Welcome to the Sheffield Play Partnership.
Sheffield Play Partnership is a passionate alliance of local organisations, parents, and play professionals dedicated to creating vibrant, inclusive, and safe play opportunities for every child across Sheffield. We believe play is not a luxury — it’s a fundamental right and a vital part of childhood.
Our member organisations and Playworkers are running free holiday clubs and afterschool sessions that children are excited to go to, working to transform forgotten spaces into imaginative playgrounds, running community events, and creative workshops. Together we work hand-in-hand with families to make play accessible, active, and fun. We’re using our knowledge and experience to support new and growing play projects across the city. We are building a city where children of all backgrounds can grow, learn, and thrive through play.
Join us — because when children play, communities flourish.
Sheffield Play Partnership offers play organisations and Playworkers the opportunity to work together, share best practice, pool resources and advocate for children’s rights to play, leisure and culture in wider forums.
Our events and activities are open to all playworkers, including any ex-Playworkers wanting to keep in touch with the sector, play organisations and community organisations providing play and related activities for children aged 5-14 years.
Sheffield Play Partnership is a national leader in the delivery of Play & Playwork qualifications, offering accredited courses at level 1, 2 and 3. Find out more about our training offer here.
Our Story…
In October 2015 we launched Sheffield Play Association at the Winter Gardens. Sheffield Play Association was initiated by four organisations delivering play in their communities, Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Manor After School Kids Club, Highfields Adventure Playground and Friends of Richmond Park, out of concern about the reduction in the number of community playschemes and community led play facilities across the city.
In 2022 we refreshed our intention to work closely together, along with an aspiration to build more proactive partnership working, through the creation of Sheffield Play Partnership.
Our shared mission is to:
Promote the benefits of play and playwork for children, their families and the wider community
Unite playworkers, play organisations and individuals interested in promoting play and playwork
Support each other, share ideas and promote good practice
Support the development of new community based playschemes and play services
Deliver a shared training offer to help increase the capacity of the playwork workforce
In 2024/25 we received funding to work proactively on our mission. You can find out more about our impact and vision for the next steps here.
National momentum is gathering in support of a new Children’s Plan, recognising and resourcing children’s right to play and we are excited for the next chapter in the Sheffield Play Partnership story.
Latest News
Tickets available for the Sheffield Play Awards in December!
What better way to mark Sheffield Week of Play than to announce that tickets for this year's Sheffield Play Awards are now available! Play opportunities, whether they be in our communities, schools, wrap around provision, junior youth clubs, HAF provision, faith...
Sheffield Week of Play 2025 is here!
Sheffield Week of Play 2025 is here! Play is powerful — it helps children grow, connect, and thrive. This year, we’re celebrating play in all its forms across our amazing city with Sheffield Week of Play 2025! Sheffield's community play projects have something to...
Connecting Through Play: momentum growing
Yesterday 14 people from 7 different organisations supporting play in Sheffield, from Pitsmoor to Hackenthorpe gathered at MASKK over cups of tea. This was the third 'Connecting Through Play' networking meeting for play practitioners hosted by Sheffield Play...
Sheffield Week of Play 2025 – Small grants available
Applications are open for our £200 grants for community and voluntary sector groups running play sessions for school age children this October Half Term. They are first come, first served. Find out more and apply. Join us to celebrate Sheffield Week of Play this...
Current Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
Upcoming Events
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Sheffield Week of Play ’25: October Half Term
Sheffield Week of Play is an annual celebration dedicated to recognising play opportunities across the city for children, young people, and families. During this week, organisations holding space and time […]
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Playwork In Progress
Playwork in Progress is a free weekly online reflective practice session offered by the The Playwork Foundation, chaired by Penny Wilson, of AssemblePlay and Trustee of The Playwork Foundation, and supported […]
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Adventure Playground Network online meeting
The Network is a collaborative venture to connect people who make play at adventure playgrounds – including playworkers – to discuss issues affecting the sector, and to shape the agenda for […]
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SWASH – Getting the children in, keeping the business going
Temple Park Centre 197 Harborough Avenue, Sheffield, United KingdomJoin us as we discuss the topic of business sustainability. Charities, businesses, sole traders etc, no matter your business model, we need the children to attend and the fee income […]
RSVP Now Free -
Sheffield Play Awards 2025
So often we are too busy with life and work that we don't get chance to take stock of the impact of our work and our achievements. At this year's […]
Our Working Group
Those who give their time to volunteer as creators and facilitators of the overall partnership. Meeting at least once per term.If you would like to volunteer to join the team please email partnership@sheffieldplay.org.uk
Our Current Working Team are:
Craig Judson (MASKK & Lowedges Community Centre & PARS Licenced Trainer)
Emma Okpalaeke (MASKK & 186th Sheffield)
Julia Sexton (Pitsmoor Adventure Playground)
Nicky Jewitt (MaTReC)
Yanina Koszalinski (Pitmoor Adventure Playground & Scrap Dragon)
Our Partners:
Sharrow Community Forum and Highfields Adventure Playground
Sharrow Community Community Forum provide a range of services and manage the Highfield Adventure Playground. A playground that has recently benefited significantly from the Youth Investment Fund.
MASKK
Pitsmoor Adventure Playground
At Pitsmoor Adventure Playground children are able to play in lots of different ways, supported by our experienced playwork team, who make sure every child feels welcome and included.
Manor Training & Resource Centre
Created to provide training and development opportunites from entry level to higher level qualifications. Specialists in supporting those with Dyslexia too.
Lowedges Community Centre
A community centre hosting a variety of activities including Family Hub, Youth Service, volunteer Youth Club, adult craft groups and Healthy Holiday Activities.