About Us
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.
Sheffield Play Partnership builds on the expertise of long-established play projects in Sheffield; Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Adventures managed by Sharrow Community Forum and MASKK. Our core partner organisations have 45+ years combined experience in delivering free and affordable play for school age children in their local communities.
Find out more about our core partners below.
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.
In 2024/25 we received funding to work proactively on our mission.
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
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…
Play for Public Health
A Review of the Benefits of Play for the Health and Wellbeing of Children.
Our Core Partners
The Sheffield Play Partnership was created to bring individuals and groups together. To create a sense of community and culture of cooperation. Our Core partners enable us to acheive this vision. You can find out more about how to join the Sheffield Play Partnership here.
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.
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.