Skip to content
Playwork Partnerships

Publications and research

Playwork Partnerships has published research and a variety of training products and publications.

​​​​What is Playwork?

Playwork is a skilled profession that informs playworkers about their role when working with children and young people in their play and leisure time.

Playwork adheres to the Playwork Principles that are the underpinning ethos of the way that we respond to children and their play. The Playwork Principles define what freely chosen play is and its importance to the overall healthy development of individuals and they guide our responses to children playing, our level of intervention, our positive attitudes to risk taking and the importance of reflective practice.

Playwork involves considerations towards the spaces we create for children to play in, the resources within those spaces and advocates for children to play in their own way.

Research

Previous research includes:

Literature review to investigate the evidence underpinning the role of play for holistic health: Matthews, N., Kilgour, L., De Rossi, P., and Crone, D.(2011) Gloucester: The University of Gloucestershire and Playwork Partnerships

Play for a Change: Play, policy and practice: a review of contemporary perspectives – Lester S & Russell W. (2008) London: NCB

Play Naturally: A review of children’s natural play – Lester S & Maudsley M (2006) London: NCB

Play Ranger Case Studies: Rees-Jones D(ed) (2008) Gloucester: Playwork Partnerships

Wild about Play Research Report​: Maudsley M & Smith H (2005) Cheltenham: Playwork Partnerships

Get in touch to find out more about our research.

Publications

Playwork Partnerships has developed a variety of playwork training products and support materials that have been developed over a number of years.

You can purchase publications below from our online shop,​​​​​​​ or get in touch for an order form and we can invoice you or your organisation.

Playing on the Wildside 2nd edition 

Edited by Martin Maudsley, Playwork Partnerships

The essential resource for people wishing to enable opportunities for children to play freely in and around natural outdoor environments.

Cost: £35 (plus £5 postage, UK)​

SUMMER ’23 SPECIAL – £15 inc.postage email us at playworkpartnerships@glos.ac.uk to order your copy

Getting It Right Legally: Status and Structure for Community Organisations (GIRL1) 

Written by Playwork Partnerships & Bates Wells and Braithwaite solicitors

GIRL 1 is aimed at community organisations and those that support them to help navigate successfully through the often confusing guidance available on setting up a voluntary or community organisation.  The original publication has been revised from a play and childcare focus to include ALL community and voluntary organisations.

Cost: £18 (plus £5 postage)

Order now

Getting It Right Legally: Contract and Grant Relationships between Funders and Community Organisations (GIRL2) 

Written by Playwork Partnerships & Bates Wells and Braithwaite solicitors

This publication has been developed as a guide for voluntary and community organisations to understand and develop successful funding relationships with funders to deliver a range of local services. Many organisations can encounter frustrations and difficulties in this area – GIRL 2 demystifies legal issues faced by those running community organisations, providing practical guidance and minimising technical legal content.

Cost: £18 (plus £5 postage)

Order now

Play Ranger Case Studies

Edited by Dan Rees-Jones, Playwork Partnerships

This publication celebrates the achievements and successes of differing open access play ranger projects around England and Wales. It provides contact details for future collaborative working and aims to initiate momentum for developing and sharing best practice for play rangers.

Cost: £5 (including postage)

Order now

Games for Everyone to Play

This small A5 booklet is packed full of fun games you can use with children and young people in any setting. It is also a great training resources for any trainer delivering ice-breakers and energisers. The booklet was developed by our experienced and trusted Playwork Trainers and is sure to have something for ‘everyone’.

Download your free copy here: Games for Everyone to Play or printed copies can be made available in bulk. Order hardcopies via playworkpartnerships@glos.ac.uk