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.
Why Play?
Playwork Principles
They describe what is unique about play and playwork, and provide the playwork perspective for working with children and young people.
They are based on the recognition that children and young people’s capacity for positive development will be enhanced if given access to the broadest range of environments and play opportunities.
Latest News
Raising the Nation- New commission report highlights the importance of Play
The Raising the Nation National Play Commission was a year long independent inquiry into the importance of play for children and young people, that looked at what impact a new national play strategy could have. The commission report was presented to Parliament on...
Bringing together Sheffield’s Playworkers
On 5th June Playworkers from across Sheffield gathered at Manor Afterschool Kids Klub. They talked about recent and upcoming training opportunities, shared best practice and talked about issues that were common between the groups. They were also joined by special...
Supporting youth services linking up across Sheffield
At the start of May, Play Partnership representatives supported a very successful youth meeting in Sheffield at the Gold Diggers Trust. This event helped to empower some of our local young people who came together from across our great city to help shape the future,...
Supporting Concerteenies at Terry Wright on Gleadless Valley
On 7th May, Sheffield Play Partnership were pleased to support The Family Hubs in welcoming the Concerteenies to Terry Wright Community Centre in Gleadless Valley. They told the wonderful, musical story 'Blown Away'. It was a really engaging story for all ages...
Principle 1
Principle 2
Principle 3
Principle 4
Principle 5
Principle 6
Principle 7
Principle 8
Current Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
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.