for outdoor play
We’ve worked with our network of practitioners to develop a wealth of hints and tips for ELC practitioners, parents and carers to help make outdoor play a reality for more young people. Our tips provide fun activities as well as more informative tips, like how to build an outdoor shelter.
More hereNational Position Statement
Playing and learning outdoors is life-enhancing.
Help us make playing and learning outdoors an everyday activity for all children in Scotland by signing up to the national position statement.
The national position statement on outdoor play and learning has gained more than 100 signatories since its launch. These include national organisations and charities, local authorities, government and public bodies, and NGOs.
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What can we do for you?
Thrive Outdoors offers a range of services, including consultancy, training, and service design. Our team are experts in Outdoor Play and Learning and are equipped to help you empower children and young people to benefit from the outdoors.
Get in touch to find out more.
Contact usOutdoor Community Play Fund
The Outdoor Community Play Fund supports childhood health and wellbeing through outdoor play.
Read moreOutdoor Early Learning
Outdoor Nurseries, a partnership between Inspiring Scotland and Glasgow City Council are improving children's health, well-being and development through outdoor play-based learning.
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Loose Parts Play!
Play 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.
Sign up to Thrive Outdoors Newsletter
Thrive Outdoors runs a newsletter highlighting sector news and updates, tops tips on outdoor play and learning, charity spotlights, what we’re currently reading and more!
Podcast
Outdoor Play IS the Way!
Thrive Outdoors’ podcast aims to share best practice and connect practitioners by bringing you a new guest every month from the Outdoor Play and Learning Sector.
Our news
13.06.2022
More outdoor play for Scotland’s children and their families
Scottish play charities will share a ÂŁ550,000 funding boost to help get children and families out to play in their local communities. Creative outdoor play sessions, active play, and nature spaces for local communities are just some of the brilliant initiatives being supported by the Scottish Government Outdoor Community Play Fund aimed at improving the
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24.05.2022
Mapping outdoor play in Scotland
Thrive Outdoors is mapping the outdoor play sector in Scotland, aiming to find out where outdoor play is happening, how outdoor play organisations are run and the challenges these organisations face. Extensive research highlights the social, physical and emotional benefits of outdoor play for children and young people. But the Covid-19 pandemic has meant more
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12.04.2022
New Outdoor Community Play Fund Open
The new Outdoor Community Play Fund was announced by Children’s Minister, Clare Haughey on Tuesday 12th April 2022. This funding will support charities providing outdoor community play opportunities for children and families experiencing disadvantage, as defined by SIMD. Up to ÂŁ15,000 can be applied for by registered Scottish charities meeting the criteria. Funded by Scottish Government,
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Portfolio of charities
Thrive Outdoors
PEEK
Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. 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 community development
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Thrive Outdoors
The Jeely Piece Club
Part 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
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Thrive Outdoors
Smart Play Network
Part 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 MoreContact us
We 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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